Release courtesy of the IUPUI University Library
PolicyArchive, the nation’s first free, comprehensive, online archive of public policy research, was launched today by the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) University Library and the non-profit Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) with support from major U.S. charitable foundations.
PolicyArchive plans to become the largest online repository of public policy research in the world. At its launch, the archive already contains over 12,000 policy documents from over 220 think tanks and other research organizations. It will house up to 20,000 documents by the end of 2008.
The IUPUI University Library has partnered with the Center for Governmental Studies (CGS), a non-profit organization known for its creativity in connecting citizens and its government, to build PolicyArchive. For PolicyArchive, IUPUI is providing database and Web servers, bandwidth, document submission management, metadata quality control, system administration and development of the index.
“Partnering with CGS allows us to build on the model for the 21st century academic library and be a leader in providing long term open access to public policy research,” said David Lewis, Dean, IUPUI University Library. “We are pleased to be part of this important project.”
The partnership combines CGS’ experience in public policy research, Web site and database development, fundraising and outreach, coupled with the Library’s expertise in document indexing, archiving and retrieving, overseeing large databases of philanthropic and academic research, and coordinating electronic document storage and retrieval with other libraries.
To learn more about PolicyArchive, contact Brenda Burk, IUPUI PolicyArchive Project Manager, at (317) 278-2329 or by email at bburk@iupui.edu. The release in its entirety is available online.
FOUR INDIANA INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE BIG READ GRANTS
Release courtesy of the National Endowment for the Arts
This September, four Indiana communities will host Big Read programs after being awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Columbus Area Arts Council, Kosciusko Literacy Services Inc., New Castle-Henry County Public Library, and Vigo County Public Library were among 208 libraries, municipalities, and arts, culture, and science organizations to receive grants totaling $2,810,500 to host Big Read celebrations between September 2008 and June 2009. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature. The newest Big Read grantees represent 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To date, the NEA has given more than 500 grants to support local Big Read projects.
Selected organizations receive Big Read grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to promote and carry out community-based programs. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title. Reader’s Guides include features such as author biographies, historical context for the book, and discussion questions. Teacher’s Guides adhere to National Council of Teachers of English standards and include lesson plans, essay topics, and reproducible handouts.
The Big Read Audio Guides, which also can be used as radio programming, feature readings from the novel along with commentary from renowned artists, educators, and public figures such as Robert Redford, Colin Powell, and Mary-Louise Parker, and Big Read authors such as Amy Tan and Ray Bradbury. With support from IMLS, the Audio Guides for 14 titles from The Big Read library also will be provided to more than 14,000 public libraries nationwide.
About The Big Read
The Big Read is an NEA initiative designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Big Read in the Pacific Northwest is also supported, in part, by a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
Application guidelines for the next grant cycle, September 2009-June 2010, will be available on The Big Read website in October 2008.
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