An integrated digital research environment: DFG perspectives
| Date | 20 November 2009 |
| Published date | 20 November 2009 |
| Pages | 496-504 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830911007628 |
| Author | Anne Lipp |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
An integrated digital research
environment: DFG perspectives
Anne Lipp
Scientific Library Services and Information Systems (LIS),
German Research Foundation (DFG), Bonn, Germany
Abstract
Purpose –Thepurposeofthispaperistofocusonthevision that the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(German Research Foundation (DFG)) pursues with its funding programmes in the field of digital
information provision.
Design/methodology/approach – The first section of the paper sketches out the strategic
decisions which determine the funding policy of the DFG in the field of digital information, while the
second section describes in more detail the central funding schemes of the DFG in the field of digital
information.
Findings – The funding policy of the DFG seeks to build an integrated digital research environment
that includes scholarly publications and primary research data as well as new forms of communication
in virtual research and work environments. But it will be only by the common effort of scholars,
libraries and providers of scholarly information, funders, publishers and fee-collecting agencies that
the vision of an integrated digital research environment will come true.
Originality/value – The outline of the funding programmes of the DFG in the area of digital
information provision will be of interest to librarians and information professionals seeking
information about library-funding policies and strategies in Germany.
Keywords Financing, Librarians, Information personnel, Germany
Paper type Research paper
In the ideal digital world, every researcher would be able to access all the information
needed for scholarly work from his or her workplace – wherever that may be. This
includes scholarly publications, primary research data, and new forms of
communication in virtual research and work environments.
This is the vision that the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German
Research Foundation) pursues with its funding programmes in the field of digital
information provision. In this digital environment, each researcher can compile his or
her own library, using modules offered nationwide and available free of charge to all
who require them.
One comment before focusing on digital developments: it should be made clear that
the DFG does not focus exclusively on digital content in its information infrastructure
funding. Digital information provision is one of several funding priorities, albe it a very
central one. But it in no way fully reflects the funding spectrum of the DFG in the field
of scientific library services and information systems. The DFG also supports libraries
and other centres for information services in Germany in acquiring conventional forms
of the most relevant scholarly literature in a given field via the system of so-called
special subject collections, and in making them available to all interested researchers
nationwide. In 2008, the DFG committed around 10 million euros to special subject
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
27,4
496
Received 11 June 2009
Revised 2 July 2009
Accepted 24 July 2009
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 27 No. 4, 2009
pp. 496-504
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830911007628
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