UNB97: Introduction to Electronic Texts and Images: David Seaman

A Summer 1997 Institute at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton

Introduction to Electronic Texts and Images
August 17 - 22, 1997

David Seaman, University of Virginia

Sponsored by the University of New Brunswick Library's Electronic Text Centre

The Course

Introduction To Electronic Texts and Images will be a practical exploration of the research, preservation and pedagogical uses of electronic texts in the humanities. The course is designed primarily for librarians and archivists who are planning to develop electronic text and imaging projects; for scholars who are creating electronic texts as part of their teaching and research; and for publishers who are looking to move publications to the Web. The workshop does not presuppose that participants already have experience in creating archival-quality electronic documents, but rather only a serious interest. Experience with a markup language such as HTML will be helpful. A brief pre-course reading list will be available to help fill in some background information.

The course will centre around the creation of a set of electronic texts and digital images. Topics to be covered include:

SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) textual markup and the Text Encoding Initiative Guidelines
Archival imaging techniques
Using text analysis software
Bringing SGML encoded texts to the Web
Finding and evaluating existing electronic texts
Creating an electronic text centre

Course participants will create an electronic version of a selection of Canadian literary letters by: Biss Carman, Rufus Hathaway and Mitchell Kennerley. The letters are from the University of New Brunswick Archives. Participants will encode the letters with SGML tagging, and create digital images. The work of the class will be made available on the Internet through the University of New Brunswick Electronic Text Centre's Web page.

The Instructor

David Seaman is the founding director of the nationally-known Electronic Text Center at the University of Virginia. He lectures and writes frequently on SGML, the Internet, and the creation and use of electronic texts.

Guest lecturers will include John Webster, talking about imaging and Steve Sloan, discussing the use of OpenText for search and retrieval of SGML tagged texts.

The Location

The course will be held in the Instructional Technology Learning Centre (ITLC) in the Harriet Irving Library on the campus of the University of New Brunswick. The lab is a state-of-the-art facility with a Windows 95 PC for each participant and a high end digital projections system.

Accommodations

The following three options are available for accommodation. In the space provided on the registration form, please specify in order of preference your choice:

[1] The Lord Beaverbrook Hotel located in downtown Fredericton, is within walking distance to many restaurants and to the scenic river front pathway, "the Green". It is a full-service hotel providing dining, entertainment, swimming pool, sauna , games area and outdoor patio with a view of the Saint John river. It is approximately a half hour walk to the Harriet Irving Library. A special rate of $68.00 plus tax per night, single occupancy, has been extended to UNB Libraries for this conference.

[2] The Carriage House Inn, Bed and Breakfast, is a member of Heritage Inns of Atlantic Canada. It is a beautiful three storey Victorian mansion, close to downtown Fredericton. This property is within walking distance of "the Green", downtown restaurants and a fifteen minute walk to the Harriet Irving Library. Included in the price of $70.00 plus tax per night is a full breakfast. This is the only meal offered at the property.

[3] For those who would like to be on campus, there are dormitory type rooms available at McLeod House, a UNB residence. The price per night is very economical at $16.25 plus tax per night. There are washrooms and showers on each floor. If this is the option of choice, you will need to bring your own towels. There is no television. Breakfast is available at the Student Union Building for reasonable prices.

Please note that Fredericton has a very efficient taxi system, where taxi cabs are readily available at reasonable prices -- therefore whether walking or "cabbing it", transportation to and from the University will not present a problem.

Special Events
(Included in registration fee except #4)

1. Evening at Historical Kings Landing - Sunday, August 17th.

UNB Libraries has arranged a very special evening which includes dinner and a guided tour of this historical settlement. A visit to Kings Landing provides an experience which recreates the sights, sounds and feel of rural New Brunswick in the 1800's. Authentic costumed staff add to the atmosphere of this restored 19th century community. We have arranged for a bus which will leave the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel at 3:00 pm. This outing will take about 5 hours to complete. Please wear comfortable shoes.

2. Wine and Cheese - Monday August 18th

We will be holding an informal Wine and Cheese Reception, in the Stewart Room, Fifth Floor of the Harriet Irving Library, on Monday evening directly after the workshop for the day.

