The Virtual Reference Desk 5th Annual Digital Reference Conference "Reference Roundup" November 17-18, 2002 San Antonio, TX Call for Student Papers The Virtual Reference DeskSM and the OCLC Institute invite graduate students in the fields of library and information science to submit proposals for the VRD 2003 Student Paper Competition. The purpose of this competition is to highlight exemplary graduate student research or thesis work in the area of digital reference. Interested students are invited to submit a paper for consideration by May 31, 2003, along with a letter from an advisor verifying student status. All student submissions will be notified of acceptance no later than July 14, 2003. The author of the best student paper will win one free registration, two nights lodging, and free transportation to the VRD 5th Annual Digital Reference Conference in San Antonio, Texas, where he/she will present the paper before an international audience. (Hotel and airline reservations will be made through the OCLC Institute Office.). The winner will be honored during an awards ceremony at the conference, and the paper will be published in the conference proceedings. The fifth annual VRD conference will emphasize planning and direction founded upon practical experience, research, or trend analyses. Authors are encouraged to examine issues, identify practices, and propose organizational and technological systems, standards, and practices that advance the state of reference librarianship as practiced in a digital environment. For more information on the annual VRD conference, please see the conference Web site at www.vrd2003.org. DEADLINES: Student papers will be accepted until May 31, 2003 (see paper submission instructions below). The winning student will be notified by July 14, 2003. PAPER SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Papers should include student's name, institution, address, phone, fax, e-mail, brief biographical information, and a letter from an advisor verifying student status. Please e-mail your paper to VRD Conference ([log in to unmask]) by May 31, 2003. The VRD 2003 Annual Digital Reference Conference is hosted by the Information Institute of Syracuse and the OCLC Institute. For more information regarding the VRD 2003 Annual Digital Reference Conference, please refer to the conference Web site at www.vrd2003.org, or contact Pat Grimsley at [log in to unmask], 800-464-9107 or, 315- 443 -3640. The Virtual Reference Desk(SM) is a project of the U.S. Department of Education, operated by the Information Institute of Syracuse, Syracuse University. Located at: 621 Skytop Road, Suite 160, Syracuse, New York 13244 - 5290. __________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]