SIG/III International Paper Contest

SIG/III Sponsors International Paper Contest

ASIS Special Interest Group/International Information Issues (SIG/III) has announced a competition for papers on digital library projects or information science and technology activities in developing countries. Winning papers will be presented at the 2000 ASIS Annual Meeting in Chicago, November 13-16.

Paper topics can be at the country or regional level and can include projects supported by government, non-government organizations, international organizations, professional associations and/or academic institutions. Papers might present practical experiences in such areas as development of electronic resources across networks, cooperative projects to avoid duplication of efforts, sharing of  resources between information institutions and providers, and bringing access to information to distant and disadvantaged communities.

Six winners will be selected by a panel of judges. The prize for each winner is a two-year individual membership in ASIS. In the case of multiple authors, the principal author will be awarded the ASIS membership.

Winning papers will be presented at a special session at the Annual Meeting. If the authors cannot attend, papers will be read by ASIS members. In addition, all submitted papers will be considered for posting on the SIG/III Website as pre-publications. They will also be considered for publication in the Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and in other professional outlets.

Only papers by a principal author who is a citizen of a developing country are eligible. The papers should be original, unpublished and in English. Submissions are encouraged from librarians and information and network specialists and educators involved in the creation, representation, maintenance, exchange, discovery, delivery and use of digital information.

Papers, not to exceed 6000 words, must be submitted by August 31, 2000. For more information or to submit manuscripts, contact Nathalie Leroy by e-mail at the following address: leroyn@un.org

Funding the SIG/III Initiative

SIG/III has established the Digital Scholars Fund to collect contributions to cover the expenses associated with the two-year ASIS memberships for the winning authors of the International Paper Contest and, if funds permit, travel expenses to bring winning authors to Chicago for the 2000 Annual Meeting.

Contributions (tax-deductible to the full extent of the law) to the SIG/III Digital Scholars Fund can be sent to

 Sue O. Johnson, Chair, SIG/III
 ASIS
 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 501
 Silver Spring, MD  20910