Sylvia OrliSylvia Orli Department of BotanyDepartment of Botany National Museum of Natural HistoryNational Museum of Natural History Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution One HerbariumOne Herbarium 3.5 Million Botanical Specimens3.5 Million Botanical Specimens Two Venues Two Venues

Smithsonian Digitization Priorities The Smithsonian Institution created a Digitization Strategic Plan as part of an institution-wide initiative that will “re-envision” the future of the organization. It outlines strategies to digitize our collections and research holdings along with the descriptive, interpretative information that accompanies them. “Digitization is one of the best investments we can make in our future. “

NMNH Digitization Goals The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History holds one of the largest natural history collections in the world. 126 million objects and specimens, it represents a phenomenal scientific and cultural resource for the nation and the world. To reach its potential for scientific and public uses, the collection must be accessible in an electronic format.

Department of Botany ~ 5 million botanical specimens in the US Herbarium. 1.5 million digitized. 3.5 million left. At the current rate, full digitization of the herbarium will occur in 110 years. How?

Traditional Method of Digitization

Atlas of Living Australia DigiVol (Biodiversity Volunteer Portal)

DigiVol Institutional Pages

DigiVol Portal Self-service Can choose from several transcription templates Endlessly editable Easy to upload specimen images and associated data DigiVol Portal Self-service Can choose from several transcription templates Endlessly editable Easy to upload specimen images and associated data

Validation Output

DigiVol Volunteers High interaction Many given SI Volunteer Status

Smithsonian Botany DigiVol Statistics June 2014– October 2014 ~15,000 specimen records completed. Over 130 volunteers 10 super volunteers 6 validators. Quick turn over ~15,000 specimen records completed. Over 130 volunteers 10 super volunteers 6 validators. Quick turn over

SMITHSONIAN DIGITAL VOLUNTEERS: TRANSCRIPTION CENTER

SI Transcription Center Botany Page

Validation Output

Smithsonian Transcription Center All template edits must be requested through SI Images taken from online records No skeleton record data added to transcription page SI Transcription Volunteers Little to no interaction Transcribers and reviewers not vetted Attracted from large pool Jane Emu - the unknown transcriber Goals 2,000-4,000 records/month start Accelerated growth Increase ease of import back to EMu Current 2,000-4,000 records/month specimen records complete since Oct 2014 Release from Beta – new volunteers Collector name autosuggest attached to IRN

Botanical Specimen Stub Record in EMu SI Collection Search Center SI Transcription Center Export CSV File Import record data to EMu CSV File + Image Upload ALA Digivol

Crowdsource Workflow Preparation Specimens photographed ~ /lot Emu Catalog records created Taxonomic names and images imported to specimen records EMu group created for set Set flagged for imported to TC CSV file/images uploaded to local server for ALA Transcription Set imported Set named, described, decorated Transcription Validation Volunteer recruitment (ongoing) Volunteer correspondence (ongoing) Import to Emu Download Set data CSV Transcription data reconciled to EMu group Field metadata converted to EMu structure Transcription data cleaned/massaged (collector irns, dates, locality names, etc.) Import to EMu Crowdsource flags converted = Huge management job