With initial three-year funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Scholarly Communication Institute (SCI) began in 2003 with the overall goal of providing an opportunity for leaders in scholarly disciplines, academic libraries, advanced technologies, and higher education administration to study, develop, and implement creative and innovative strategies to advance scholarly communication in the context of the ongoing digital revolution.

Extended by the Mellon Foundation for an additional six years, SCI has focused on Architectural History (2006); on Visual Studies (2007); and in 2008 on models and strategies for national “centers of excellence” in humanities scholarship. The upcoming Institute at the University of Virginia Library in 2009 will explore the use of geospatial technologies in the humanities. Future sessions in 2010 and 2011 will further explore the integration of multimedia into emerging areas of inquiry.

Dr. Abby Smith Rumsey directs the Scholarly Communication Institute. Dr. Bethany Nowviskie serves as associate director. SCI is advised by a Steering Committee, whose members are leaders in the academic, digital humanities, and research library communities.