A Monolithic Endeavor: Creating a Digital Collection of Soil Profiles at the University of Idaho Kathleen Monks Agriculture and Life Sciences Librarian University of Idaho

{ The University of Idaho (UI) is a land- grant institution, established in UI is situated on the eastern border of the Palouse, an agricultural region known primarily for production of wheat and legumes. I serve as the liaison to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). CALS is the second largest college at UI, with an FTE of 1,300. Rollin’ by Dave Morrow, / /

“Each soil has had its own history. Like a river, a mountain, a forest, or any natural thing, its present condition is due to the influences of many things and events of the past.” -- Charles Kellogg, The Soils That Support Us, 1956

What are soil monoliths? Project backgroundCollaboration with faculty and staffMetadataWebsite creation

Image taken from the University of Arizona, CALSUniversity of Arizona, CALS Each monolith is assigned an exact classification. This taxonomic language provides the structure for the physical and digital monolith collections.

Monoliths are typically 2’ to 6’ sections of soil used to: o Support classroom instruction o Educate members of the public o Identify soil features Monoliths show: o Soil properties (horizonation) o Vegetation o Parent material (geology) o Soil productivity o Geologic events (e.g. Mount St. Helens and Mount Mazama eruptions) Image taken from UI Agriculture and Life Sciences MagazineUI Agriculture and Life Sciences Magazine

Collecting and preserving monoliths is an intricate process that takes, on average, 6 weeks to complete. Creation includes collecting, drying, soaking (with resin), and mounting the soil profile. When complete monoliths can be hung vertically. Images taken from Collection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths, by Maynard FosbergCollection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths

What are soil monoliths? Project background Collaboration with faculty and staffMetadataWebsite creation

Number of monoliths: ~230 (one of the largest collections in the U.S.) States represented: Idaho, Washington Arizona, Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Montana, Iowa, and Colorado First monolith collected: 1946 Most recent monolith: 2007 Each of the 12 soil orders is represented, although some orders have more expansive coverage (e.g. Mollisols). Images taken from Collection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths, by Maynard FosbergCollection and Preparation of Soil Monoliths

What are soil monoliths?Project background Collaboration with faculty and staff MetadataWebsite creation

From left: Mollisol, Andisol, Ardisol Images taken by Kai Eiselein Without the work of Paul McDaniel and Anita Falen this project would have never begun. Paul and Anita have been invaluable for: o Sharing subject knowledge o Providing website input o Verifying the accuracy of metadata o Securing funding for photography of the collection o Promoting the project to college administrators Devin Becker and the Library’s Digital Initiatives department has also aided in: o Offering advice throughout the project o Saving metadata and images to our IR o Supporting the creation of the website

What are soil monoliths?Project backgroundCollaboration with faculty and staff Metadata Website creation

Metadata was collected using an adapted version of Dublin Core.

Metadata elements include: Title Creator Date Description Subject (NAL subject headings) Language Publisher Relations Rights Source Original Collection Digital Collection Holding Institution Format Original Format Digital Type Identifier Date Digital Soil Order Suborder Great Group Subgroup Series Classification Native Vegetation Habitat Type Parent Material Landform Climate Land Use Elevation Location Depicted Location Coordinates (TRS) Region

What are soil monoliths?Project backgroundCollaboration with faculty and staffMetadata Website creation

Thank you. Are there any questions?