The document summarizes the 15th annual meeting of the European Botanical & Horticultural Library Group (EBHL) held in April 2008 at Merton College, University of Oxford. Presentations were given on various botanical library resources and collections, including CABI, the RHS Catalogue images, the Flora Graeca expeditions, the Lindley Library catalogue, and Intute. Tours were provided of Merton College Library and gardens, the Oxford Botanic Garden, the Fielding-Druce Herbarium, and other Oxford University botanical collections. The EBHL business meeting discussed expanding membership and future meeting locations.

1. European Botanical & Horticultural Library Group 15 th Annual Meeting 2-5 April 2008 Merton College University of Oxford

2. EBHL 2008: Evolving Services, Extending Access Preparing for the future … The Oxford View Roger Mills described staffing and storage challenges at Oxford. The Intern’s View Oliver Bridle described a one-year library internship program in the Oxford University Library system. Interns come from various disciplines, but must show an interest in librarianship. 15-20 interns are hired each year.

3. EBHL 2008 – Presentations CABI RHS Catalogue – Images & Descriptions Flora Graeca NHBS Intute – The Organic Edunet

4. Clodagh Corcoran, Alexis Rendell-Dunn, and Paul Rogers , CABI representatives shared news about their newest products and services. CAB Abstracts is the most comprehensive database of its kind, giving researchers instant access to over 5 million records covering the applied life sciences. It offers full- text access to proceedings and other gray literature. Subject coverage includes: Agriculture Animal and Veterinary Sciences Environmental Sciences Human Health, Food and Nutrition Microbiology and Parasitology Plant Sciences CAB e-Books Subject Collections (2005-) & Archive (2000-2004) EBHL 2008 Sponsor

5. Images in the Lindley Library Online Catalogue Brent Elliot and Debbie Lane demonstrated the Lindley Library online catalogue. It includes more than 1000 digitally scanned images of illustrations from works in the library’s early books collection. An additional 6,000 images will be added. Note the thumbnail at the left of the catalogue record display. Fin d more by this author Find more on Google Illustrations of orchidaceous plants / by Francis Bauer, with notes and preparatory remarks by John Lindley Lindley, John (1799-1865) Publisher: James Ridgway and Sons, Pub date: 1830-1838. Physical description: Pp. [iv], xiv, 35 leaves of col. plates each with leaf of descriptive text. Item info: No copies currently available. Estimated wait undetermined. Holdings London CopyMaterialLocationItem ID930 ORC1Reference Book On Exhibition 910-1001

6. Find more by this author Find more on these topics Nearby items on shelf Continue search in Google I discorsi / di M. Pietro Andrea Matthioli Mattioli, Pietro Andrea Gregorio (1500?-1577) Publisher: Bartolomeo Alberti, Pub date: 1604. Physical description: (Pp. [clxviii], 1-672; 673-1527, [1]): Item info: 1 copy currently available at London. A Look Inside: URL URL Detailed bibliographic notes are being added to the catalogue record by adding URLs to Word documents.

7. Users will find this additional information about the RHS copy.

8. The Flora Graeca Harris, Stephen. The Magnificent Flora Graeca : How the Mediterranean Came to the English Garden . Distributed for the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, 2007. 200 p., 100 color plates. Stephen Harris, Curator of the Fielding-Druce Herbarium , told the story of the expeditions of John Sibthorp and his renowned illustrator Ferdinand Bauer. The tale was replete with larger-than-life characters and adventures on land and sea. Harris profiled the lives of Sibthorp, Bauer, and other leading characters, and explored the Flora Graeca ’s rich cultural and scientific legacy. Sibthorp’s pioneering adventures unearthed floral specimens previously unknown to science and EBHL members were privileged to view original drawings and specimens following the talk.

9. Anneli Meeder, NHBS sales representative, described the origins and services of the company. NHBS Environment Bookstore operates from offices and a warehouse on the edge of Totnes, a medieval market town set amidst the rolling South Devon countryside, in the southwest of England. With 18 staff the company is big enough to provide a high quality service and small enough to offer personal attention - providing a service for thousands of customers in over 100 countries.

10. Intute – The Organic Edunet About Intute … Intute is a free online service providing access to the very best web resources for education and research. All material is evaluated and selected by a network of subject specialists in the U.K. to create the Intute database. Jacqueline Wickham and Roger Mills participate in Oxford working groups to evaluate the site and resources. Millions of resources available but finding relevant and appropriate material is a challenge. Issues of trust, quality, and search skills are very real and significant concerns - particularly in a learning context. The Intute database makes it possible to explore and discover trusted information, assured that it has been evaluated by specialists for its quality and relevance.

