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We analyze how the digitization of naturalist collections improves their scientific exploitation. With this aim, we observed the working practices of naturalists that lead them to consult herbaria. We compare the information value of a digitized specimen with that of the physical one with an analysis of the role of each medium. Referencing a physical document is mandatory when describing a new species, but new uses of digital herbaria are increasing: they make searching in international collections easier and can be used for the identification of a specimen. The digital herbarium is the medium of a new form of documentation for collections, which has been built by the joint efforts of users.