Category: news

Open-access biological databases have long served as pillars for life science research, providing freely accessible data that drive discovery across fields like genetics, ecology, and neuroscience. However, sustaining these resources has been a long-standing challenge, and several Illinois faculty members, including those in the University Library and the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, are working to build awareness of the problem as data resources are exposed to new pressures due to widespread federal funding cuts.

One resource essential to taxonomy and conservation and supported by the Library is the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), the world’s largest open-access digital library dedicated to biodiversity literature, which contains data and metadata from high-resolution archival (scans) and contemporary (born digital) literature and archival material of biodiversity relevance. As reported last July, after 20+ years of support, the Smithsonian Institution announced that it will no longer host the administrative functions of BHL. Biosciences Librarian Kelli Trei is playing a vital role in coordinating BHL’s transition to ensure that the resource can continue to provide primary source material to scientists studying, among other things, historical trends in biodiversity and verification of taxonomic names and classifications. Since July, BHL has partnered with the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) as its fiscal sponsor, providing tax-exempt status and a solid legal and financial framework. BHL also published Guiding Principles to shape decision-making into 2026 and launched its first public fundraising campaign to support long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on any single institution.

“The BHL democratizes access to biodiversity information by making centuries of literature containing species descriptions, expedition records, and ecological data freely available online. It serves as a critical resource for taxonomists and scientists, supporting research, conservation, and global collaboration,” said Trei.  Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian Claire Stewart adds, “The often unseen work of sustaining large collaborative repositories like the BHL is as at risk as funding for basic science in the current environment.”

Another instrumental resource is WormAtlas, a database detailing the anatomy of the model organism C. elegans, including tens of thousands of highly detailed anatomical images. The resource was recently migrated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine to Illinois under the direction of Nate Schroeder, an Associate Professor in Crop Sciences, who consulted with the Library’s Research Data Service during the migration. Schroeder recently co-authored a perspective for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that highlights the role of community-driven data resources in enabling Nobel Prize-winning discoveries. Vignettes of how these resources contributed to the 2002, 2006, 2008, and 2024 Prizes are included, with six Nobel Prize-winning scientists co-authoring the perspective with Schroeder and others. “A strength of C. elegans as a model organism is the community of researchers who study it and the community resource they’ve developed,” says Schroeder. “By aggregating knowledge, these resources are essential for the thousands of scientists who use C. elegans to maximize their research efficiency.”

Both the BHL and WormAtlas were among nine long-lived data resources considered in a recent study by Heidi Imker, the Allen and Elaine Avner Professor of Interdisciplinary Research and Director of the Research Data Service in the Library. Imker, who has been studying the fragility of life science data resources for several years, quickly launched into a project to document anticipated impacts as disruption of federal funding began last spring. A preprint of the study was posted on bioRxiv in October and revealed mounting risks to sustained data access and reuse, declining availability of subject matter expertise, and disrupted research opportunities. Many participants shared how substantial funding reductions would erode progress in their fields by forcing research communities to revert to less coordinated science, ultimately undermining how new scientific findings are interpreted and integrated into existing knowledge.

Illinois’ engagement with WormAtlas and contributions to BHL reflect its leadership in advancing open knowledge, inside the Library and across campus. Imker notes that academic libraries across the country have been doing truly heroic work rescuing “at risk” data, including efforts like the volunteer-led Data Rescue Project. “Efforts like these are critical if resources are to be resurrected one day,” Imker notes, but admits there will be gaps since community resources provide deep disciplinary expertise and extensive user support along with the data. “Supporting these data resources is just as much about preserving and enabling the networks of expertise and knowledge that fuel scientific discoveries,” Imker concludes. “We have to hope that resources like these can continue to exist or brace for less efficient science.”

The Illinois Newspaper Project (INP) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library has received a grant of $324,189 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), to digitize 100,000 pages of historical Illinois newspapers, as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP), a partnership between the NEH and the Library of Congress. The Illinois Newspaper Project has been an NDNP partner since 2009, and has contributed over 600,000 pages of digitized newspaper content to Chronicling America, the digital newspaper collection of the Library of Congress. All Illinois newspapers digitized by the INP are also freely available on the Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections (IDNC)  website, which includes additional newspapers digitized thanks to other grants and generous patron donations.

