Call For Proposals

1.0 Introduction

The fundamental mission and centuries-old tradition of libraries and the library profession have been to provide intellectual and physical access to and preservation of the human record. While this will continue to be the fundamental mission of libraries, the manner in which libraries fulfill it is being changed by the rapid evolution of digital technologies. The rapid emergence of digital technologies has begun to alter the structure and process by which humans create, find, use and re-use the information they need and want.

One of the challenges inherent in creating the digital library is to retrain today's professionals to function in tomorrow's world, while at the same time preparing today's students and faculty to effectively use the technology. The successful integration of these new technologies in the operation of the library and into the classroom requires a partnership between talented, skilled faculty and librarians.

Earnings from the Berger Family Endowment provides support to be used by library staff or teams of library staff and faculty to learn more about the world of digital information in order to integrate that knowledge into their work and to transfer the knowledge to their colleagues. The funds will be distributed through a competitive grant process described below.

2.0 Application & Selection Process

2.1 Eligibility

Teams of Tisch Library staff or teams of Tisch Library staff and Arts, Sciences & Engineering faculty are eligible to apply for funding from the Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment. No faculty-only team proposals will be considered. Tisch Library teams can include librarians and library staff.

2.2 Selection Criteria

The Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment is intended to enable library staff and faculty

1. to explore the world of information technology in order to improve their skills,
2. to transfer their discoveries to their colleagues, and
3. to apply their discoveries to real issues within the University.

Given these goals of the Endowment, the following are representative criteria for reviewing grant applications:

*Information literacy includes the ability to search and retrieve information from computer databases, navigate the Internet, evaluate information sources for relevancy, and synthesize information.

Click here for a copy of the Berger Concept Evaluation Form to assist you in determining whether your idea meets the criteria. Tisch Library has also appointed library staff members to the Berger Consulting Team, who will assist in the proposal development and submission process.

Each proposal must include:

1. Narrative setting out how the proposed project will address the goals of the Endowment
2. A budget
3. Project milestones including quarterly meetings with Tisch Library administration to report/assess how the project is progressing
4. List of deliverables
5. A list of project personnel and their responsibilities. One team member must be identified to lead the project including creating and maintaining an up-to-date project spreadsheet/budget.
6. List of publications to which results will be submitted acknowledging Berger funding support
7. Ownership of project post Berger year. Please supply plans for maintenance, support, revision and ongoing input for the project after the Berger year.

The call for proposals will be issued on December 1. Final proposals must be received by March 1 for consideration. The target date for the announcement of Awards is March 31 each year. Prior to submission, each proposal should be submitted to Tisch Library administration and Tisch Library Information Technology Support (LITS) for preliminary review, which will focus on the budget and technology support. As the Berger Endowment does not support equipment purchase, it is intended that the application and review process coordinate with the Tisch Library planning process so that hardware and staffing needs that result from a successful grant application may be addressed as a part of the annual Library planning process.

It is expected that most projects will be completed within one fiscal year, but that some projects may require multiple years. Multi-year projects will be evaluated annually to determine if progress justifies continued funding.

The Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment will support release time for Library staff and/or faculty, travel, speakers honorarium and expenses, expenses involved in organizing a conference, software necessary for the project, etc. The endowment will not support equipment purchase. Approximately $50,000 will be available each year.

Proposals should be sent to:

Jo-Ann Michalak
Director, Tisch Library
Tufts University
jo-ann.michalak@tufts.edu

Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. March 1 for consideration.
Please submit your proposal by electronic mail attachment or provide the URL at which the proposal is located.

The target date for announcement of awards is March 31 each year. A celebratory event is held each year at which grantees demonstrate their projects.

2.3 Administration & Evaluation

The Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment is administered by Tisch Library with the assistance of the Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment Advisory Board. Current members of the board include Fredric S. Berger, P.E., Senior Vice President, Louis Berger International, Inc. in Washington, DC; Dr. Gregory Crane, Winnick Family Chair in Technology & Entrepreneurship; Lynne Pepall, Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; Dr. Linda M. Abriola, Dean of Engineering; Dr. Amy Friedlander, Director of Programs, Council on Library & Information Resources in Washington, DC; Ina Baghdiantz-McCabe, Chair of the Library Committee; Dr. Susan Martin, President of SKM Associates, Inc. in Marston Mills, MA; Jo-Ann Michalak, Director of Tisch Library; and Dr. Don Weingust, Chair of the Computing Facilities and Computer Usage Committee. The Advisory Board will evaluate proposals, award funding for the successful proposals, and evaluate the program. At an annual dinner grantees will report on the results of their work and the Advisory Board will review the direction of the program. Members of the Berger Family will be invited to attend annual dinners for the recognition of grantee.

2.4 Publicity

The results of each year's project will be submitted for publication in professional journals as well as distributed through Tufts publications. Acknowledgment of the Berger Family Technology Transfer Endowment must be included in all publicity material including the home page (if there is one) of each product financed by or to which the Endowment contributed funds.