Welcome

The Sonoran Desert Knowledge Exchange (SDKE) began in 2006 as a collaboration between the Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) and the University of Arizona Libraries. The initial goal was to "create an open-access online project that would create, consolidate and disseminate information about Sonoran Desert organisms" as an active collaboration between partner organizations, K-12 schools and the general public. A group of interested parties convened at an exploratory meeting, hosted by the UA Libraries, in May 2006.

After continued conversation and planning throughout 2006, in 2007 the partners received funding to begin the project in earnest. Internal UA Libraries funding supported development of prototype Sonoran Desert biodiversity learning materials for Arizona educators. A Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant, awarded by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records for 2007/2008, supported community presentations on Sonoran Desert biodiversity, asset inventory interviews with participant organizations and development of the SDKE web portal. Pima County Public Library, University of Arizona Office of Arid Land Studies (OALS) and the University of Arizona Tree of Life Web Project were project partners with the UA Libraries on the grant.

Work continues on the Sonoran Desert Knowledge Exchange. From the information gathered during the 07/08 participant interviews, UA Libraries staff are identifying collections to make accessible through the SDKE web portal. Collaboration between the University of Arizona Libraries, UA research units and departments, governmental agencies, and community non-profit organizations is ongoing in the hopes of creating access to digital content documenting the Sonoran Desert.