The 2025-2027 grant will focus on Illinois newspapers that document the history of relations between Native American communities and settlers, from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. The INP will partner with other Illinois cultural heritage repositories including the Newberry Library. Celestina Savonius-Wroth (head of the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library) and William Schlaack (Digital Reformatting Coordinator for Preservation Services) will lead the project. In addition to the project leads, the Illinois Newspaper Project team includes Jessie Knoles, Geoffrey Ross, and Chris Prom.

The INP received a 2022-2024 grant from NEH in 2022. Read more…

Kelli Trei, Biosciences Librarian at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed as the Transition Director through July 2026 for the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), the world’s largest open access digital library dedicated to biodiversity literature. In this critical leadership role, Trei will guide the international consortium through a pivotal transition—identifying new institutional hosts, finalizing fiscal sponsorship, and exploring sustainable funding models for the future. 

Trei’s involvement with BHL has been long-standing and impactful, having most recently served as Vice-Chair of the BHL Executive Committee, following a term as Secretary. While she serves in this transition role, Emily Benton, Prairie Research Institute Librarian, will represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on the BHL Member Council. 

“Kelli’s appointment is a testament to the strength of our faculty and the national and international leadership that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign librarians provide,” said Sarah Williams, Agriculture Librarian and Head of the Funk ACES Library. “We are proud to support the continued success of the BHL and the global access to scientific knowledge it enables.” 

The University of Illinois has contributed to the BHL since 2007 and became a full member in 2014. As of April 2025, Illinois has added 6,958 volumes from 4,497 titles, totaling more than 2.2 million pages, along with over 5,000 images to the BHL’s Flickr collection. 

Beginning January 1, 2026, the BHL must transition to a new hosting structure, creating a rare opportunity to reimagine the Library’s future. As Transition Director, Trei is focused on preserving the BHL’s legacy while broadening its reach. 

“The BHL is a free and open resource, but its sustainability depends on the creativity, engagement, and support of our community,” said Trei. “We’re seeking not only financial support but ideas—from new collaborators and increased sustainability to ways we can better manage and expand content. I’m deeply committed to the BHL’s work in democratizing biodiversity information for scientists and interdisciplinary users around the world. 

The Biodiversity Heritage Library brings together the digitized biodiversity literature of over 660 contributors worldwide, providing open access to more than 63 million pages of scientific knowledge. Learn more about supporting the BHL at about.biodiversitylibrary.org/call-for-support/.  

From the University Library and School of Information Sciences

On May 8, 2025, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was dismissed from office. On May 10, 2025, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, which is part of the Library of Congress, was also terminated. These unexpected decisions raise grave concerns for research libraries, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, and for the national infrastructure that supports scholarship, access to knowledge, and preservation of cultural heritage.

As the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, the Library of Congress (LC) is not only a symbol of democratic access to information, it is a critical partner in the research and teaching mission of academic libraries across the country. The loss of leadership at the highest level places at risk the programs, partnerships, and technical leadership that have long made the Library of Congress an essential institution for the nation and the world. LC houses exceptional and unique collections, including many that Library faculty at Illinois utilize and refer our researchers to. But LC is much more than a collection.

“The Library of Congress is an indispensable partner in our work,” said Claire Stewart, Juanita J. and Robert E. Simpson Dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “From digitization and preservation to cataloging and international acquisitions, LC enables us to support our scholars, preserve access to rare and important collections, and deliver high-quality research services. Its leadership is crucial not just to our institution, but to every citizen who relies on its services, and to the professional pipeline that ensures libraries will continue to serve the public well into the future.”

A National and Global Partner in Research and Access

The Library of Congress underpins much of the infrastructure that allows libraries to serve their communities. Its work in cataloging and classification, copyright records, and standards development helps ensure consistency and interoperability across library systems nationally. Through open data, digital preservation leadership (including the formats registry and Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative or FADGI digitization standards), and collaborative web archiving, LC shapes best practices that affect every level of library service and scholarship.

For international and area studies collections, LC is a unique asset. Its overseas field offices, in places like Islamabad, Cairo, and Nairobi, make possible the acquisition of rare materials that would otherwise be inaccessible. Our Global Studies librarians work closely with these offices and the LC’s Area Studies divisions to enhance our collections and support student and faculty research. LC’s collaborations with national libraries and copyright offices abroad have also helped open up access to materials critical for cross-border scholarship.

