BHL News, Blog Reel

BHL Transition Update #1

Leadership, Fiscal Sponsorship, and Hosting Opportunities

In April 2025, the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) released a public statement announcing that the Smithsonian Institution, our administrative and technical host since 2006, will step back from this role as of January 1, 2026. That announcement marked the beginning of a new chapter for BHL: one filled with both challenges and possibilities.

Today, we’re pleased to share the first in a series of monthly blog posts that will provide open updates on the progress of our transition. We know uncertainty can be unsettling, and we want to assure our global users, partners, and supporters that the transition is well underway, and that we are actively building a stronger and more sustainable future for BHL.

Strong Leadership: Welcoming Our New Transition Director and Communications Director

Color photograph of a woman with short brown hair and glasses

Kelli Trei, BHL Transition Director

We are delighted to announce that Kelli Trei has been appointed as BHL’s Transition Director. Kelli, Biosciences Librarian and Associate Professor from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to BHL. Most recently, she has served as Vice-Chair on the BHL Executive Committee and the EC Secretary before this. Her leadership, steady presence, and long-standing engagement with BHL have proven invaluable during early transition planning.

A woman with glasses, light brown hair, wearing a black and white scarf

Nicole Kearney, BHL Communications Director

We are also pleased to share that Nicole Kearney, Manager of BHL Australia and Chair of BHL’s Persistent Identifier Working Group, has been appointed as BHL’s Communications Director. Nicole brings over a decade of experience with BHL and a strong record of international collaboration, digital engagement, and strategic communication. As Communications Director, she will lead BHL’s internal and external communications through the transition and into the next chapter.

Kelli, supported by Nicole, is leading a dedicated Transition Team composed of members of the BHL Executive Committee and the BHL Secretariat.

A New Foundation: Fiscal Sponsorship

We are also pleased to share that BHL members have voted to enter into a fiscal sponsorship agreement with an established U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization. Under this partnership, the fiscal sponsor will provide essential nonprofit administrative services, including contracting and HR, while BHL will retain control over staff supervision, strategic priorities, and community direction.

This marks a critical turning point. For the first time, BHL will be able to operate with financial autonomy, fully aligned with our global mission, partners, and community.

Coming Soon: Call for Hosting Partners

Although BHL will be able to begin its fundraising push in the near future under its forthcoming fiscal sponsorship, our essential work continues – and so does our need for support. Securing a new fiscal home is an important milestone, but we are still working to safeguard our critical secretariat roles, who carry out the vital operational and technical functions for the global BHL community. In order for this work to continue beyond January 1, 2026, we need your help.

In the coming weeks, we will release a formal Call for Support of the core operational and technical functions of BHL. While we would welcome a single organization taking on the hosting of BHL, the secretariat’s separate but connected roles could also be hosted by different organizations. We are thus open to a distributed hosting model where key functions of BHL may be supported by different institutions. We encourage potential hosting organizations to think outside the box.

Institutions interested in supporting BHL’s next chapter – by hosting roles, staff, infrastructure, or services – are encouraged to respond to this call. We are excited to explore new partnerships and welcome new champions into our network.

Transparency Throughout the Transition

We are committed to regular communication during this transition. These blog posts are just one part of that commitment. In the months ahead, we’ll continue to share updates, answer questions, and invite feedback from our global community.

Thank you for your ongoing support:

🌱 Spread the word: share BHL’s transition news far and wide

💚 Share the love: use #ILoveBHL on social media

🤝 Donate to BHL: Make a Donation

💡 Contact us with your ideas and support: A New Future for the Biodiversity Heritage Library

May 28, 2025
Written by and

Kelli Trei is the Biosciences Librarian at the Funk ACES Library and Associate Professor for the University Library at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kelli is also serving as the BHL Transition Director through 2026. She is deeply committed to the work of BHL in democratizing scientific information and making it available to scientists and our extensive interdisciplinary users worldwide.

Nicole Kearney is BHL’s Communications Director, Manager of BHL Australia, and Chair of BHL’s Persistent Identifier Working Group. She is passionate about open access, persistent identifiers, and Striped Possums.