[tei-council] proposal: call for stylesheets

[Julia Flanders]

I was asked to put together a proposal for how the TEI might handle a 
call for stylesheets. I have two proposals to suggest:

1. The Contest
This option would require more input from the TEI, since it requires 
a group of judges, and would generate more buzz and perhaps a better 
outcome.

The TEI would announce a contest to produce TEI stylesheets. A set of 
requirements would be posted (e.g.  must include documentation, must 
handle a minimum set of elements, etc.). The contest could be broken 
down into categories:
--"model" (i.e. a configurable template)
--general
--drama
--verse
--academic writing (grant proposals, reports, academic papers)
--dictionaries
--etc.
Contestants would submit stylesheets in one or more of these 
categories, conforming to the requirements posted.  The judging 
committee would review all submissions, and would award a prize for 
best in each category, based on criteria such as clarity of 
documentation, comprehensiveness, attractiveness, etc. The prize 
could just be recognition, or could be a copy of P4, or a one-year 
paid subscription to SourceForge, or something of that nature. All 
submissions would be made available on the TEI web site. Perhaps, 
given the desirability of the "model" category, an especially 
valuable prize could be offered--e.g. a free one-year div3 membership 
to the institution of your choice?

2. The PRFSS
This option is much simpler; it just involves issuing a persuasive 
request for stylesheets. Projects that have developed stylesheets for 
their own use would be encouraged (begged) to submit them, along with 
documentation of what they do and a brief abstract indicating their 
range of usefulness. A minimum set of requirements would be posted.

Note that this call for stylesheets interlocks nicely with the call 
for TEI samples, which was discussed at both the TEI Tools SIG and 
the TEI Education SIG. Having a set of sample documents would make it 
easier for people to test their stylesheets, and would also provide a 
basis for judging the stylesheets submitted, in the case of the 
contest.

Best wishes, Julia