[Apologies for cross-posting]
Alongside the exhibitions of dinosaurs, megabugs, earthquakes and so on, the
Natural History Museum employs some 350 scientific researchers and curators
organised into five Departments: botany, entomology, mineralogy,
palaeontology, and zoology. In support of their work, the Museum maintains
a relatively large Research Library currently receiving some 10,000 serials
and housing over 1 million volumes, as well as major collections of
manuscripts, prints and rare books. I am told by the scientists that our
Library is `the best [REAL] natural history library in the world'. I suggest
that our challenge - as for many other similar research libraries elsewhere
- is to metamorphose this into `the best [REAL/VIRTUAL] natural history
library in the world'!
One way that we will do this is by forging `strategic alliances' with other
relevant national and international scientific research institutions:
including, of course, cross-sectorally with relevant institutions within UK
Higher Education. Therefore our great interest in eLib Phase 3. The
Programme as specified seems potentially an ideal vehicle for suggesting
answers to the many economic, legal, organizational, political and
technological questions faced by institutions wishing to produce viable
long-term strategic alliances - FOR REAL!
If within Higher Education you are preparing a relevant bid for Phase 3, you
might like to consider cranking us in as one of your partners. The Museum
already has strong links at a number of levels with the higher education
sector; but as we are not technically a part of that sector, we cannot bid
to eLib directly. Thus this note.
Let me know if you would like to talk.
Thanks.
Ray
Dr Ray Lester
Head of Department
Library and Information Services
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
Tel: 0171 938 8971; Fax: 0171 938 9290
Internet: [log in to unmask]
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