Apologies for cross-posting. 
     This is a long message. The text will also be available at:
     
     http://www.bl.uk/services/ric/research/digirev.html
     
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     Review of Digital Library Research: A Call for Proposals
     
     The British Library Research and Innovation Centre (RIC)
     
     
     Introduction
     
     The British Library Research and Innovation Centre (BLRIC) currently 
     funds library and information research in the UK. A proposal to 
     transfer this function of the British Library to the Library and 
     Information Commission was suggested in a consultation paper issued by 
     the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July following the 
     government's Comprehensive Spending Review. The BLRIC and the 
     Commission will continue to work closely together until the result of 
     the consultation exercise is announced. 
     
     Background
     
     The BLRIC wishes to review the progress of digital library research 
     programmes with a view to determining future priorities for research 
     in this area. The current programme is mainly made up of projects 
     funded under a call for proposals in the financial year 1996/97. Some 
     of the projects funded under that call have now ended or will come to 
     an end over this course of this financial year, and a new round of 
     projects will be funded in the next financial year. 
     
     In order to help set future priorities, BLRIC wishes to fund a project 
     to analyse the findings of current and recently completed projects in 
     its Digital Libraries research programme. The project should also 
     provide an overview of work carried out under other UK digital library 
     research initiatives and any major overseas initiatives or projects. 
     
     
     Aim and objectives
     
     The aim of the project is to provide information to BLRIC on digital 
     library research activities to help it to further develop its research 
     programme in this area. 
     
     The project should: 
     
     review progress and results of projects funded under the BLRIC Digital 
     Libraries research programme 
     
     review progress and results of projects funded under other BLRIC 
     research programmes that are also relevant to digital libraries 
     
     identify and review other digital library research initiatives in the 
     UK 
     
     identify and review major overseas digital library research 
     initiatives 
     
     highlight issues arising from current and recent projects requiring 
     further research 
     
     identify overlaps between the content of different research programmes 
     identify gaps in digital library research, particularly in the context 
     of Prospects, the Library and Information Commission national research 
     strategy document 
     
     
     Issues to be addressed
     
     Proposers are invited to describe their understanding of what is meant 
     by digital libraries so that a common understanding on the scope of 
     the project can be reached between the proposers and BLRIC. The 
     timescale for completion of the research is tight, and proposers 
     should concentrate on BLRIC projects. 
     
     
      Proposal Requirements
     
     The proposal should contain the following information: 
     
     a detailed outline of the research methods to be used 
     
     a project timetable 
     
     background to the organisation 
     
     members of the project team and their experience 
     
     proposals for dissemination 
     
     contact name and full contact details 
     
     price of research including a breakdown of major elements 
     
     The project team should demonstrate that they are knowledgeable in the 
     area of digital libraries, have a proven track record in research, 
     have experience of carrying out effective project management and are 
     capable of working to tight deadlines. 
     
     
     Cost
     
     A maximum of £30,000 (including VAT) is available for this project. 
     This call for proposals is open to all. Price is one of the criteria 
     on which proposals will be judged, but is not the sole one. 
     
     
     Evaluation
     
     Proposals will be reviewed in the first instance by BLRIC and 
     Commission staff. This stage of the evaluation process will ensure 
     that proposals meet all the requirements of this Call for proposals in 
     terms of scope, timescale, deliverables and cost. Proposals that meet 
     these requirements will then be sent to external referees. The 
     evaluation criteria at this stage will be appropriateness of methods 
     and allocation of resources, dissemination plans, credibility and 
     track record of proposers. 
     
     
     Deliverables
     
     The deliverable will be a report and a presentation. The report will 
     place BLRIC funded research in a national and international context 
     and will be due no later than six months from the award of contract. 
     The presentation should take place soon after the end of the project. 
     
     
     Timescale
     
     The project will last six months from the award of the contract. The 
     timetable for the project will be as follows: 
     
     31 October 1998            Call for proposals issued
     30 November 1998           Closing date for proposals
     w/b 21 December 1998       Award of contract
     January 1999               Start of project
     30 June 1999               Final report
     
     
     Publication
     
     It is likely that the report will be published as a Library and 
     Information Commission report. Proposers are invited to suggest 
     further means of dissemination of the findings of the project. 
     
     
      How to apply
     
     Proposals should be submitted following the guidelines set out in our 
     Guide to the preparation of a research proposal. Copies of the Guide 
     are available from the BLRIC Support Unit and the BLRIC Web pages at:
     
     http://www.bl.uk/services/ric/grant/guide.html 
     
     Proposers should contact the BLRIC Support Unit for an application 
     form
     
     Proposals should be submitted by 30 November 1998; any received after 
     this date will not be considered 
     
     Two paper copies of the proposal, accompanied by the completed 
     application form should be sent to the address below 
     
     In addition, an electronic copy of the proposal should be submitted. 
     
     This can either be on an accompanying floppy disk, or to the email 
     address given below. The file should be in MS Word 6.0 format 
     
     
     Please send your proposal and completed application form to: 
     
          Review of Digital Library Research
          Support Unit
          Research and Innovation Centre
          The British Library
          2 Sheraton Street
          London W1V 4BH
          Tel: 0171 412 7051/7053
          Fax: 0171 412 7251
          Email: [log in to unmask] 
     
     
     
     Further information
     
     Further information is available from: 
     
          Adrienne Muir
          Research Analyst - Digital Libraries research programme
          Tel. 0171 412 7109
          Fax: 0171 412 7251
          Email [log in to unmask] 
     



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