Official launch of INSPIRA: Linking VLEs and Digital Libraries

News summary

INSPIRAL (INveStigating Portals for Information Resources And Learning) is a 6 month JISC-funded research project, running from 1 May to 31 October 2001. INSPIRAL's purpose is to identify and critically analyse the issues around linking virtual learning environments (VLEs) and digital libraries, focusing on institutional and end-user perspectives.

(Announcement posted to email lists on 18/5/01)

INSPIRAL (INveStigating Portals for Information Resources And Learning) is a 6 month JISC-funded research project, running from 1 May to 31 October 2001. It is being carried out by the Centre for Digital Library Research (CDLR) and the Centre for Educational Systems (CES), both part of the University of Strathclyde's Information Strategy Directorate. INSPIRAL's purpose is to identify and critically analyse the issues around linking virtual learning environments (VLEs) and digital libraries, focusing on institutional and end-user perspectives. This analysis will identify priority areas for JISC strategic planning and investment. In order to encourage debate among interested parties and disseminate information regarding research and findings the following open discussion list has been established;

http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/inspiral.html

INSPIRAL offers a unique opportunity to identify important issues regarding the linking of VLEs and Digital Libraries, effectively creating educational environments with the aim of benefiting learners in HE and FE sectors by placing their needs as central within the research objectives. Due to the 6 month duration of the project we are keen to identify key stakeholders and would like to invite any interested parties to partake in discussion and debate upon this topic. A web site is also being created, which will incorporate information covering key aims, objectives, procedures, and additional information relating to the project. The launch of the site will be announced as soon as possible. A basic web page is up at the URL: http://inspiral.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/ where the full web site will be mounted.

Meantime, JISC's original request for proposals can be seen at; http://www.jisc.ac.uk/pub01/vle_lib_rfp.html

and a brief overview of INSPIRAL is provided by the CDLR web site at the address given below;

http://cdlr.strath.ac.uk/projects/projects-inspiral.html

General enquiries can be directed to:

Sharron Brown
INSPIRAL Research Assistant
CDLR Andersonian Library
101 St James Road
GLASGOW G4 ONS

Tel: 0141 548 4753
E-Mail: sharron.brown@strath.ac.uk

(18/5/01)

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