EuroStudies: Enhancing European History Research
EuroStudies extends SOSIG with European history resources. Includes diverse subjects like politics, culture, and migration. Provides curated web resources and training options. Developed by University of Birmingham.
EuroStudies: Enhancing European History Research
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Presentation Transcript
EuroStudies on SOSIG Richard Biddiscombe Information Services University of Birmingham UK
EuroStudies: background • original concept: learning and research portal for European history • funding not presently available for this • successful bid for EuroStudies as an extension to SOSIG • EuroStudies funding granted for three years – until 2004 • SOSIG is part of the Resource Discovery Network
Resource Discovery Network • comprehensive series of information portals • centrally funded • Includes: • EEVL: engineering,maths and computing • Humbul: humanities • BIOME health & life sciences • PSIGate: physics • SOSIG: social sciences • REFERENCE
Resource Discovery Network • Additional range of databases funded from 2000 including: • arts and creative industries • education • sport, leisure and tourism (ALTIS) • geography and environment • EuroStudies as part of SOSIG • development of Virtual Learning Suites in subject areas
Resource Discovery Network • purpose is to provide: • quality web resources • chosen by subject specialists • described by subject specialists • to offer: • a number of pathways to resources • training options for users
Social Sciences Information Gateway (SOSIG) • social science resources • selective, quality indexing of the web for: • resources • documents • web sites • subject editors are subject specialists • sites are indexed and described
Social Sciences Information Gateway (SOSIG) www.sosig.ac.uk
EuroStudies: extending SOSIG • EuroStudies adds an area-studies element • makes SOSIG more Eurocentric • reflects the importance of developments in Europe • has potential to inform a Continent-wide audience
EuroStudies: developing the database • ‘soft’ launch in September 2001 • re-indexing of existing SOSIG entries • re-working of ROADS software • work completed on regional indexing • ‘hard’ launch in September 2002
EuroStudies and the University of Birmingham • European Research Institute • Academic Advisory Board • subject specialists in Information Services • largest group of subject editors in SOSIG
Coverage: the continent • EuroStudies covers the whole of Europe, in particular: • EU enlargement • European defence and security • migration • politics • business • environment • culture and national identity
EuroStudies structure • arranged by region • then by country In addition: • section for pan-European resources • section for the UK in relation to European issues
Coverage: the countries • all individual countries indexed • country entries divided into broad form and subject sections • particular emphasis on underrepresented areas, for example Central & Eastern Europe
Searching options • possible to search by regions, these are: Balkans, Baltic States, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Scandinavia • country search • keyword word search • thesaurus search
Who are the editors? • Information Services staff based in the European Research Institute • subject specialists • language specialists • partnership with academic staff
What have been the problems? • political divisions in Europe • spelling of some places names • extent of overlap in some areas • recruiting language specialists • indexing enough entries
Development of EuroStudies • three year contract • aim to contribute around 2000 records a year • present database around 8000 entries • plan to increase number of entries • more focussed indexing for important events • strategy for extension of funding after 2003
RDN Virtual Training Suite • subject based introductions to searching the web • 40 subjects covered • produced and edited by subject specialists • include quizzes and interactive exercises
