Herbarium digitisation as a platform for scientific knowledge accessibility : the case of Herbarium Pomeranicum

Abstract

PURPOSE: The paper sets out to explore the digitisation of the Herbarium Pomeranicum as a case study illustrating how the digital transformation of natural history collections facilitates the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The study shows how digital access enhances visibility, accessibility, and international recognition of Polish botanical heritage and research achievements.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research is based on a qualitative case study of the Herbarium Pomeranicum project, supported by quantitative data from web analytics reflecting the number of external visits since the platform’s launch. Institutional documentation and descriptive analyses of the tree core herbaria collections – the University of Szczecin Herbarium Stetinensis, the University of Gdańsk Herbarium Universitatis Gedanensis and The Herbarium Slupensis of the Pomeranian University in Słupsk – were used to identify their scope, structure, and scientific relevance.

FINDINGS: The digitisation of the Herbarium Pomeranicum has substantially enhanced access to scientific resources and exceeded initial expectations regarding user engagement. The platform’s continued use indicates its growing role in promoting Polish botanical research, fostering international collaboration, and strengthening knowledge exchange in taxonomy and biodiversity studies. However, as a newly developed infrastructure, its long-term scientific and educational impacts remain to be systematically assessed.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper demonstrates how the digitisation of regional herbaria not only preserves and disseminates historical collections but also serves as a tool for the internationalisation of research and integration of Polish biodiversity studies into global scientific networks.