*Terms and conditions apply

FAQ:

Can you please clarify what you mean when you say the award funding should be used for the digitisation process?

DigitalNZ will be able to help you with hosting, access, and metadata using tools that we have available. Therefore the award funding should be directed at activities related directly to the digitisation process. In particular: Metadata: This could include OCR, transcription or digitising a print catalogue but should not include funding staff to describe an object beyond what is required as a direct part of the digitisation process. This would exclude creating new metadata for collections of items that have not previously been described or retrospective adding to already digitised objects. Website, Hosting and Access: The funding should not be used for website development but it may cover preparation work to get objects onto the web. For example, developing landing pages, uploading to an existing website or markup for machine readable content.

Can project management costs be covered by the award funding?

We do expect the funds to be directed at the actual digitisation process. While this could include project management of the process we will be looking out for the 'best bang for buck' for New Zealanders. We will also be evaluating any other support or resources that the applicant is able to bring to the project and, therefore, we are interested in hearing about collaborative approaches. In this spirit we are open to considering creative application of the award - for example someone could be project managing a process where volunteers are undertaking the digitisation at minimal cost or where the direct digitisation costs are being donated as part of a collaborative effort. Or you may be able propose another creative approach?

How important is the number of votes on the Make It Digital Voting Tool for the judging of the award?

The responses to the Voting Tool will just be one aspect of the evaluation. Judges will consider people's comments about why the proposal is of value to them, they'll look at who is commenting and they will be sure not to disadvantage examples that may not attract a huge number of votes or comments because, for example, they are in low population areas. We are looking for quality and relevance, not quantity. Also, the other award criteria will be just as important in the evaluation: * The public benefit from providing online access to the proposed collection. * Whether the collection (or collection items) are available online in any other way or form * Evidence of how the collection can be used - for instance clear rights statements such as Creative Commons licences and/or ‘No Known Copyright’ * Any other support or resources that the applicant is able to bring to the project. * Evidence that the applicant can complete the proposed project.

Will you be publicising information about award winners?

We are expecting to publicise the winners of the Awards on our website and elsewhere.

What is the completion timeframe of the digitisation project if funding is available?

We have not specified timeframe requirements. However, we do expect the successful projects to be underway in the 2009/10 financial year. Funding will be provided prior to 30 June 2010.

Is there scope in the funding available to allow for repairs to the original images or correcting damage on the scanned images? i.e. like cracks on glass plates or mould on a photograph?

The award is intended for digitisation projects. As such, some repairs for preparation for digitisation will be acceptable. However, the project focus should be on digitisation not conservation.

Is there a list of organisations associated with the funding that will be reviewing the applications received - can you advise who they are?

There will be a panel of 3 judges with experience and expertise in IT and digitisation. The judging panel will remain anonymous until the award outcome is announced. Judges will be required to declare any conflicts of interest. This award is based on merit therefore we will not exclude applications that are successful in getting grants from other funds.