In an effort to consolidate resources and facilitate digitization efforts for small collections in Michigan and across the Great Lakes, we are planning a workshop on Saturday, October 20th, from 9-4 at Central Michigan University. This workshop is sponsored by iDigBio, the Hanes Foundation and the Michigan Consortium of Botanists.

This meeting is focused on bringing small collections in the Great Lakes Region “up to speed”. The workshop is intended to provide curators of small herbaria with the basic knowledge necessary to enable them to begin the digitization process for their collections.  The workshop will include discussions, hands-on demonstrations and guest speakers to address the following questions:

Why is it important to digitize our small/regional collection?
What does it mean to digitize or database our collections?
What are some ways to get our home institutions to support this initiative?
What can we do with digitized data in our research and in the classroom?
How do we get our small/unfunded/unstaffed collections ready for the digitization process?
What are the “need to know” basic mechanics and practical knowledge required to get our specimens online and make them globally available?

Please consider attending and bringing a student. Attendance is limited to 40 attendees. We will provide meals and facilities at no cost to attendees. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Anna Monfils (monfi1ak@cmich.edu [1]) or Tim Evans (evanstim@gvsu.edu [2]). We would like to have a list of participants by September 21st. Feel free to forward this invitation to other interested parties.