Between 20, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) made significant additions to their accreditation requirements to ensure that animal management, husbandry, and veterinary care are based in science ( Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2010). They are increasingly committed to scientific research and the conservation of both wild species and wild habitats, embracing their new role as conservators.
In the last three decades, zoos have experienced a sea change in how they relate to the public and how they manage their animal and plant collections. Species Survival Plans, studbooks, zoo conference proceedings, zoo magazines and newsletters, field guides, taxonomies and phylogenies, horticultural information, exotic wildlife veterinary resources, natural histories, conservation, ecology, and of course, animal husbandry information, comprise a large part of their eclectic holdings. Their collections are small and varied, rife with gray literature and specialized resources that fall outside the scope of other libraries. Then there are the extremely rare zoo, aquarium, and wildlife libraries which are seldom seen by the public. Public libraries can be characterized as "keystone species," providing a broad range of information and Internet access to a diverse populace. University libraries with their super-sized collections of scientific books and online journals can be likened to nature's "charismatic mega-vertebrates" - universally respected and admired. Libraries are an integral part of the world's information ecosystem. For a complete picture of the current status of Zoo and Wildlife Libraries, see They are creating animal fact sheets, maintaining staff article databases, and managing archival collections. Almost all libraries are involved in activities other than managing books and journals. Most are struggling to become more "virtual," but only 11 are OCLC members and have a catalog available online.
Of that number only 16 libraries had professional librarians. Only 73 libraries responded to our request for information. To ascertain the current state of the libraries that support their efforts, librarians at the San Diego Zoo conducted an international survey between June and August, 2008. Increasingly, these organizations are committed to scientific research, both basic and applied. Used with permission.Ībstract The conservation and well-being of exotic animals is core to the mission of zoos, aquariums and many small nonprofit wildlife groups.
Zoo and Wildlife Libraries: An International Surveyĭirector of Library & Information Services