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Jodi Awards 2007 - Call for nominations Nominations are now being sought for the Jodi Awards 2007. The awards previously recognised excellence in museum, library and archive website accessibility - but this year, for the first time, the awards will include any project that uses technology to provide access to collections for disabled people. Launched in 2003, the Jodi Awards now recognise museum, gallery, library, archive or heritage projects that demonstrate commitment to using technology in the service of accessibility. Nominated websites, interactive objects, audio-guides, PDAs, telephone systems etc. pass before an experienced panel of judges. Disabled users will test entries and websites submitted for an Award which will also be subject to automated testing. The awards are developed and sustained by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, (MLA), 24 Hour Museum, the British Museum and University of Leicester. Mark Wood, Chairman, MLA, said: "The Jodi Awards will keep promoting high web accessibility standards and this year the judges are also keen to celebrate sites that use technology in practical and imaginative ways for making cultural resources accessible to disabled people. The whole initiative generates competition to be recognised as the best in this vital area of development. The Disability Discrimination Act has led to innovative uses of technology and it's time we celebrated the best." Matthew Cock, Head of Web, British Museum, commented: "We want to keep accessibility at the forefront of the sector's consciousness when creating or commissioning websites and their content." The deadline for nominations is Monday 30 April 2007 and the awards will be announced at a high profile event on Wednesday 13 June 2007 at the British Museum. Full information on how to apply is available at: www.mla.gov.uk/website/policy/Diversity/Web_Accessibility Sponsorship for the Jodi Awards 2006 is provided by Simulacra, the new media consultancy offering award-winning web-based information management solutions. Ends Notes to editors: 1. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council works with the nine regional agencies in the MLA Partnership to improve people's lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future. Visit: www.mla.gov.uk <http://www.mla.gov.uk/> . Media Enquires: Anne Marie Todaro, Media Relations Manager, MLA tel: 020 7273 1472. Urgent news media enquiries until 7pm: 07747 564 209. 2. The Awards are named in memory of Jodi Mattes (1973-2001). Jodi worked as part of the British Museum's COMPASS team, and then at the Royal National Institute for the Blind. At the British Museum, Jodi worked to ensure that the British Museum's COMPASS website (live in June 2000) was as accessible as possible. She also specified desks in the Reading Room that were accessible to wheelchair users. Previously known as the "Jodi Mattes Web Accessibility Awards", the Awards were established in 2003, European Year of Disabled People and celebrate the most accessible museum, library and archive websites. They were initiated by former colleagues of Jodi Mattes, and supported by MLA, the Museums Computer Group (MCG) and the Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester. The Organising Committee has been formed to give continuity to the Awards. 3. The Jodi Awards Organising Committee includes: Marcus Weisen, Policy Adviser: Inclusion and Communities, (Chair), MLA [log in to unmask] Matthew Cock, Head of Web, British Museum [log in to unmask] Jon Pratty, Editor, 24 Hour Museum [log in to unmask] Ross Parry, Lecturer in New Media, Department of Museums Studies, University of Leicester, [log in to unmask] Head of Web | Department of Learning and Information | The British Museum | www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk <http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/> tel: 020 7323 8169 | work mobile: 07971 433841 -- The Past from Above Admission £5, concessions available Until 11 February 2007 A journey over the world's greatest archaeological sites through Georg Gerster's aerial photography. See them without leaving a carbon footprint. http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/thepastfromabove Subscribe to the British Museum's online newsletter Mercury and never miss out on any events, exhibitions, films or study opportunities: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/index.html ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************