Funding

The database Beacon for Freedom of Expression is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. The database represents one of Norway’s gifts to the new library of Alexandria.

The web site, dedicated to the database, was funded by the Norwegian institution The Freedom of Expression Foundation, which was shut down in 2001 (see the chapter on Norwegian pioneer project).

Acknowledgements
The Norwegian database pilot project has been made possible thanks to the invaluable and generous support, assistance and volunteer work provided by a great number of people and institutions.

Credit is particularly due to the large number of co-operating partners, information providers and sources. The proprietors are no less indebted to the tutors and students of the Faculty of Journalism, Library and Information Science at the Oslo College for undertaking the extensive and time-consuming production, to the group of translators for their patient persistence while translating the sometimes incomplete bibliographic data from their native languages into English, and for the generous support given by Ravn Webveveriet A/S during the long and sometimes complicated planning and production of the database and the dedicated web site period.

Credit is also due to the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs for their unwavering support of the project and the 4 year grant of app. US $ 100.000. The extensive research, communication, administration, fees for all operations and translating have been managed within this budget. The Steering-committee and the project management, having completed the groundwork of establishing networks and work procedures, regard it as strategically important that an ambitious project such as the database Beacon for Freedom of Expression could be successfully established as a low cost project.

Nevertheless, keeping a low cost profile for the project would not have been possible without the enthusiasm, generosity and efficiency displayed by all parties involved. This represents contributions of truly immeasurable value.