ULS Guidelines for Proposing the Creation of a New Digital Resource


As part of its ongoing commitment to improving access to research materials for the University of Pittsburgh and worldwide scholarly communities, the University Library System (ULS) encourages librarians, staff and faculty members to submit proposals to create new digital resources. These new resources could consist of digitized analog material or a collection of “born-digital” material.

 

Based on the ULS Digital Publishing Mission Statement, successful proposals will meet some or all of the following criteria:

  • Facilitate instruction and learning primarily at the University of Pittsburgh, and secondarily at other higher educational institutions.

  • Support research and programmatic interests of University of Pittsburgh faculty and students.

  • Exhibit substantial intellectual quality.

  • Contribute to the broader community good.

 

Please see D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program Web page for examples of ULS-developed digital resources.

Any University of Pittsburgh librarian, staff or faculty member wishing to propose the creation of a new digital resource should submit a proposal. All proposals will be reviewed by the ULS Digital Initiatives Working Group (DIWG) and given a recommendation for further action by ULS Senior Staff. Proposals can be submitted anytime throughout the academic year.

1. Complete the “Submitting a Digital Project Proposal” online form. The DIWG will acknowledge receipt of the proposal and indicate if any additional follow-up is required in order for the proposal to be considered.

2. The DIWG will meet to review proposals on a quarterly basis. All proposals will be passed to Senior Staff with a recommendation for action by the DIWG.

3. If your proposal is accepted in concept by Senior Staff, you will be asked to meet with appointed members of DIWG to discuss your idea and its feasibility in greater detail. At this time, we will work with you to complete a Digital Project Questionnaire that will provide DIWG with basic information necessary to begin developing a project workflow, timeline and estimated budget.

If your proposal is declined, you will receive a written notice explaining why it was not considered at this time.

4. After meeting with you, a DWIG member will complete a project memo that will contain a cost estimate and information gathered by the Digital Project Questionnaire. This memo will be used by DIWG and Senior Staff for final review.  

5. If the project is approved and allocated funding, you will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that describes project participants and explicitly states their respective responsibilities for project management, content selection, reformatting, description, delivery, and maintenance of the deliverables outlined in your proposal. Once the agreement has been signed by all participating parties, the production phases of your project will be scheduled.

If the project is rejected, you will receive a written explanation.

Please feel free to email us [digitizers@library.pitt.edu] any questions you have about this submission process.