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[cid:[log in to unmask]] News Release January 5, 2011 School of Information Professors Awarded National Leadership Grant from IMLS Ann Arbor, MI -- University of Michigan School of Information Assistant Professor Ixchel Faniel and Associate Professor Elizabeth Yakel have been awarded a National Leadership Grant of $589,728 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for a three-year project on "Dissemination Information Packages for Information Reuse (DIPIR)." With their partners Dr. Nancy McGovern at the Inter-university Consortium for Social and Political Research, Dr. William Fink from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, and Dr. Eric Kansa from Open Context (a data dissemination service of the Alexandria Archive Institute), they will study data reuse in three academic disciplines to identify how contextual information about the data that supports reuse can best be created and preserved. Their investigation will focus on research data produced and used by quantitative social scientists, archaeologists, and zoologists. The intended audiences of this project are researchers who use secondary data and the digital curators, digital repository managers, data center staff, and others who collect, manage, and store digital information. Knowledge gained from the study will help guide current and future international practices for curating and preserving digital research data, according to the IMLS. Faniel's research interests include the reuse of content, particularly how to capture, document and disseminate the content that makes it easy to share and reuse via technology. Her research has focused on the reuse of knowledge and scientific research data within industry organizations and academic communities. Currently she is the principal investigator for the DIPIR project and "Examining the Reuse of Scientific Research in Practice," funded by Michigan State University through the Department of Defense. She has also received funding from the National Science Foundation for "SGER: A Cyberinfrastructure Evaluation of the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)." Yakel is a member of the Archives and Records Management and Preservation of Information specialization within the Master of Science in Information program. Her research interests include use and user services for archival materials, particularly focusing on the digital realm, and the development of recordkeeping systems. She is presently principal investigator on several research projects, including "Archival Metrics and User Evaluation for Government Archives," funded by the National Archives and Records Administration, and "Engaging Communities to Foster Internships for Preservation and Digital Curation," also funded by the IMLS. National Leadership Project Grants support projects that advance the ability of museums, archives, and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge, contribute to building 21st century technology infrastructure and information technology services, and support the education of the next generation with 21st century knowledge and skills while creating a world-class workforce. *** The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, visit www.imls.gov<http://www.imls.gov>. Contact: Ixchel M. Faniel, Assistant Professor, University of Michigan School of Information 4376 North Quad, 105 S. State Street Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285 734-615-7435 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> __________________________________ Glenda Bullock Marketing & Communications Officer University of Michigan School of Information 734-647-7313 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>