11. Intute http://www.intute.ac.uk/ Natural History Welcome to the natural history pages of Intute. We are a free online service providing you with access to the very best web resources for education and research, evaluated and selected by a network of subject specialists. Palynology Plant pathology Plants by environment Rare & endangered plants Regional treatment (floras) Specimen collections - Herbaria Terminology - Nomenclature Botany - Plants Sub-categories Anatomy / Physiology / Morphology Botanical gardens / Arboreta General topics Genetics / Evolution Harmful & beneficial plants History / People Images Methodology / Protocols Organisations

12. Oxford University Tours Merton College Library & Gardens The Oxford Botanic Garden & Greenhouses The Fielding-Druce Herbarium The Oxford University Plant Sciences Library & Special Collections The Radcliffe Science Library The Bodleian Library

13. Merton College Mob Quadrangle is the oldest quadrangle in the University. It was built in three phases from 1275 until 1378. Mob Library is on the second floor.

14. Merton College Library Mob Library is the oldest continuously functioning library for university academics and students in the world. The provision of books and their storage was secured in 1276 when the Archbishop of Canterbury directed that any books that Fellows brought in or acquired during residence should remain at Merton. The books were kept in a chest with three locks so three key holders had to be present to open it and remove the books.

15. The Merton College Gardens Four gardeners meticulously groom the College’s 6 1/2 acres.

16. Merton College Gardens

17. The Oxford Botanic Garden Sir Henry Danvers gave £ 5000 (about £3.5 million today) to set up a physic garden for "the glorification of God and for the furtherance of learning." Despite the size of bequest, the the walls and arches were built on such a grand scale that by the time they were finished in 1633 all the money had been spent and there was nothing left to pay for the running the Garden.

18. The Oxford Botanic Garden The Garden is still committed "to promoting learning and glorifying nature."

19. The OBG Greenhouses

20. The Fielding-Druce Herbarium The Fielding-Druce Herbarium comprises pre-1796 historic herbaria, the Fielding Herbarium, the Druce Herbarium, and collections of lichens, liverworts, mosses, ferns, algae, and fungi. The historic herbaria in the Fielding-Druce Herbarium are some of the oldest and most important collections in the U.K. Four of the more significant historic herbaria are those of: Johan Jacob Dillenius (1684-1747) Robert Morison (1620-1683) John Sibthorp (1758-1796) & William Sherard (1659-1728).

21. Specimens & manuscripts

22. Oxford University Sciences Libraries The Plant Sciences Library Radcliffe Science Library http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/isbes/taxonomic_collections/

23. The Bodleian Library

24. Library Security Systems The “lock box”

25. More security at the Bodleian Chained books shelved in reverse.

26. EBHL Business Meeting Introduction of officers Roger Mills, President Debbie Lane, First Vice-President Pilar San Pio, Second Vice-President Fiona Ainsworth, Secretary Ludmilla Frankova, Treasurer Elections will be held next year.

27. EBHL Business Meeting Roger reported that John Flanagan was prevented from attending due to poor health. Peter Hirsch sent his best wishes for a successful meeting. New members were welcomed. Roger presented his President’s Report. Judy Warnement presented a report on behalf of CBHL. Fiona discussed list serve activity. Gina volunteered to serve on the Finance Committee.

28. EBHL Business Meeting Books donated by NHBS will be send to Zagreb. The Koeltz travel fund supported 2 members. Gina Douglas is already a life member and it was agreed to give John Flanagan the same status. Roger thanked Pierre for translating last year’s proceedings into French. Providing hand-outs and using Powerpoint greatly enhances the meeting for non-native English speakers.

29. EBHL Business Meeting The Future of EBHL … Expand Membership Focus on S.E. Asia and South America Form regional chapters? Change the name of EBHL to be more inclusive? Improve Communication Encourage use of the EBHL list Consider wikis & blogs Promote EBHL to Scientists, Librarians, & Students Library schools, Professional meetings, etc.

30. EBHL Future Meetings 2009 – Prague, Czech Republic 2010 – Montpellier, France 2011 – Oslo, Norway 2012 – Geneva, Switzerland

31. EBHL Meeting 2008 EBHL 2008 54 Representatives from 16 countries including Australia & Ghana

32. Living at Merton College

33. Dining at Merton College The dining hall

34. A Spring Surprise at Merton