The cultivation of natural science cannot be efficiently carried on without reference to an extensive library

Charles Darwin, et al (1847)

Inspiring discovery through free access to biodiversity knowledge

2005 London

2006 Washington

2007 Washington

2004 Chicago

The Biodiversity Heritage Library improves research methodology by collaboratively making biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.

Mission

Goals

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Develop services and tools which facilitate discovery and improve research efficiency of BHL content

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Develop services and tools which facilitate discovery and improve research efficiency of BHL content

Increase global awareness about the BHL and biodiversity issues through outreach, learning and education, branding, and collaboration with existing and new user communities

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Develop services and tools which facilitate discovery and improve research efficiency of BHL content

Increase global awareness about the BHL and biodiversity issues through outreach, learning and education, branding, and collaboration with existing and new user communities

Grow BHL consortia membership and partnerships while fostering cross-institutional collaboration that continues to serve as a model for digital library development

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Develop services and tools which facilitate discovery and improve research efficiency of BHL content

Increases our success through increased financial strength, effective administrative support, and organizational excellence

Increase global awareness about the BHL and biodiversity issues through outreach, learning and education, branding, and collaboration with existing and new user communities

Grow BHL consortia membership and partnerships while fostering cross-institutional collaboration that continues to serve as a model for digital library development

Build and maintain the BHL as the largest reliable, reputable, and responsive repository of biodiversity literature and archival materials

Develop services and tools which facilitate discovery and improve research efficiency of BHL content

Increase global awareness about the BHL and biodiversity issues through outreach, learning and education, branding, and collaboration with existing and new user communities

Grow BHL consortia membership and partnerships while fostering cross-institutional collaboration that continues to serve as a model for digital library development

Increases our success through increased financial strength, effective administrative support, and organizational excellence

In any well-appointed Natural History Library there should be found every book and every edition of every book dealing in the remotest way with the subjects concerned.

Charles Davies Sherborn Epilogue to Index Animalium,

March 1922

Inspiring discovery through free access to biodiversity knowledge

Ice Coverage Great LakesEntire Great Lakes - 89 percentLake Michigan - 73 percent

28 Feb 2015

"Normal" extinction rates,1 species every 4 years

"Normal" extinction rates,1 species every 4 years

Today, 4 species per hour

Yet another physical difficulty is the task of assembling the library and indexes which will enable the student to work under proper conditions…. the beginner must now be prepared to spend liberally, or else must establish himself in an institution where a large library exists; if he work by himself with only a few books, he will have to confine himself to a very narrow specialty indeed.

'The Limitations of Taxonomy' by J.M. Aldrich, Science, April 22, 1927, vol. LXV, no. 1686, p.381

Thank You!@UDCMRK