Digitization, Preservation, and Access

The Library of Congress is a driving force behind major national initiatives that make history publicly accessible. Its leadership in preservation, dating back to projects like the Slow Fires: On the Preservation of the Human Record film and continuing through today’s digital preservation efforts, has shaped how libraries care for their collections and ensure their longevity. Its partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities, for example, led to the Chronicling America project, an open-access trove of digitized historic American newspapers that has long supported our own digital newspaper work. Without LC’s leadership, much of this work—and public access to it—would not exist.

Support for the Profession and the Public

The LC has long served as an incubator for library and information professionals, offering internships, fellowships, and professional development opportunities that shape the next generation of librarians, archivists, and preservationists. Programs like the Veterans Oral History Project and the American Folklife Center exemplify LC’s commitment to documenting diverse American experiences and ensuring broad public engagement with cultural heritage.

We also rely on LC’s support in data and analytics. Our work in copyright research, discovery systems, and bibliographic data has been strengthened by collaboration with LC’s technical staff. Their willingness to share expertise and work through technical challenges has helped us meet the evolving needs of scholars and users.

Advancing Policy Research and The Pursuit of Knowledge

One of LC’s most critical functions is the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS is a nonpartisan research service available to all members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, and robustly supports members’ policy research objectives through a rigorous and unbiased process. CRS’ librarians and analysts work closely with congressional staff to conduct research across five major divisions, and many of the reports are published for free online, extending this knowledge support service to all citizens.

The Library of Congress is home to the U.S. Copyright Office, a key agency supporting authors, publishers, and the public through copyright registration, rulemaking, and research. The Office plays a vital role in balancing protections for creators with fair use rights for educators and researchers—a foundational function in any democratic society.

Sustaining and Supporting the Library of Congress

In an era when public access to information, trustworthy data, and reliable infrastructure is more important than ever, the leadership of the Library of Congress must be protected and strengthened. The dismissal of the Librarian of Congress without a clear transition or roadmap undermines the institution’s stability and risks the erosion of services on which scholars, educators, and communities rely.

We stand in solidarity with colleagues across the country in urging continued, transparent, and nonpartisan support for the Library of Congress and its mission. The Library is more than a repository—it is a pillar of American democracy and global scholarship.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign values free speech and academic freedom as bedrock principles. The views and opinions expressed here belong to the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the university.

The University Library honors the memory of William H. Mischo, who passed away on April 20, 2025. Bill was a legendary figure among his colleagues—an innovator, mentor, and leader whose influence shaped not only the Grainger Engineering Library Information Center, but also the very systems through which countless users have discovered knowledge. His decades of service leave a lasting impact on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and throughout the wider world of library and information science. An excerpt from his obituary follows.

William H. Mischo began as Head of the Engineering Library in Engineering Hall in 1982 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He developed science and technology library collections, worked with faculty to understand their research, and was a role model for other librarians on campus.

Bill was perhaps best known for the planning and construction of the world-class Grainger Engineering Library Information Center (GELIC), which opened on March 14, 1994, and is the northernmost landmark on the Bardeen Quad. Bill trained hundreds of new STEM librarians and information professionals who work around the world.

Soon after Grainger opened, Bill was a Principal Investigator on the Digital Library Initiative I (DLI-I), a National Science Foundation-funded grant in which research was developed to create digital journals and was a major change for information delivery.  In 1999, some of the very first Digital Object Identifiers (DOI), which are used to create unique identifiers for articles, books, chapters, and conferences, and are used to discover and connect information on the Web, were first created in GELIC.

Bill earned a reputation for developing innovative systems to make data accessible to end users. He created the campus’s digital portal and the “Easy Search” gateway software, a cornerstone of the University Library’s search and discovery strategy. His expertise led to his being named a 2015 Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for “research relevant to the development of new digital library technologies.”

Mischo was named the inaugural holder of The Berthold Family Professorship in Information Access and Discovery in 2015, a research endowment given by Carol Berthold.

Bill was a 1967 graduate of Hartford Union High School, Hartford, Wisconsin, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Carthage College in 1971 and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1974. In 2009, he received the Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Science from the American Library Association; in 2017, he took on additional leadership duties for a year as acting dean of libraries and university librarian.

Bill semi-retired in 2022 and served as an emeritus professor and bibliometrics and information research librarian and as The Berthold Family Professor Emeritus in Information Access and Delivery.  He continued to do research on bibliometrics and transaction log analysis to improve user systems.