This document has been archived.


NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
4201 WILSON BOULEVARD
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22230



OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Dear Colleague:

The National Science Foundation invites you to participate in an
important project concerning the nation's research infrastructure.

In 2005, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
identified "object-based scientific collections" as vital resources
for research (OSTP Memorandum). As a result, the National Science
Foundation (NSF) is undertaking a systematic documentation of the
condition of object-based scientific collections supported by the
Foundation. The NSF Survey of Object-Based Scientific Collections
includes all organizations that have at some time received NSF
funding to construct or maintain such collections. This NSF survey
complements a separate survey of federal agencies that maintain such
collections. Reports are planned summarizing the results of both
surveys.

Your institution is one of nearly 150 that we are asking to
participate in the survey. While your participation is voluntary,
because each institution's collections are a unique contribution to
this scientific resource, your participation is extremely important
to the success of this project. There are no penalties for not
participating in the study now or in the future, and a decision to
not participate will not affect current or future funding from NSF.
Please be assured that responses will be kept confidential to the
extent provided by law, and results will only be reported in the
aggregate in any analyses. The information that you provide will be
invaluable to the National Science Foundation and to the White House
as we work together to establish priorities for strengthening this
important resource.

Abt Associates, Inc. is administering the survey on-line. The
Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) will analyze the
survey data. Only these organizations and NSF staff for this
particular project will have access to your data.

Further information and instructions for completing this web-based
survey will be sent to you shortly by Dr. Judith Skog, Director,
Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIOIDBI).

We thank you in advance for taking the time to support this project
for the benefit of the research community.

If you have any questions now or when you receive the email, please
don't hesitate to contact Dr. Richard McCourt at collsurv@nsf.gov.

Kathie L. Olsen Deputy Director

cc: NSF grantee at the institution