Ms Jane Smith

Ms Jane Smith

Head of Library and Archives

Department: Library and Archives
Division: LA HOD and Admin
Phone: 02079425574

Summary

I joined the Natural History Museum in 2006 as Head of Library Collections and Services and have been Head of the Department of Library and Archives since September 2012.

The NHM Library and Archives holds one of the world’s largest natural history collections of published works and original material, including manuscripts, maps and scientific artworks. Currently, I am overseeing the Library and Archive programme to digitise those collections and this includes leading the NHM’s contribution to the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL).

Since qualifying, most of my career has been spent in medical and scientific research libraries where I have focussed on developing services that widen access to collections. Digitisation and providing new ways to support researchers has underpinned all the Library projects I have been involved in. Prior to joining the NHM I worked at the British Medical Association where I was responsible for delivering remote access services to individual members and to one of the largest library institutional membership schemes in the UK. I was responsible for setting up the Department of Health funded National Centre for Clinical Audit, which evolved into the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). It was there that I developed my interest in change management, evidence-based practice and quality improvement in libraries.

Grants

Darwin's Library
Role: Principal investigatorSmith J
Funding: Cambridge University Library
Total value £34,500 (to Museum £34,500)
Dates: 2009 - 2011

Foster Artwork Project
Role: Principal investigatorSmith J
Funding: Mellon Foundation
Total value £36,751.61
Dates: 2008 - on going

Committees

Vice chair, BHL Executive Committee, 2017 - on going.

Secretary, Biodiversity Heritage Library Executive Committee, 2015 - on going.

Member, Geological Society Publications and Information Committee, 2012 - on going.

Memberships

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, 1987 - on going.

Member, 1987 - on going.

Publications

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (null) Collaborating on Open Science: The Journey of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. 19th International Conference on Electronic Publishing, 19 9 - 1 9 9

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (null) More than sum of its parts: the Biodiversity Heritage Library as a case study in open science.. LIBER 2015, 246 6 - 24 6 6

Rinaldo C, Rose-Sadler T, Smith JE (2014) Biodiversity Heritage Library: a global open repository. Open Repositories 2014: 9th International Conference on Open Repositories, 96 6 - 9 6 6OR2014 (online) or-2014@helsinki.fi :

Rinaldo C, Smith JE (2014) Moving through time and culture with the Biodiversity heritage Library, In: Migrating Heritage: Experiences of Cultural Networks and Cultural Dialogue in Europe, Ashgate : Farnham, UK. 95 - 108.

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (2016) Collaborating on open science: The journey of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Information Services & Use, 35 (4) : 211 - 216. doi: 10.3233/isu-150785

Introduction

Summary

I joined the Natural History Museum in 2006 as Head of Library Collections and Services and have been Head of the Department of Library and Archives since September 2012.

The NHM Library and Archives holds one of the world’s largest natural history collections of published works and original material, including manuscripts, maps and scientific artworks. Currently, I am overseeing the Library and Archive programme to digitise those collections and this includes leading the NHM’s contribution to the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL).

Since qualifying, most of my career has been spent in medical and scientific research libraries where I have focussed on developing services that widen access to collections. Digitisation and providing new ways to support researchers has underpinned all the Library projects I have been involved in. Prior to joining the NHM I worked at the British Medical Association where I was responsible for delivering remote access services to individual members and to one of the largest library institutional membership schemes in the UK. I was responsible for setting up the Department of Health funded National Centre for Clinical Audit, which evolved into the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). It was there that I developed my interest in change management, evidence-based practice and quality improvement in libraries.

Projects

Grants

Darwin's Library
Role: Principal investigatorSmith J
Funding: Cambridge University Library
Total value £34,500 (to Museum £34,500)
Dates: 2009 - 2011

Foster Artwork Project
Role: Principal investigatorSmith J
Funding: Mellon Foundation
Total value £36,751.61
Dates: 2008 - on going

Professional activities

Committees

Vice chair, BHL Executive Committee, 2017 - on going.

Secretary, Biodiversity Heritage Library Executive Committee, 2015 - on going.

Member, Geological Society Publications and Information Committee, 2012 - on going.

Memberships

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, 1987 - on going.

Member, 1987 - on going.

Publications

Publications

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (null) Collaborating on Open Science: The Journey of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. 19th International Conference on Electronic Publishing, 19 9 - 1 9 9

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (null) More than sum of its parts: the Biodiversity Heritage Library as a case study in open science.. LIBER 2015, 246 6 - 24 6 6

Rinaldo C, Rose-Sadler T, Smith JE (2014) Biodiversity Heritage Library: a global open repository. Open Repositories 2014: 9th International Conference on Open Repositories, 96 6 - 9 6 6OR2014 (online) or-2014@helsinki.fi :

Rinaldo C, Smith JE (2014) Moving through time and culture with the Biodiversity heritage Library, In: Migrating Heritage: Experiences of Cultural Networks and Cultural Dialogue in Europe, Ashgate : Farnham, UK. 95 - 108.

Smith JE, Rinaldo CA (2016) Collaborating on open science: The journey of the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Information Services & Use, 35 (4) : 211 - 216. doi: 10.3233/isu-150785