Biodiversity Heritage Library

I agree that BHL is invaluable to so many studying taxonomy, history, and ART! @biodivlibrary.bsky.social

Biological illustration of Helicops Erythrogrammus (Rainbow Snake Farancia), a red and black striped snake. From the Biodiversity Heritage Library archives, album "North American herpetology, Vol. 3". https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/albums/with/72157719489866172

Man, biological illustration is an artform of its own. And Biodiversity Heritage Library has thousands of examples.

@biodivlibrary.bsky.social

Cover of 'wind sea and swell: theory of relations for forecasting', with stamps from martin j pollak memorial library, woods hole oceanographic institution, and others

I love how much paratextual information accumulates on an old scientific report. Here we see at least 3 or 4 different layers of document history before it became the Biodiversity Heritage Library's canonical scan

Wow I am thrilled for this! I have long loved both institutions and to see them pair up is just perfect.

That's wonderful. We definitely need to support zine-making. Could you share a picture of one of your Zines?

Thank you Field Museum for preserving this important resource!

I mean this sincerely when I say: I could not research, write, or teach to any semblance of the degree I do now without BHL. I am so happy and relieved to hear this news. With continued support and gratitude...

H. T. De la Beche placed a 'fleet' of Argonaut Nautilus in his Duria Antiquior (1830) - a reconstruction of the Jurassic life of Dorset. His list “Organic remains contained in the Lias Formation, in the vicinity of Lyme Regis”, read to @geolsoc.bsky.social 21 Nov 1823 (pub.1826)included Nautilus.

Recent Publication: "Data Born in Literature: The @biodivlibrary.bsky.social – A Global Digital Library Serving the Planet" (2025) / Learn more at bit.ly/4bmezYD

Collage on a blue background that features various illustrations of biological specimens

1) 📣 Read all about it: BHL is the one-stop-shop for biodiversity literature!

📖 @biodivlibrary.bsky.social (BHL) is the world's largest open access digital library for biodiversity literature and archives.

Transition Update #8: The Field Museum to Host BHL’s Technical Infrastructure With the Biodiversity Heritage Library now officially operating in its new chapter following its transition away from the Smithsonian Institution, we are delighted to announce that the Field Museum…

#SciArt: Paper Nautilus, from "Zoography; or, The beauties of nature displayed" (1807), contributed to #BHLib by the Field Museum: www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54312693

#ILoveBHL 🧪 📖 🌏 🌱

We agree it’s the best news, but BHL provides an even greater date range of invaluable research materials than many know. BHL’s 63+ million page “incredible free open treasure trove of nature papers and books” spans the 1100s to 2026!

Great news that our friends @biodivlibrary.bsky.social get such a great host for the data infrastructure! Respect to the Field museum 📚

This is wonderful news!

The Biodiversity Heritage Library is a crown jewel of biodiversity literature and is deserving of both stability and ongoing support.

Thanks to the Field Museum for recognizing that.

An historic black and white illustration of a paper nautilus floating on the ocean. There are boats, a city and hills in the background.

🎉 Huge news for BHL: The Field Museum is taking over the hosting of BHL’s website, servers & infrastructure, ensuring long-term stability and access for its 63+ million pages of open biodiversity literature. Learn more:
blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2026/02/tran...
#BHLTransition #ILoveBHL 🌍 📚 🧪

Field Journal Fix-Up | Zooniverse - People-powered research Help us expand access to important biodiversity data by correcting computer-generated transcriptions of our field journals!

An amazing @zooniverse.bsky.social project where volunteers help correct text that will eventually be added to @biodivlibrary.bsky.social as the text file and used to help folk find data about species. www.zooniverse.org/projects/bg5... #HighlyRecommended #Zooniverse #ILoveBHL

A bright orange pangolin (a small mammal completely covered in armoured plates) climbing down a branch.

A yellowed page from an historic book

In recognition of #WorldPangolinDay, we share this beautiful Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), now critically endangered. #SciArt by Frederick Polydore Nodder from George Shaw's The Naturalist's Miscellany V. 1 (1789-1813) in #BHLib via #MuseumsVictoria www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40297096

An historic illustration of bees and other insects flying around a flowering bush.

