Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #196: Federal Science eLibrary  (FSeL)

Outline
The Federal Science eLibrary is an initiative to solicit government support of a proposal to deliver seamless and equitable access to full-text electronic journal content in science, technology and medicine (STM) to the desktops of all federal government researchers. The eLibrary will be a new collaboration among the major science-based departments to negotiate, license and support access to STM electronic journals. The Government of Canada employs more than 22,000 professionals to support key activities in strategic research, environmental and health protection, regulatory activity, defense and emergency preparedness. By helping federal government researchers do their work, the eLibrary will serve the needs of the Canadian public. STM journals cover the full spectrum of science from basic and applied research, technical analysis, product development, product reviews, regulatory assessments and product evaluations. Most major STM journals are available in electronic formats that provide convenient and timely access to information anywhere and at any time. Desktop access to electronic journals (e-journals) is now a standard tool in universities and private industry and similar access is required by federal government researchers in order to fully participate with their scientific colleagues at the national and international levels.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Given that the Federal Science eLibrary is a multi-disciplinary project that would provide access to electronic journals in the major scientific and technical disciplines within the federal government, it has the potential to provide the information infrastructure necessary to support all of the scientific projects put forward by federal government departments.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Although this project does not involve direct international collaboration, it would provide the information infrastructure necessary to facilitate and support international collaborative efforts between Canadian government researchers and their colleagues in other countries, many of whom already have access to a these electronic tools.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Federal Science eLibrary Office would be located at the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI) in Ottawa where space, expertise and an advanced information infrastructure are in place. However, the electronic nature of the project would ensure that access to its e-journal collection would be accessible on a 24/7 basis to all federal government research stations across the north, as well as in other parts of Canada.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
As mentioned under 2.1 above, the Federal Science eLibrary Office will be headquartered at CISTI in Ottawa. However, in terms of service delivery, the eLibrary will be available electronically to workstations across the country. The ability to make use of the eLibrary will depend on northern workstations having access to standard, up-to-date computer equipment and Internet connections. The provision of local computer capability is not part of the eLibrary project. However, it should be noted that the type of standard computer connection referred to above is the same standard that will be required to support a wide range of IPY projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
National agency

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?

How will the project be organised and managed?

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Special Projects Coordinator Bev Brown
Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), National Research Council Canada (NRC)
M55 – Room 29, 1200 Montreal Road
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0R6
Canada

Tel: (613) 998-0070
Mobile: no
Fax: (613) 993-0747
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation