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Is there a guideline for lab notebooks that you or your team have found to be useful? Are you interested in using a specific electronic lab notebook (ELN) system, or exploring the options with others at the university?
Please contact us: lib-data@uiowa.edu
Lab notebooks, whether in print or electronic form, are a critical component of tracking and recording research. Consistent documentation of your research methods, calculations, and results is important not only for your personal use, but will help when you publish or otherwise share research, and when others want to reproduce what you have done.
Here are some useful guidelines for print lab notebooks.
- NIH: Guidelines for Scientific Record Keeping in the Intramural Research Program at the NIH
- ipHandbook of Best Practices: How to Start–and Keep–a Laboratory Notebook: Policy and Practical Guidelines
- Article outlining best practices: Academic Research Record-Keeping: Best Practices for Individuals, Group Leaders, and Institutions