About AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics
AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics
Oxford Text Archive
Oxford University Computing Services
13 Banbury Rd
Oxford OX2 6NN | Email: ota@oucs.ox.ac.uk
Tel: 01865 273238
Fax: 01865 273275
http://www.litlangling.ahds.ac.uk |
What is AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics? AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics was hosted by the Oxford Text Archive at the University of Oxford until 31 March 2008. We collect, document, preserve and promote the use of digital resources to support research and teaching within the disciplines of literature, languages, and linguistics. We also provide advice and support to digital data creators and users. We have an interest in all types of resources related to our subject areas, such as digital versions of literary works, linguistic corpora, collections of language data and resources related to research and teaching. AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics is the part of the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS) dealing specifically with users and resources in the areas of literature, languages, and linguistics. AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics is hosted by Oxford Text Archive which is part of the Research Technologies Service at the University of Oxford. [UP] Why Is AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics Needed? A major factor in the reluctance of some academics to use electronic resources has been that many are poorly produced, often lacking any proper documentation. Easy access to well-documented digital resources, adhering to recognized standards, is essential if they are to be accepted by the academic community as a whole. AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics works to identify, collect, and preserve high-quality, well-documented electronic texts and linguistic corpora, which it then makes available to others. In addition to this archival function, AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics fulfils a vital educational role, advising the creators and users of digital text resources on the importance of adhering to particular standards during resource creation and documentation, and helping them to make the most effective use of the high-quality resources that are available. [UP] What kinds of resources are held by AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics? AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics holds a large number of electronic texts and linguistic corpora, in a variety of languages. Our holdings include electronic editions of works by individual authors, standard reference works such as the Bible and mono-/bilingual dictionaries, and a range of language corpora. We do not produce digital resources, and we rely upon deposits from the wider community as the primary source of high-quality materials. Our detailed Collections Policy is available for public consultation via these web pages. To search our catalogue of resources, go to http://www.ota.ox.ac.uk. [UP] What services are provided by AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics? AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics provides a range of services to recognized members of the academic community. - Access to an extensive collection of high-quality electronic texts, reference works, and linguistic corpora:
Users of AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics have access to a large number of digital resources. Many of these resources are freely available and can be used by any member of the research and teaching community, although some restrictions to apply to certain texts. For more information see our Common Access Agreement - Expert advice on text preparation:
Members of the UK HE community can receive free initial advice on the preparation of electronic texts, linguistic corpora, and related digital resources. We can recommend appropriate standards, software, and project management strategies to ensure the successful creation of high-quality, reusable materials. Detailed guidance will also be offered through our published Guides to Good Practice - Professional documentation and cataloguing of texts:
We encourage our depositors to provide complete and thorough documentation of their materials. This information is incorporated into the detailed documentation and catalogue descriptions which accompany the vast majority of our holdings, and helps users to identify the digital resources which are most relevant to their work. - Standardized encoding of core texts:
AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics strongly recommends that text creators and depositors follow the advice set out in the Text Encoding Initiative's Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange . Where resources permit, the Archive also works to ensure that key texts are made available in a format which conforms to the TEI Lite encoding scheme, in addition to any other formats which may also be offered (including, where possible, the format of the original deposit). - Expert information on text availability:
AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics has a focused Collections Policy and does not seek to be a comprehensive online electronic library. However, we are well-placed to provide advice and guidance on where to find electronic texts from other sources e.g. specialist centres on the internet, CD-ROM publishers, and so forth.
[UP] Services to data creators and depositors - Archival and distribution management service:
As part of the Arts and Humanities Data Service , AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics offers to archive and distribute materials on behalf of depositors, for the benefit of users of the AHDS. This service free../index.htms depositors from the business of having to manage the distribution of the resources that they have created, whilst recording usage information which might be helpful to depositors and their funders. - Cataloguing and documentation of texts to recognized standards:
All the digital resources held by AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics are catalogued according to recognized library and archival standards. Work is currently underway to ensure that our holdings will be accessible via the AHDS' central catalogue (which supports searching across all five AHDS centers), and will also appear in the OPACs of The University of Oxford, and the Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL). Each resource is documented according to the standards and recommendations set out in the Text Encoding Initiative's Guidelines for Electronic Text Encoding and Interchange . - Long-term preservation of resources:
The University of Oxford works closely with the specialist staff of Oxford University Computing Services to ensure the long-term preservation of all deposited materials. All digital resources are archived according to current best practice, using the extensive facilities made available through the generosity of Oxford University. - Usability across technological change:
Through the Oxford Text Archive, AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics has many years' experience of migrating data between systems as a result of technological developments. On the basis of our experiences, we have chosen to recommend the adoption of appropriate International Standards and acknowledged best practices in the creation and documentation of digital resources. Any deposited material which follows our recommendations is future-proofed against technological change, and will remain usable for many years to come. Given the significant investment involved in the creation of many of the latest digital resources, this is an extremely important consideration for many data creators and the bodies that fund their activities. - Free promotion and publicity for scholarly resources, using well-established and recognized channels:
As well as ensuring the long-term preservation of resources, AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics is well-placed to make certain that any electronic text or linguistic corpus deposited with us will be made known to the international academic community of teachers and researchers. This helps to raise the profile not only of those directly involved with the creation of such resources, but also of the institutions and organizations which have supported the work.
[UP] Services to funding and other agencies - Maximizing investment in resource creation:
Digital resources are expensive to create, and so it is extremely important to ensure that they can be reused by others both now and in the future. By advising on the creation of such resources, and offering facilities for their long-term preservation and distribution, AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics works to ensure that the bodies which fund the production of digital resources derive the maximum possible benefit from their investment in such activities. - Continued accessibility for community-created resources:
Through the provision of an online catalogue, and our work within the Arts and Humanities Data Service , AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics helps to make deposited materials known to the wider academic community. By adopting relevant International Standards and following the best practices of the library and archival community, we also ensure that the resources held by us remain accessible to current and future generations of scholars. - Expertise in the development and application of key standards:
AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics has extensive and long-standing experience in the development and implementation of standards crucial to the creation and management of digital text resources. We are happy to discuss how we might advise and assist other projects and programmes concerned with the creation of comparable resources, and welcome enquiries from appropriate funding bodies and project representatives. - Provision of Guides to Good Practice in our areas of specialization:
The Arts and Humanities Data Service has commissioned the publication of several key Guides to Good Practice, focusing on the creation, management, and reuse of digital resources across the spectrum of supported disciplines. AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics has agreed to produce a number of such Guides that address the particular concerns of those involved with electronic texts and linguistic corpora.
[UP] Who funds AHDS Literature, Languages and Linguistics? The following agencies are connected with the OTA : [UP] |
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