The Role of Botanical Libraries
As the world becomes increasingly aware of the necessity of saving,storing and naming of plants ,and to protect diversity of species,also the properties of medicinal plants,the information and research emanating from Libraries and Herbariums are becoming more important,the role of Botanical libraries is to make available as much information about plant species as possible,to include and educate the general public in the work they do and to promote the libraries as a place where information can be easily obtained
Plant Diversity
So much information about plant species was recorded in the years 1500-1900 as Botanists travelled with the early explorers on their voyages recording and collecting plant species and while drawings of botanical items were done by hand it was and still is to an extent felt that the human eye could capture a more realistic depiction of plants than photography ever could.
Most of the botanical libraries around the world depend heavily on these old books and great care must be taken in their preservation such as this link which outlines restoration work done at The National Herbarium Netherlands, Leiden University,
The Linnaeus classification
Was published in 1735 by the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his book Systema Naturae in which he classified all organisms by species,genus,family class, order and kingdom
These groupings are still used today and is the cornerstone for all botanical research centres with only minor alterations from the original text.
Morris,D 1974,Mueller,Sir Ferdinand Jakob Heinrich Von,(1825-1896),Australian Dictionary of Biography,vol.5,Australian National University, Canberra.
Most of the botanical libraries around the world depend heavily on these old books and great care must be taken in their preservation such as this link which outlines restoration work done at The National Herbarium Netherlands, Leiden University,
The Linnaeus classification
Was published in 1735 by the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his book Systema Naturae in which he classified all organisms by species,genus,family class, order and kingdom
These groupings are still used today and is the cornerstone for all botanical research centres with only minor alterations from the original text.
Carl Linnaeus(1707-1778)
Harvard University Herbaria
Is the world's largest library and herbarium that is owned by a university,with over 5 million specimens,with 5 Botanical libraries being, The Arnold Arboretum
The collection at the Arnold Arboretum was begun with a donation of over 6000 volumes in 1893 by Charles Sprauge Sargent,it has now grown to over 100,000 items,i have included this quote from him.
''The Arnold Arboretum is not a School of Forestry or of Landscape Gardening...[I]t has been managed not merely as a New England museum but as a national and international institution working to increase knowledge of trees in all parts of the world and anxious to help a student in Tasmania or New Caledonia as in Massachusetts. An institution with such ambitions must be equipped to answer any question about any tree growing in any part of the world which may be addressed to it.''
Jottings of a Harvard Botanist, 1874-1950,
The Orchid Library Of Oakes Ames
Ferdinand Von Mueller
Other Notable Botanical Libraries.
Harvard University Herbaria
Is the world's largest library and herbarium that is owned by a university,with over 5 million specimens,with 5 Botanical libraries being, The Arnold Arboretum
The collection at the Arnold Arboretum was begun with a donation of over 6000 volumes in 1893 by Charles Sprauge Sargent,it has now grown to over 100,000 items,i have included this quote from him.
Charles Sprague Sargent, 1922
.''..the study of plants, as such, holds for large numbers of wanderers on this by no means unexceptional planet unnumbered joys and compensations of which the uninitiate have little or no conception. The fact alone that very many humans have found, do find, and will continue thus to find interest and consolation and wholesome activities for the eyes and mind, within doors and without, is in itself a sufficient raison d'etre for "The Farlow Library and Herbarium"
Roland Thaxter, 1882.
''When the history of the progress of botany during the nineteenth century shall be written two names will hold high positions; those of Professor Augustin Pyrame DeCandolle (Geneva) and Professor Asa Gray. One sank to his rest in the Old World as the other rose to eminence in the New. Both were great teachers, prolific writers, and authors of the best elementary works of botany in their day''.
Sir Joseph Hooker, 1888.
''A rainy day may always be spent profitably among good books. Even though we do not read them, but just turn the pages to catch a line here and there, we often glean in the course of twelve hours a rich mental harvest from the books of a well selected collection.... An essay on botany or a ramble through an old herbal afford as much pleasure as I need for daily comfort.''
Oakes AmesJottings of a Harvard Botanist, 1874-1950,
The Orchid Library Of Oakes Ames
''The Orchidaceae, one of the largest and most complex of plant families, was but poorly understood when Oakes Ames as a young man began his systematic studies. Today, and in no small measure because of his work and that of his associates, the species of Orchidaceae have probably been more thoroughly studied and more completely classified than those of any of the larger plant families.''
