6.0319 Chadwyck-Healey DBs: Correction and Follow-up (2/66)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Tue, 27 Oct 1992 10:09:12 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 6, No. 0319. Tuesday, 27 Oct 1992.
(1) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 92 08:46:45 EST (15 lines)
From: PWILLETT@ucs.indiana.edu
Subject: RE: Summary of responses RE: Chadwyck-Healey MRDF's
(2) Date: Tue, 27 Oct 92 08:31:19 EST (51 lines)
From: PWILLETT@ucs.indiana.edu
Subject: Responses RE: Chadwyck-Healey MRDFs
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 92 08:46:45 EST
From: PWILLETT@ucs.indiana.edu
Subject: RE: Summary of responses RE: Chadwyck-Healey MRDF's
I just posted a summary of responses to my request regarding the
Chadwyck-Healey full-text databases. I'm sorry to say that some
of the information contained in the posting is inaccurate. I
tried to have the message stopped by the editors, but I guess it
slipped through. The blame is all mine, however. I'll be posting
a better informed summary in the next few days. I'm sorry for
my confusion.
Perry Willett
Main Library
Indiana University
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------63----
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 92 08:31:19 EST
From: PWILLETT@ucs.indiana.edu
Subject: Responses RE: Chadwyck-Healey MRDFs
A while back, I asked for opinions and experiences from Humanist
and PACS-L readers regarding the full-text databases from Chadwyck-
Healey on CD-ROM (Patrologia Latina, English Full-Text Poetry DB, and
especially, the DB of African-American Poetry). (My response on
Humanist last week was posted in error.) There seems to be some
interest, as I received plenty of e-mail requesting that I post a
summary of responses. While I didn't hear from anyone who has actually
used or seen a C-H full text db on CD-ROM, I got one response from
someone whose library has one on order, and another who was interested
in ordering one soon. I got one response from a librarian involved in
a beta test of the Patrologia Latina with a UN*X system.
The main problem seems to be that C-H is behind schedule. The
English Full-Text Poetry DB on CD-ROM, I'm told by one respondant, is
scheduled for release in late November 1992. The flyer for the
African-American Poetry DB says it will be released in October 1992;
one C-H rep told me it would be Jan 1993; now I hear that it will be
Spring 1993.
One important issue that I believe has been resolved is whether
the African-American Poetry DB will be SGML conformant (i.e., using the
Standard Generic Markup Language to describe the texts). The other two
C-H full-text db's use the SGML standard, and I've been told that C-H
will use SGML for this project. With C-H using this standard, scholars
would be able to use the texts with a variety of software for analysis,
so this is a positive development.
The lateness problem is a little more troubling. For instance,
the special price for the African-American Poetry DB is good through
the end of October 1992, yet the product isn't even scheduled for
delivery until Spring '93. One C-H rep told me that if we could commit
to the product before the end of October, we wouldn't have to pay until
the discs actually arrive. Still, it seems a little silly to end a
"pre-publication" price so long before publication.
One librarian reminded me of the installation nightmares of the
various National Bibliographies offered by C-H. I guess I had
repressed the memory. However, the software for the new full-text db's
is produced by a different company (I also heard from one of the
developers), and should be much easier to install. The CD-ROM software
runs under Windows. The librarian who is involved with the test of the
Patrologia Latina is satisfied with C-H's responsiveness.
Thanks to all who responded.
Perry Willett
Main Library
Indiana University
Phone: 812-855-1891
Bitnet: PWILLETT@INDIANA
Internet:PWILLETT@INDIANA.EDU