The National Gallery of the Spoken Word is funded by Michigan State University, its partnering institutions, and the National Digital Library Initiative Phase II spearheaded by the National Science Foundation. NDLII is a joint initiative of the Library of Congress, the National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , National Library of Medicine, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The NSF has chosen Michigan State University as the headquarters for the NGSW project, which is just entering its first phase of development. During the first development phase, which runs from April 15, 1999 to April 14, 2000 the project participants will begin to identify and implement optimal models for sound digitization, begin development of the search engine to parse the sound files directly, and develop interfaces for K-12 and postsecondary education, as well as a broad public audience.

More information about the project timeline, management plan, and the Digital Library Initiative Phase II grant application are all accessible from this site. Principle investigators at Michigan State University include Mark Lawrence Kornbluh, Michael Seadle, Jack Deller, Joyce Grant. The external principle investigators are Jerry Goldman at Northwestern University, John Hansen at the University of Colorado, and Douglas Greenberg, at the Chicago Historical Society. Project Manager for the National Gallery of the Spoken Word is Melanie Shell Weiss.

Copyright © 1999 Michigan State University