Suggesstions for Keeping a Lab Notebook
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date all pages (write out month and be sure to include year!)
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add "continued on p. " and "continued from p. #" for notes on same project that are not on contiguous pages.
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new entries are in black
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comments made at a later date in a different color. (e.g., green - best data!, red - this didn't work or low S/N trash data, blue - any additional info that's not evaluative)
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use tape to add plots - MUST include path to code that was used to make the plot
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it's ok to use tape to add in scratch paper that ended up having something really important on it.
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use scissors and tape to include important tables and figures from papers. Include full reference to paper.
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can make notes in a text file as long as the text file is eventually printed out and taped in notebook.
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once you settle on how to do something, make a red line through the notes describing the non-adopted methods.
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not including details of procedures/methods is okay as long as the names of the well-commented scripts are given (with full paths).
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there should be cross-references in code back to lab notebook
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at some point in your career, you'll need to switch from one book, to one book per project.
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make regular backup copies, either physical paper copies or scans. Be sure to re-copy/re-scan updated pages.
Other Resources
What Lab Notebooks to Buy
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Blueline A9 (~$10) - perfect binding (glued, not sewn), compact (7" x 9"), college-rule. Available with various color covers: black, green, red. Relatively easy to find (e.g, Staples). Good for undergraduates.
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National 43648 (~$10) - perfect binding (glued, not sewn), quad rule, green paper, 9" x 12".
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Ampad 22-157 (~$18)- spiral bound, quad rule, 9" x 12".
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Boorum & Pease L21-150 (~$35) - sewn, 8" x 11".
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M by Staples (~$10) - sewn, college rule, 8.5" x 11". Good paper, binding lays relatively flat and puts up to being regularly flattened for backup scanning. Paper is probably not archival quality. There's also a 6"x8.5" version (~$8).