Field books are original or primary source documents that describe the events and circumstances leading up to and including the collection and description of biological specimens. For the purposes of this project, field book collections may include journals created in the field, correspondence, sketches, notes, and other unpublished materials. These items are significant sources of information related to scientific discovery. They are important for enhancing information associated with specimens by providing details regarding dates, localities (for geo-referencing), and associated event data. The Field Book Project is a joint initiative between the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Our overall mission is to create one online location for scholars to visit when searching for field books and other field research materials. This process will begin as a Smithsonian-wide initiative and lay the foundation for an online Field Book Registry comprised of content contributed by museums and research institutions from throughout the country. The field book registry will be a tool for the entire biodiversity community, and as such, we have gained the support of various partners. The Field Book Project is funded by the Council for Library and Information Resources (CLIR). ... [Information of the supplier]