All BHL staff have been secured! 🧪 As we enter our next chapter, the team who steward BHL’s collections & infrastructure remain in place, led by Colleen Funkhouser in her new role of Managing Director. Meet the team guiding BHL forward:
blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2026/02/celebrating-bhl-team.html

Hi Alice, we're afraid BHL is being hammered by bot traffic surges, which are causing intermittent disruptions to the BHL website. Our team is actively working to reduce the impact. Thank you for your patience. 🧪 🌱 📖

Illustration: Schwarm Heuschrecke (a swarm of grasshoppers) from Die Insekten, Tausendfüssler und Spinnen (The insects, millipedes and spiders), Leipzig, Bibliographische Institut, 1877. On BHL via @cornelluniversity.bsky.social biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42199217

People swatting a swarm of flying green and brown grasshoppers.

Dear BHL Users, We’re seeing significant bot traffic surges causing intermittent disruptions to the BHL website. While our firewalls are blocking much of this activity, some legitimate users may be affected. Our team is actively working to reduce the impact. Thank you for your patience. 🧪 🌱 📖 🦗

Illustration: Schwarm Heuschrecke (a swarm of grasshoppers) from Die Insekten, Tausendfüssler und Spinnen (The insects, millipedes and spiders), Leipzig, Bibliographische Institut, 1877. Digitized for BHL by @cornelluniversity.bsky.social www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42199217

 📕Found in @biodivlibrary.bsky.social collections:
“THE MOON” in "The beauties of nature and the wonders of the world we live in" (p. 382) by John Lubbock (1893)

🔗See and read more: www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/17449724

An historic illustration of two sugar gliders (small grey gliding possums with a black stripe down their backs and a white tail tip). One is poking its head out of a hole in a tree looking at the other, which is on the branch.

💛 Library Lovers’ Day may be over in Australia, but there’s still time to show your love for BHL. 🧪 📚️ 🌱

63+ million pages.
Open to everyone.

Support the Biodiversity Heritage Library → ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/BHLDona...

#LibraryLoversDay #LoveLibraries #ILoveBHL

Happy #LibraryLoversDay! Show @biodivlibrary.bsky.social some love today! 💙

digital scan of a vintage color book plate from a conchology text, labeled CARDIUM Pl. 59, with four illustrations of Heart Cockle shells (two closed with both halves, two separated into single halves)

#Sciart for #ValentinesDay 💕: Heart Cockles! (Corculum cardissa)
“Cardium,” Plate 59 in General Conchology by William Wood (London, 1815)
Via @biodivlibrary.bsky.social
www.flickr.com/photos/biodi...
#Shells #Mollusks #Molluscs

An historic illustration of two brown and cream snails shooting "love darts" at each other.

💛 Happy #LibraryLoversDay 💛

If you love libraries, biodiversity, and open knowledge, please consider making a gift to the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Your support keeps 63+ million pages freely available to everyone, everywhere. #ILoveBHL

Donate: ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/BHLDona...

A pair of large black and white seabirds (Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross) sitting in the water. There are some more seabirds flying in the distance.

Tomorrow is #LibraryLoversDay 💚 🧪 📚️ 🌱

On February 14, we’re inviting our global community to show their love for the Biodiversity Heritage Library. 63+ million pages of biodiversity knowledge. Free. Open. For everyone.

ancrywkv.donorsupport.co/page/BHLDona...

#LoveLibraries #OpenAccess #ILoveBHL

A book on a cushion held open with a weighted rope, with handwriting on the right hand page.

Happy bday Charles Darwin (born #OTD 1809)! 🎉 Check out Charles Darwin’s Library on #BHLib, a virtual reconstruction of the surviving books owned by Darwin, drawing on original copies & surrogates, providing full transcriptions of his annotations & marks: www.biodiversitylibrary.org/collection/d...

You may have some luck looking in the Biodiversity Heritage Library! You can narrow your search by time period, open scans of old books/manuscripts, and search within the text for your target.
It’s a phenomenal free resource!