Small Collections Grant
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Digitizing the Paul Huth Herbarium Collection
United States of America
Digitally image
Cost (USD):
1900
DSRC
Mohonk Preserve, Inc.
Objective:
Mohonk Preserve seeks to digitize and improve access to the Paul Huth Herbarium Collection (1974-1988). The herbarium contains 300 plant specimens, including 80 species new to our holdings, most notably ferns and grasses. We have received an Institute of Museum & Library Services grant to digitize the extensive natural history observations and herbarium of naturalist Daniel Smiley (1907-1989), but the Huth Collection was acquired only recently and is not part of that project. Together, the two collections provide a comprehensive sampling of Shawangunk Ridge species over almost 100 years.
Timetable:
Month 1: Digitization Technician, works 40 hours (85 remaining)
• Hold project kickoff meeting to review project work plan and protocols
• Transcribe label data into pre-formatted existing database.
Month 2: Digitization Technician works 20 hours (65 remaining)
• Annotate specimens with current taxonomy
• Make minor repairs to specimens
• Sort specimens and integrate into main collection.
Months 3-10: Digitization Technician works 65 hours (0 remaining)
• Create digital images
• Project team meets regularly to assess progress and to conduct quality checks
• Upload image, label transcriptions and metadata to Symbiota database (2 hours/week for 7-8 months).
Month 4: The project team will coordinate with the Preserve’s two-person Communications team to create and release an e-newsletter article publicizing the digitization effort.
Month 5: The project team will lead a public program in the form of a plant walk / citizen science botany blitz (specimen collection event) to publicize the digitization efforts.
Month 10: The project team concludes its project evaluation and coordinates with the Preserve’s Grants Manager to prepare and submit a final grant report to IAPT.
Scoring Rubric
Reviewer's name:
Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)
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Facilitating access to the physical collections by digitization (e.g., data entry, setting up database structure with an outline of the platform to be used, purchasing equipment, and imaging specimens) – up to 30 points.
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Enhancing physical collections by improving the conservation status of specimens in the herbarium (e.g., better folders, protecting covers, mounting paper, labeling, etc.) – up to 30 points.
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Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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Increasing our understanding of the flora or funga by making new herbarium specimens available, such as processing of backlog or collecting and mounting of new specimens from understudied sites – up to 20 points.
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Securing collections by distribution of duplicates (or orphan collections) to other regional or international herbaria or shipping endangered collections to another herbarium – up to 20 points.
This proposal scores:
/120
Methods & Funding (max. 40 points)
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Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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Perceived need, the extent to which the project will benefit from IAPT funding: e.g., due to active floristic work or contribution to poorly collected sites, due to threatened conditions of collections, and for the degree of involvement of others (outreach and education). We give more points for herbaria in low- and middle-income countries – up to 20 points.
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Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)
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Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
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The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
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The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
We will digitize the herbarium and upload the images, label transcriptions, and metadata to Symbiota, an open-access digital repository supported by the National Science Foundation and iDigBio Program. We will follow protocols and workflow established in the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) grant. We consulted with staff at iDigBio, Symbiota, and the New York Botanical Garden when creating our work plan. Key tasks will include:
o Transcribe labels into existing database (specimens have been barcoded)
o Annotate specimens with current taxonomy
o Make minor repairs (remounting, new labels, etc.)
o Integrate into main collection (organized taxonomically)
o Create digital image using IMLS-funded equipment
o Upload image, label and metadata to Symbiota
The digitization work will be performed by Jordan Williams, a part-time Digitization Technician hired through the IMLS grant. Ms. Williams earned a bachelor’s in Biology from Florida State University, Tallahassee and has experience with herbaria and iDigBio. She will devote 125 hours over ten months to the Huth Herbarium. Hours per month will vary. These hours will not be covered by IMLS. Ms. Williams will report to Natalie Feldsine, Research Collection & Citizen Science Coordinator. Oversight will also be provided by Elizabeth Long, PhD, Director of Conservation Science, who will serve as Principal Investigator. Citizen science volunteers being trained for the IMLS grant may also assist with the Huth project.
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Elizabeth Long, PhD
Applicant Last Name/s: