97-19842. Competition; National Digital Library Program

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40546-40547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19842]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

[Docket No. 97-1]


Competition; National Digital Library Program

AGENCY: Library of Congress.

ACTION: Notice of competition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Notice of Competition announces that the Library of 
Congress, with a gift from Ameritech, is sponsoring a competition to 
enable United States public, research, and academic libraries, museums, 
historical societies and archival institutions (except Federal 
institutions) to create digital collections of primary resources for 
distribution on the Internet. In the 1997-98 competition, applications 
will be limited to collections of textual and graphic materials that 
illuminate the period 1763-1920 and that complement and enhance the 
American Memory collections already mounted in the National Digital 
Library. Awards will be made of up to $75,000 to individual 
institutions and up to $150,000 to eligible consortia for projects that 
can be accomplished in twelve to eighteen months.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked by November 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications to the Library of Congress, Washington 
DC 20540-1340.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bonnie Magness-Gardiner. Tel: (202)

[[Page 40547]]

707-1087. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]. Http://
lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/award/

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Digital Library is envisioned 
as a distributed collection of converted library materials and digital 
originals to which many American institutions will contribute. The 
Library of Congress's contribution to this World Wide Web-based virtual 
library is called American Memory and is created by the Library's 
National Digital Library Program.
    Non-profit cultural repositories in the United States with 
collections of primary resources that are significant for education and 
research in United States history and culture are eligible to apply to 
the Library of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library competition. 
Collections that are digitized with awards from this competition must 
be distributable on the Internet.
    Applications from Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and non-
ARL institutions will be evaluated separately, in order to encourage 
applications from a variety of institutions. In the final selection 
among meritorious projects some consideration will be given to the type 
and size of institution and its geographical location, and to certain 
themes described in the Guidelines, but the principal criteria will be:
     The significance of the collection's content for 
understanding United States history and culture, as well as its breadth 
of interest and utility to students and the general public.
     The availability and usability of aids to intellectual 
access that can be integrated into the American Memory resource.
     The technical and administrative viability of the 
project's plan of work in relation to the scope of the project.
    Applications will be evaluated by scholars, educators, librarians, 
archivists, administrators, and technical specialists external to the 
Library of Congress. Evaluators will be convened by George Farr, 
Director of the Division of Preservation and Access of the National 
Endowment for the Humanities and by Deanna Marcum, President of the 
Council on Library and Information Resources.
    Only costs directly associated with digital conversion may be 
included in the request. Equipment may not be purchased with award 
funds. Detailed Guidelines and Application Instructions are available 
from the telephone contact and Web site listed above.

    Dated: July 17, 1997.

    Approved by:
James H. Billington,
Librarian of Congress.
[FR Doc. 97-19842 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-04-P