2.13.2008 - 08:00am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - February 13, 2008 – The Elsevier Foundation has announced today that it has committed a total of $594,000 in grants to thirteen institutions from around the world in support of initiatives that promote the work of libraries and scholars in science, technology and medicine. The recipient programs were selected from over 150 applicants worldwide for their innovation and potential for impact in the developing world and the academic workplace.

Six grants have been awarded under the Elsevier Foundation's program for Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries, which helps libraries build their capacity to use scientific, technical and medical information to promote health and economic advancement in the developing world. This year's awardees include institutions working in Africa, Latin America and Asia to improve access to scientific information, develop information resources, and train librarians and researchers on how to use and deploy information for patient care, health research, HIV/AIDS, disaster preparedness, and agricultural development.

Under its New Scholars program, the Elsevier Foundation has awarded seven grants in support of initiatives that help scholars balance childcare and family responsibilities during the early stages of their demanding careers in science and technology. The awardees represent a range of institutions that are pioneering new approaches to childcare, mentoring, networking and participation in scholarly meetings.

"The Elsevier Foundation is always seeking out new ideas and models to advance the role of science, technology and medicine in addressing critical human needs," said Y.S. Chi, Vice Chairman of Elsevier. "Whether they are working to put essential scientific information to work in the developing world or helping to encourage and support a new generation of scholars, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to help these committed institutions to create new solutions to some of the world's most important challenges."

The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to institutions around the world, with a focus on support for the world's libraries and for scholars in the early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 50 grants worth over a million dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is funded by Elsevier, a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services.

For more information please visit www.elsevierfoundation.org or contact:

Anna Hogrebe
Corporate Relations, Elsevier
+31 (0) 20 485 3269
newsroom@elsevier.com

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

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