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.