** With apologies for cross-posting **

MEDIA UPDATE sent by Resource on behalf of the New Opportunities Fund.

August 2000 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND ANNOUNCES WEB SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NOF-DIGITISE
PROGRAMME 

In a major collaboration the New Opportunities Fund, together with People's
Network Team at Resource, and The UK Office for Library and Information
Networking (UKOLN) have put together a series of web pages offering expert
advice and guidance to applicants going forward to the second stage of the
Fund's nof-digitise grant programme.

The pages provide background information on how applicants can work together
to take their ideas forward. They also contain guidance on completing
business plans, practical advice relating to technical standards required
for content creation and a range of frequently asked questions. 

Applicants will be able to take part in informal on-line discussions of
technical issues relating to the programme. In addition, the website will
share answers to further questions received over the course of the
application process and provide a useful links section to related projects
and other resources. 

Further information about the range of support available can be found on the
People's Network website: http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk/nof/index.html

WORKSHOPS

The New Opportunities Fund is announcing a series of workshops throughout
September to provide advice and support for applicants going through the
second stage of the nof-digitise.org grant programme.  A morning session
will be devoted to discussion of the overall strategy for the second stage
of the programme and how it relates to other content creation initiatives.
The thinking behind the consortium approach to delivering a coherent body of
content will be explained, and methods for successful project management
discussed.  Technical standards for nof-digitise.org will be introduced and
explained, with illustrated case studies, followed by a discussion of how
these standards will impact on applicants' bids.  The events will also
provide applicants with a valuable opportunity to discuss working methods
with other consortium partners, and to meet others involved in the
programme. 

TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICE

UKOLN - the UK Office for Library and Information Networking are providing a
web-based and telephone support service and an email discussion list for
stage two applicants focusing on technical queries. They will contribute to
the Fund's September workshops for applicants by presenting sessions on the
technical standards for content creation and preparing detailed briefing
papers on specific topics - for example, digital preservation. UKOLN will
also highlight examples of best practice and update the Technical Standards
and Guidelines document as required.


FURTHER INFORMATION 

1. The New Opportunities Fund's nof-digitise.org programme has £50 million
of National Lottery money to fund projects that put information on the
internet, making learning material accessible to many more people. Projects
will take information and resources, whether they are in the form of text,
film, sound recordings, pictures or photos, and put them into electronic
from. For further information log on to http://www.nof-digitise.org The
grant programme has now closed for applications. New Opportunities Fund
Press Office: 020 7211 1788.

2. The People's Network Project is a project managed by Resource: the
Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, and is funded through the New
Opportunities Fund. The project will connect all UK public libraries to the
Information Superhighway where practicable by the end of 2002. Further
information about the project is available from the People's Network website
at http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk 

3. Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives & Libraries is a new
strategic agency which will work with museums, libraries and archives across
the UK.  It replaced the Museums & Galleries Commission and the Library &
Information Commission on 3 April 2000.  The Resource website can be found
at http://www.resource.gov.uk or contact Emma Wright, 020 7233 4200 for
further details.

4. UKOLN - The UK Office for Library and Information Networking. UKOLN is a
national focus of expertise in digital information management. It provides
policy, research and awareness services to the UK library, information and
cultural heritage communities. UKOLN is based at the University of Bath. For
more information visit http://www.ukoln.ac.uk

Issued 25 August 2000


Helen Baigent
Network Adviser, Learning and Information Society Team
Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
5th Floor, 19-29 Woburn Place, London WC1H OLU

e: [log in to unmask]
t: +44 (0) 207 273 8726
f: +44 (0) 207 273 8701
http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk




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