Harvard dinner for Oakes Ames, 1948.
The Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC has a growing Botanic Library which was established in the mid 1960s,with a donation of early 19th and 20thCentury landscape books,and prints a botanic review called Plant Press which deals with insights into the world of Botany.
Conclusions
FUTURE OF BOTANICAL LIBRARIES
There are many Botanical libraries around the world now,and they are all sharing information and research,by making their archives more easily accessible,with many undergoing huge digital transformation of their items,while in Europe there are a collection of Botanical libraries,who regularly liaise and hold conferences with each other in matters of Botany.The work going on in the herbariums and research centres such as the Millennium seed bank , is becoming more vital as the earth faces huge challenges with deforestation,desertification,global warming or climate change.as much information has been lost as to the use of many species and the part they played in the earth's hierarchy.Botanical libraries are therefore at the helm of providing invaluable resources to help alleviate these growing concerns.
Viewed 24th May 2012,<http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mueller-sir ferdinand-jakob-heinrich-von-4266.
Henry Shaw (Botanist)2012,Wikipedia,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wikiHenry_Shaw_(botanist)>.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Shaw_(botanist.)
National Tropical botanical garden 2011,Botanical research centre,National tropical botanical garden,viewed 24th May2012,
<http://ntbg.org/about/history.php>.
The Guardian 2009,"Escape Pods:The Millennium Seed Bank''The Guardian,7th April 2009, viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2009/apr/06/kew/millennium-seed-bank-pollen>.
Kew views 2011,Why does plant diversity matter?,20th May 2011,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLC1kapyBjl>.
Book restoration project 2011,Nationaal Herbarium Nederland,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.nhn.test.gorlaeus.net/index.php/library/library_news>.
Linnaeus 2007,''Father of systematic biology" Linnaeus's blog, 9th Jan 2007,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.blogster.com./linnaeus/systematic biology>.
Duke,G 2010,"Book of the week- Botanical Illustrations'',G Duke's blog,19th January 2010,viewed 25th May 2010,<http://www.blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2010/01/book of the week-botanical-illustrations html>.
Maurice Flower 2007,''Carl Von Linne-or Carolus Linnaeus'',[image]in Maurice Flower's photostream Flickr,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.flickr.com/photos/maurice_flower/510317091/.
Botany & Horticultural Library 2012,Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.sil.si.edu/libraries/bothort/index.cfm#top>.
Botany Libraries 2011,Harvard University Herbaria,viewed 25th May,2012,<http://www.huh.harvard.edu./libraries/home_page.htm>.
The Guardian 2009,"Escape Pods:The Millennium Seed Bank''The Guardian,7th April 2009, viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/gallery/2009/apr/06/kew/millennium-seed-bank-pollen>.
Kew views 2011,Why does plant diversity matter?,20th May 2011,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLC1kapyBjl>.
Book restoration project 2011,Nationaal Herbarium Nederland,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.nhn.test.gorlaeus.net/index.php/library/library_news>.
Linnaeus 2007,''Father of systematic biology" Linnaeus's blog, 9th Jan 2007,viewed 24th May 2012,<http://www.blogster.com./linnaeus/systematic biology>.
Duke,G 2010,"Book of the week- Botanical Illustrations'',G Duke's blog,19th January 2010,viewed 25th May 2010,<http://www.blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2010/01/book of the week-botanical-illustrations html>.
Maurice Flower 2007,''Carl Von Linne-or Carolus Linnaeus'',[image]in Maurice Flower's photostream Flickr,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.flickr.com/photos/maurice_flower/510317091/.
Botany & Horticultural Library 2012,Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.sil.si.edu/libraries/bothort/index.cfm#top>.
Botany Libraries 2011,Harvard University Herbaria,viewed 25th May,2012,<http://www.huh.harvard.edu./libraries/home_page.htm>.
Directory 2008, EBHL,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.kew.org/ebhl/direcomb.htm>.
Homepage 2004, CBHL,viewed 25th May 2012,<http://www.cbhl.net/about/about.htm>.
