If they are to be centrally involved in future IST calls addressing community-based cultural heritage services, local cultural institutions need to identify a solid basis for their own RandD priorities, backed by an analysis of the issues which deserve European support. The CALIMERA 24 month Co-ordinating Action will monitor technical developments and solutions already emerging from IST and national research and assess their potential as widely transferable technologies for use by local institutions. It will co-ordinate and sensitise the stakeholders including professional networks, national and local authorities and industrial players, laying the groundwork for participation in future calls Building on FP5, CALIMERA will increase sharing of best practice, mobilising and adding European value to IST-based national programmes, producing guidelines and benchmarking tools with a special focus on the needs of local archives and museums and addressing the needs of the end user by identifying a framework for focused research on usability/ease-of-use. This vital co-ordination and preparatory work will be underpinned by a high-impact dissemination programme targeted at decision-makers, managers and professionals, including a portal website providing access to best practice, relevant research and innovative solutions.