One of the most challenging tasks for a technician is also the most routine, keeping a daily log in the laboratory notebook.  The need for proper documentation is essential today in the biotechnology laboratory.  Here is an assortment of web resources to demonstrate the importance of, and provide guidelines for effective organization of a notebook.

MAINTAINING LABORATORY NOTEBOOKS by Merchant & Gould An Intellectual Property Law Firm.

This manual discusses the legal basis for maintaining a laboratory notebook.  Under US law the person who first invents a product is entitled to claim the patent.  A laboratory notebook can be an important piece of legal documentation.  Included in this short publication is an annotated sample notebook page along with a legend explaining entries.

Examples of Laboratory Notebooks on the Web

Guidelines for Keeping a Laboratory Record by David R. Caprette, Rice University, May 2000

This is a very detailed outline on the requirements for keeping a laboratory record.  It includes a description of the parts that make-up a good notebook and the importance of good record keeping.  This site also contains examples of laboratory notebook pages illustrating different types of entries.

The Proper Use of a Laboratory Notebook

GLP Information Sheet University of Illinois, Division of Environment Health and Safety

Here are some concrete reasons to maintain a good laboratory notebook with an emphasis on the regulatory requirements of Good Laboratory Practices.

An Example Lab Book

David Harrison from the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto has assembled comments on example pages of an archived lab notebook of a colleague.  He details the positive aspects and explains the importance of the record keeping.

LabWrite.

LabWrite is a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation dedicated to enhancing student scientific literacy.  This is a very complete web site and has an extensive list of resources.  LabWrite is more oriented to writing formal reports rather than a lab notebook.  They include numerous links to the use of graphs and the display of data.  This site has an annotated sample lab report to demonstrate key concepts of report writing.

Lab Reports for Biology  Hamilton Writing Center, Clinton, NY

This is another writing center site dedicated to teach students good scientific writing techniques.  This site includes short explanations of the required parts of a lab report.  It also has a link to an annotated lab report demonstrating the incorporation of key elements.

Notebook Pages of Pioneers of Science

The following sites have some historical interest.  You can check out reproductions of actual notebook pages of important scientists who made major contributions to science.

Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entry of March 10, 1876

Here's the laboratory record describing the first telephone conversation.

Joshua Lederberg notebook

The National Library of Medicine's Profiles in Science site has archived notebooks, documents and photographs from some influential scientists. 

Legal opinions on the necessity of a complete laboratory notebook

Proper Maintenance of a Laboratory Notebook

Comments by Darby and Darby Professional Corporation, an Intellectual Property Law Firm

Documentation

This chapter on documentation is from the GLP training manual.  It defines the necessary elements of records and record keeping.

Guidelines for Notebook Maintenance

Do you need examples of notebook maintenance policies?  Here are some published requirements or recommendation for keeping a laboratory notebook from an assortment of organizations and universities.

Guidelines for Maintaining Laboratory Notebooks  Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.

How to Keep a Notebook Dartmouth ChemLab

Keeping a Laboratory Notebook  BTG is a global company investing in new technology

Science Notebook Westminster College

The Laboratory Notebook Tarleton State University Physical Chemistry Lab

Laboratory Notebook Policy University of Kentucky

Science Writing

Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students

This web site is a collaborative effort by Virginia Tech (Host), University of Illinois, University of Texas and Georgia Tech.  It is an excellent site that addresses all aspects of technical writing.  It includes exercises as well as examples. 

The Science of Scientific Writing George D. Gopen and Judith A. Swan

This is an excellent article about the need for clear writing in the sciences.  It also looks at specific language problems and suggests ways to avoid them.

Technical Writing

Ronald B. Standler has written this on-line manual especially for electrical engineers, although much of the material is applicable to other scientific fields.