This year’s CBHL conference

The Libraries was well represented at this year’s annual meeting of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries (CBHL) on May 12-15, 2009, hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Robin Everly, Botany-Horticulture Librarian and Leslie Overstreet, Curator of Natural History Rare Books, Joseph F. Cullman 3rd, Library of Natural History, attended the conference. The theme was, "Growing Green: the role of gardens as models of conservation and sustainability". Martin Kalfatovic, Assistant Director for Digital Services, presented to a full audience information on Botanicus, Biodiversity Heritage Library, and TROPICOS at the preconference. The presentation was well-received and discussed amongst participants throughout the conference.

At Wednesday's evening literature awards reception held at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park, TL-2 or Taxonomic Literature: a selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries, and types, 2nd edition, was given a special recognition award by the organization. This fifteen-volume work is one of the most important resources in taxonomic literature. Through its over 30-year history, it's been written, organized, and produced by botanists, most recently Laurence Dorr and Dan H. Nicolson of the Smithsonian’s Botany Department. At the reception, many librarians recalled fondly working with many of the botanists involved in TL-2.  

Finally, Robin Everly was elected by the CBHL membership to serve on the Board as Second Vice President. It’s a four-year commitment, with the third year serving as the organization's Board President.  

For over 40 years, CBHL has been an independent, innovative group of primarily botanical, horticultural, and natural history librarians. They work in partnership with researchers.  Their skills and training reach across all aspects of librarianship and information management.—Robin Everly