Hi listers, We're interested in applying for an IMLS Sparks! Ignition grant for development of Koha in new and exciting ways, and we're looking for partners to collaborate with us. The Sparks! grants are grants up to $25,000 for innovative solutions to broad-ranging challenges in libraries, archives and museums, with an emphasis on making the results of the project open and accessible. From http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/SparksIgnition.shtm : "Successful proposals will address problems, challenges, or needs of broad relevance to museums, libraries, or archives, will test innovative responses to these problems, and will make the findings of these tests widely and openly accessible. Grant funding may include all activities associated with planning, deploying, and evaluating the innovation, as long as the expenses are allowable under federal and IMLS guidelines. Examples of projects that might be funded by this program include, but are not limited to: * exploring the potential of highly original, experimental collaborations, * implementing new workflows or processes with potential for substantial cost savings, * testing new metrics or methods to measure the impact of promising tools or services, * rapid prototyping and testing of new types of software tools, or creating useful new ways to link separate software applications used in libraries, archives, or museums, * offering innovative new types of services or service options to museum, library, or archive visitors, or * enhancing institutions' abilities to interact with audiences in new ways to promote learning or improve services, such as through the deployment of innovative crowd-sourcing techniques." Innovative + collaborative + open sounds like Koha to me! We would welcome anyone who would like to join us in this project- we have some ideas of our own, but we welcome more! (And by our own ideas I mean that we're at the "gee, wouldn't it be cool if..." stage). Please let me know if you would like to join us in pursuing this potentially amazing opportunity! Best, -Jen Jen Tobias Technical Services and Special Collections Coordinator Naropa University Allen Ginsberg Library (303) 546-3505 jtobias@naropa.edu