3. An evening on the River Boat - Tuesday August 19th

Weather permitting, we will be taking a chartered River Boat cruise along the Saint John River. The cruise will take approximately 2 - 3 hours and will include refreshments and pizza. The boat will leave at 6:30 pm from the Lighthouse.

4. Friday Farewell Dinner - Friday August 22nd

The course will end at approximately 3:00 pm. Therefore for those staying in Fredericton until Saturday, we would like to have a final get together. We will meet at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel at 5:00 pm for supper outside on the patio, overlooking the Saint John River (if raining, we will meet in the dining room). This dinner will be at one's own expense.

The Schedule : 17-22 August 1997

Sunday 17: 9am - 12pm: HTML course for those who need to brush up on document markup (Optional)

Sunday 17: 3pm: a trip to Kings Landing

Monday 18:

am -- Introductions/Projects. Etexts on the web

pm -- A Practical Introduction to SGML: HyperText Markup Language. Examination of documents.

Wine and Cheese Reception, Stewart Room, 5th Floor, Harriet Irving Library

Tuesday 19:

am -- Introduction to the Text Encoding Initiative: Text creation procedures

pm -- Text and Image Scanning -- a hands-on session

An evening on the River Boat (2 - 3 hour cruise, including refreshments and pizza). The boat will leave at 6:30 pm from the Lighthouse.

Wednesday 20:

am -- The Great Transcription: using the TEI Guidelines

pm -- Data control: the Text Encoding Initiative header

Thursday 21:

am -- Digital images: creation, manipulation, uses, and control.

pm -- Text analysis software.

Friday 22:

am -- SGML as an interchange format: automated TEI to HTML conversion

pm -- The final product and review. Finish, 3pm.

There will be a farewell dinner at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel on Friday night.

Registration

Registration will be limited to 20 participants. The tuition fee is $750 (Canadian dollars) and will include all course fees, nutritional breaks, lunches on Aug. 18 - 22, a trip to the historical settlement Kings Landing on Aug. 17 including dinner that evening, a wine and cheese party and a river boat cruise. Early registration is advised as space is limited. Tuition does not include cost of accommodations.

Registration Form
Introduction To Electronic Texts and Images

August 17 to 22nd, 1997

Name:________________________________

Organization/Title:____________________________________

Please provide a description of present and future projects to which you will apply the skills learned in this course. In addition, briefly outline your reasons for interest in taking this course.

______________________________________________________

Phone:_________________(Home) ______________________(Business)

Business address: _______________________________________

_______________________________________

Home address: _______________________________________

_______________________________________

FAX: ____________________ email: ________________________

Method of payment (please circle one):

1. Cheque (made payable to: UNB Libraries)

2. Visa or Mastercard

Card#: ___________________________________

Expiry date:_______________________________

3. Purchase Order (please attach):

Number:__________________________________

Signature:_________________________________

Payment is due in full by June 30, 1997. No refunds after Aug 1/97.

Accommodations: Please specify your choice of accommodations in order of preference. UNB Libraries will make all necessary arrangements (you must

provide credit card # to confirm reservations).

1.

2.

Please return Registration Form by email, Fax, or mail to:

Karen Maguire, Administrative Assistant
UNB Libraries
PO Box 7500
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H5
Phone: (506) 453-4740 Fax: (506) 453-4595 email: kmaguire@unb.ca

Confirmation of registration will be sent to you after processing.

Campus Map Showing Location of the Harriet Irving Library

Virtual Campus Tour

HTML Session

Date: Sunday, August 17, 9am -12noon
Place: Instructional Technology Learning Centre (ITLC), Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
Instructor: Steve Sloan, University Webmaster and Systems Librarian

A session for those who are not familiar with markup languages. Steve will be presenting a hands-on instructional session on the markup language of the Web, HTML. This will serve as an excellent introduction to SGML.

Important Location Note: The Harriet Irving Library is officially closed on Sunday. To get into the building, please go to the back of the Library, to the loading dock area (double doors). One door will be open and someone will show you to the ITLC. Doors will open at 8:30am. After 9:00am, please ring the bell by the doors.

Introduction to Electronic Texts and Images August 17 - 22, 1997

David Seaman, University of Virginia

Introduction to Electronic Texts and Images
August 17 - 22, 1997