Press Release re: SAMP Open Archives Initiative
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The newly established SAMP Open Archives initiative creates and maintains a collection of open access materials for the study of South Asia. This major collaborative initiative is aimed
at addressing the current scarcity of digital resources pertinent to South Asian studies and at making collections more widely accessible both to North American scholars and to researchers elsewhere in the world.
The Open Archives initiative (OAi) will address needs in all academic disciplines, from the humanities through the sciences. With an initial emphasis on colonial-era materials from South
Asia, a carefully curated collection of resources will fill gaps in available online collections. Several criteria will be used to select and prioritize resources for digitization, including:
· Value to research;
· Utility for a broad population of users;
· Uniqueness (not available through other credible, sustainable sources);
· At risk – due to condition, environmental or sociopolitical factors, or other threats;
· Complementarity to other resources.
The SAMP OAi currently has twenty-three members from North America and South Asia. Institutions interested in becoming members can find additional information about the initiative and
membership here.
The Center for Research Libraries (CRL) is the administrative home of the SAMP OAi and is now seeking a creative and self-directed professional to coordinate the initiative. In addition
to developing, implementing and administering the program, the Program Coordinator will be responsible for outreach and participating in initiatives that leverage program results for the purpose of expanding the Open Archives initiative and sources of program
funding.
Qualified candidates will have (among other requirements) proven experience in developing and implementing digital projects, program management and teambuilding skills, a successful track
record in developing funding proposals, communication and web authoring experience, and demonstrated foreign language capability and knowledge of South Asia, South Asian languages, culture, history, and geography.
Full position posting may be found at: http://www.crl.edu/about/employment/program-coordinator
June 9, 2016
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Mary Rader
Global Studies Coordinator / South Asia Librarian
University of Texas Libraries
The University of Texas at Austin