Grant Management Committee
Mini Grant Program
2006-2007 Application Review
FINAL Justification Sheet
FULLY FUNDED:
Rank: FIRST (24.38 out of 25)
Title: Enhancing Access to the Jeremie Papers
Applicant: John Nemmers
Amount of Funds requested: $2,940.00
Amount of cost share provided: $424.00 (Flo Turcotte [1%])
Justification: Completing and making corrections to the arrangement and description of
the Jeremie papers is a significant project with an international scope that will result in an
accurate and comprehensive descriptive finding aid to UF’s earliest and most important
French Caribbean collection. Enhancing access is critical to the usability of this unique
collection. The plan of action is clear and reasonable. The Committee was concerned that
budget for this proposal may be too conservative and would like to have Mr. Nemmers
reexamine his budget, with the possibility of increasing it, if needed.
Potential for future funding: This proposal positions the Libraries for future funding of
this and related projects. It greatly increases our ability to grant the digitization of the
Jeremie and related collections. With Haitian partners to the Digital Library of the
Caribbean, it promises to finally open the Archives nationales de France (AnF) and the
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) to joint projects with French and United Nations
funding for the development of collections. And, it positions UF faculty in the Center for
Latin American Studies, the France-Florida Research Institute, and the Department of
History among others for grants bringing additional funds, in part, to the Libraries.
Rank: SECOND (24.13 out of 25)
Title: Accessing our cartographic past
Applicant: Carol McAuliffe
Amount of Funds requested: $5,000
Amount of cost share provided: $583.25 (Jimmie Lundgren [2.5%], Jorge Gonzalez [3.1%]
and Ken Solomon [0.8%])
Justification: Obtaining specialized cataloging training and then using that knowledge to
catalog a large portion of the unprocessed antique map collection held by the Map and
Imagery Library is an exciting project which will increase accessibility to this valuable and
unique library resource. While the consultant costs appear low, it is expected that a local
expert, Helen Jane Armstrong, will be available. The stated production throughput of 460
maps cataloged in 7 months is achievable in the opinion of the Committee given the use of a
standardized cataloging map template. An exciting long term benefit to the Library of this
project is the specific map cataloging knowledge gained by staff during the advanced
training.
Potential for future funding: This proposal positions the Libraries for future digitization
grants to both public sector agencies and foundations. It follows the model for antique map
projects established by the New York Public Library and suggests the future effectiveness of
grants to NEH, IMLS and to foundations. It will efficiently communicate rare map description
skills otherwise lost with the retirement of Dr. Armstrong. And, it will provide those skills to
individuals in the Map Library, the Catalog Department and in Special Collections. And, with
the use of cataloging templates, proposes methods anticipated to greatly decrease map
cataloging cost-per-unit, making possible the realization of continued cost savings beyond
the project. Finally, because these maps are in such great demand by the general public
(as indicated by current digital rare maps statistics), the Committee believes that this effort
has the potential to draw new donors in the course of the Library’s Capital Campaign.
Rank: THIRD (23.25 out of 25)
Title: Joint Digitization project with University of Botswana
Applicant: Haiyun Cao
Amount of Funds requested: $4,982.00
Amount of cost share provided: $5,346 (Gus Clifton [5%] and equipment from a DLC
endowment)
Justification: Built on the Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) model, this project aims
to bring equipment, software, training and remote support to the University of Botswana
allowing staff there to select, scan and deliver valuable digital content to the Digital Library
Center in support of the UF African Studies Collection. In addition to improving coordination
between the DLC and the Cataloging and Metadata Department, another important goal of
this project is testing the exportation of the dLOC model to the African continent. The plan of
action is reasonable and the costs are limited to the necessary travel.
The Committee notes that this project is contingent upon finalization of Botswana’s
agreement and the use of endowment funds supporting the Digital Library Center. The
Digital Library Center believes that endowment, based on past funds performance, will
generate the needed equipment funds. The African Studies Center, using funds allocated
for Library support, has indicated that it will supplement these funds as necessary. The
University of Botswana (UB) Library has indicated its very general support for the project but
requires official consent from University Administration and the Government of Botswana.
(N.B. The chief officer for UB is the President of Botswana.) The proposal has been
passed on, from the Library to the higher approval body.
Potential for future funding: This proposal positions the Libraries for application to the
U.S. Dept. of Education’s TICFIA program (and similar programs) in support of collections
building on Digital Library of the Caribbean model for Africa. As indicated by Peter
Malanchuk, it has the support of the African Studies Center, which desires the content-for(access to)-technology model for Africa. And, as indicated both by the (UF/UB) International
Wetlands Centre’s long-range plan, it positions the UB libraries for supplemental granting,
contribution additional agriculture, ecosystems and wildlife information together with much
valued data, aerial photographs, maps and archival collections. Finally, relative to its
potential for collection of AIDS information and popular culture facing AIDS, the Committee
believes that it situates us, in partnership with UB, to successfully compete for Gates
Foundation funding.
