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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can reports authored by more than one person? Yes, reports can have multiple authors; however, the $2,500 offered for this publication opportunity is per report, not per author. The stipend will not increase if additional authors are added. If there will be multiple authors, it should be specified somewhere in the application how these funds will be split. 

Is there a budget for research expenses? Unfortunately, no. This is intended as a writing rather than a research stipend. A large-scale research project involving data collection expenses may be a better fit for other funding opportunities. However, this stipend can be paired with research grants received from other sources, if allowed by the other funders.

Who can apply for this opportunity? Anyone who does work or research that falls within the field of information and cultural heritage is welcome to apply. There is no degree requirement or required level of work/publication experience. CLIR welcomes applicants at all points in their careers. Applicants are not required to work at an information or cultural heritage institution, so long as their proposed publication is related. Independent authors and those with an institutional affiliation alike are encouraged to apply.  

Do you have to live in the United States to apply? No, you can live anywhere in the world to apply through this opportunity. However, to receive a stipend you must be able to receive paper checks or direct deposit issued by a U.S. bank.  

What is the suggested report length? Published reports should ideally be between 5,000-12,500 words (in layout, this will be between 20 and 50 pages). CLIR recognizes that in some cases, it may take authors more or fewer words to make their desired points than initially anticipated. The most important thing is producing a polished, succinct, and thoughtful piece of writing that provides new knowledge or interpretation. Note that the stipend amount will not change, regardless of the final length of the piece. 

What types of projects are good fits for the Project Burgundy series? Pocket Burgundy publications give authors a platform to produce a work that is longer than an article but shorter than a book. Some project scopes and approaches are a better fit for this format than others. 

Because of the relatively quick turnaround time, reviewers have found that this form lends itself well to urgent and timely topics and breakthrough ideas that may be in an earlier stage of development. It also lends itself well to topics with broad appeal, as well as to more specialized pieces that may have a smaller pool of readers but are highly significant to its target audience. Like many of CLIR’s programs, this series seeks to amplify unheard voices and include perspectives that may be less likely to receive attention through other venues.  

How will proposals be selected? An independent editorial selection committee will review the proposals and select up to four for funding and publication. The committee is composed of scholars and professionals with a variety of backgrounds and expertise in the information and cultural heritage fields. Proposals will be primarily assessed on the need for the publication and its contribution to the information and cultural heritage sectors. Reviewers will also consider the feasibility and author’s ability to carry out the proposed project; the suitability of the proposed approaches/methodologies; and the overall balance of topics, expertise, and perspectives represented among the selected projects. 

Will an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review proposals? CLIR is a small, independent nonprofit and does not have an established IRB. Generally, reports published in this series will not rely on the collection of personally identifiable information or upon data gathered from human subjects through interviews, focus groups, surveys, or observations. However, in some cases it may be expedient and consistent with the goals of a project to use one of these methods. In these cases, the editorial committee will make a recommendation to CLIR about whether a selected project should undergo additional review with attention to data gathering instruments, data protection practices, and participant invitation and disclosure language. CLIR will work with the author and, if applicable, the author’s employer’s IRB and other relevant IRBs (e.g., tribal IRBs) to determine whether and how this additional review will take place.

Are Pocket Burgundy publications peer reviewed? 

Yes, Pocket Burgundy publications are peer reviewed. CLIR strives for a constructive and supportive model of peer review that recognizes the effort of the authors and provides an opportunity for contributors to hone their craft and revise their work in dialogue with their peers. CLIR’s proposal evaluation process is rigorous, so barring exceptional cases, CLIR plans to publish all pieces selected for funding. Final say on edits will rest with the authors, who will not be required to implement reviewer suggestions. Exceptions to this would be issues that reviewers believe make the work unsuitable for publication (e.g., plagiarism, false information, content harmful to marginalized communities). 

For this series, authors should consider peer review as a way to strengthen their publication, increase sensitivity and care, and add credibility to their work. 

What happens after selections are made? Once selections are made, all applicants will receive notification. The authors of the selected proposals will be invited to pursue their proposed plan. In this invitation email, CLIR staff will share the distribution schedule for stipend payments and any milestones from your proposed timeline that will need to be met prior to receiving them. CLIR will also propose a publication timeline that will occur following the completion of your writing process, which includes copyediting and layout. Once authors have accepted the distribution schedule and committed to pursuing the publication opportunity, CLIR will announce the recipients and authors will begin work on their projects. 

What is the distribution schedule for stipend payments? Stipends will be released in three installments: (1) an initial $500 will be distributed upon acceptance of the offer, (2) $1,500 will be distributed once the draft is complete, and (3) the final $500 will be distributed upon the release of the publication. 

If I’m selected, what happens if I have to change my proposed timeline? Authors may request revisions to their proposed work plan, which will need to be approved by CLIR staff. Small changes can be approved internally by CLIR staff; larger changes that affect the scope or nature of the project may be subject to additional approval by members of CLIR’s editorial selection committee. 

Where will the publication live once it’s produced? Currently, CLIR’s reports can be accessed on the publications page of its website. Each report receives its own page, such as this one. CLIR is currently in the process of re-examining how it hosts reports, so this may have changed by the time of publication. 

What publication formats do you support? This publication opportunity is specifically for written reports. Final reports will be published digitally on CLIR’s website. All reports will be shared with CLIR and DLF’s sponsor institutions. 

Which citation style should I use if I publish through CLIR? CLIR publications follow the Chicago Manual of Style’s author-date system. You can access CLIR’s style guide here, or Chicago’s online quick guide here.

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