***** Forwarded by Alison McNab <[log in to unmask]> *****
	
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SAPIENS
Scottish Academic Periodicals: Implementing an Effective Networked Service
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        The University of Strathclyde's Centre for Digital Library Research
(CDLR), acting on behalf of the Scottish Confederation of University and
Research Libraries (SCURL), has secured £98,990 from the Scottish Higher
Education Funding Council's Strategic Change Grant, for a project to develop
a centralised Scottish electronic journals service.

        SAPIENS (Scottish Academic Periodicals: Implementing an Effective
Networked Service) will begin in June 2001 and run for two years. The
project aims to assist smaller Scottish publishers whose journals are not
yet available online, by providing server space, technical support, a
high-profile gateway and various value-added services, and thus removing
some of the barriers to entry into the electronic environment.

        More specifically, SAPIENS aims to:
        - examine the case for a centralised Scottish electronic journal
service which might enable and encourage smaller publishers to make existing
and new journals available in electronic form
        - design and build a demonstrator service, which will deliver
current journals from a representative selection of publishers via a common
gateway
        - develop and launch an operational service, together with a
marketing strategy to ensure that it is self-sustaining within a year of the
end of the project.

        The project is expected to have a significant and beneficial impact
on the effectiveness of academic and cultural publishing in Scotland, on the
cost-effectiveness with which Scottish university libraries can provide
access to Scottish journals for students, teachers and researchers in their
institutions, and on the dissemination of Scottish scholarship both within
higher education and beyond.

        On awarding the grant Professor John Sizer, Chief Executive of the
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) said:

        "SHEFC's mission includes helping Scottish higher education generate
and communicate knowledge and skills that will enrich society.

        "The Council believes that this exciting and innovative project has
the potential to provide not only cost savings for the HE sector through an
electronic service for Scottish journals, but also broader benefits to
Scottish culture and society through a more secure and generally accessible
Scottish academic and cultural publishing base."

        On hearing of the award, Ian Mowat, in his role as Chair of the
Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL),
restated his support for the project:

        "SCURL is proud to back the SAPIENS project as part of its
commitment to making information more readily available. This is the latest
in a number of SCURL-supported projects which have enhanced the reputation
of Scottish academic libraries internationally.

        "As a cross-sectoral body, involving national university and public
libraries, SCURL has recently confirmed its aim to be inclusive in its
approach to information provision. The SAPIENS project should make it easier
for the community as a whole to access the wealth of scholarly material
being produced in Scotland and, at the same time, should continue to ensure
that Scottish developments in communication and information technology
remain at the forefront of world development."

        Derek Law, Director of Information Strategy at the University of
Strathclyde, welcomed the news of the award:

        "SAPIENS will make a significant contribution towards realising the
vision of Digital Scotland, not only taking Scottish research out into the
wider community, but also opening it up to the wider world. This is yet
another ground-breaking Scottish project which brings home the reality of
the emerging Information Society."
	
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For further information about SAPIENS, please contact:
        Jane Barton, Project Manager
        Centre for Digital Library Research
        Andersonian Library
        University of Strathclyde
        101 St James Road
        Glasgow G4 0NS
        Tel: 0141 548 2379
        Email: [log in to unmask]
        Website: cdlr.strath.ac.uk
	
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For further information about the Scottish Further Education Funding
Council (SFEFC) you can visit their website at www.sfefc.ac.uk.

Further information about SCURL is available at scurl.ac.uk.
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