Rank: FOURTH (21.38 out of 25)
Title: John D. MacDonald Collection Processing Plan
Applicant: Flo Turcotte
Amount of Funds requested: revised $4,126
Amount of cost share provided: revised to $1,047 (Dina Benson [2%], John Nemmers [1%],
and archival supplies. Turcotte [2%] not needed nor allowed)
Justification: This important and comprehensive collection of materials from John D.
MacDonald, a prominent and popular Florida author, has been held unprocessed by the
Smathers Libraries for years. The scope and impact of this collection on the study of literary
history in the mystery genre are enormous. The outcomes of this project are several,
including increased accessibility via an accurate inventory and creation of a set of
appropriate series names and a numbering scheme for the collection, the writing of a
processing plan and a plan for a visit to a potential donor, Jean Shine, a key player in the
effort to preserve the work of Mr. MacDonald.
Potential for future funding: Please note that Committee members felt that any/all fund
raising visits to Jean Shine must be coordinated through development officer Lane Jimison.
This proposal positions the Libraries to complete a major ask from Jean Shine. Additionally,
with Mrs. Shine’s support together with the collection’s popular appeal, the Committee feels
it well seated for future granting. Finally, because McDonald has considerable popular
appeal, the Committee believes that effort to expose it will generate additional donor
contacts for Special Collections and the Library’s Capital Campaign. [Although the original
budget sheet specifically requested travel money to visit Mrs. Shine, the Committee felt that
it is more appropriate for these travel funds to come from the Development budget, thus the
Mini grant budget was modified accordingly.]
NOT FUNDED:
Rank: FIFTH (17.69 out of 25)
Title: MSL Textbook Purchasing Project
Applicant: Kathryn Kennedy
Reaction: This creative and interesting project is an attempt on the part of MSL staff to
address a need stated repeatedly by their patrons, that of access to textbooks for students
in large (500+ students) introductory Science classes. Though it was the fifth highest rated
project, the Committee had enough issues with the application and expectations created by
a successful first year of the project, that it was not recommended for funding. We would
suggest that Mrs. Kennedy take it to Student Government at this time, rather than waiting.
Rank: SIXTH (15.63 out of 25)
Title: What happened to the books?
Applicant: Angela Mott
Reaction: To respond to a need identified at the Information point and via LibQual+ survey
results, this project involves placing 24 framed LC call number posters around Library West,
planning and executing a series of monthly themed book displays and distributing Find It
bookmarks at the Circulation desk and Information point. There was extensive discussion
about this application which centered on two questions: first, should this be considered a
mini grant project or should it simply be funded from regular Library supply monies and
second, how would this project integrate with any planned Signage Committee?
Rank: SEVENTH (15.5 out of 25)
Title: Yongester Mini grant Project
Applicant: Penny Chou
Reaction: This grant application simply did not meet our standard for long term impact or
benefit to the Libraries.
NOTE: Mrs. Chou did call and ask Chair of GMC if an application from PK would be
acceptable. For this year, Chair answered “Yes”. This decision can certainly be reviewed if
there is a 2007-2008 Mini grant cycle.
RANK: EIGHTH (14.25 out of 25)
Title: Eastern European Roma: History, Culture and their way of Life
Applicant: Alena Aissing:
Reaction: An ambitious project designed in cooperation with the Center for European
Studies; unfortunately, the proposal did not contain letters of support from faculty that could
have more fully explained the significance of the planned programs and exhibits to the
university mission. It was also not clear how the many diverse parts of this project were to
be melded together or how the library’s mission would benefit from the requested
sponsorship.
RANK: NINTH (13.75 out of 25)
Title: Dealing with our issues: Utilizing the OCLC Local Holdings in the Smathers Libraries
Applicant: Naomi Young
Reaction: As with the Mott application, the Committee felt that this project may be better
supported through regular monies. Also, the question of how to keep the issue identified as
a problem (out of date holdings) from reemerging was raised.
RANK: TENTH (12.88 out of 25)
Title: Movies on Media: Images in Popular Culture
Applicant: Patrick Reakes
Reaction: There are many avenues of funding for a project of this sort. Regular books
funds can and should be used.
RANK: ELEVENTH (10.75 out of 25)
Title: UF Library Tagging Project
Applicant: Jason Fleming
Reaction: While ground breaking and interesting, this application was not well researched.
A support letter from Systems was a necessity.
OTHER NOTES:
**The mini grant program application for funding to travel to Miami to scout Haitian Creole
book stores by Richard Phillips was disqualified since Mr. Phillips has been the Primary
Investigator on 2 previous grants.
**The mini grant program application for commercial Library binding of 564 projects in lieu of
by John Seay will be supported this fiscal year by Preservation funds.