Trip to Oxford (and Oxford UP!)

Today was our first trip out of London to the ancient University at Oxford, where we would get perspectives on how some of the worlds oldest academic institutions is continuing to transition into the digital age.

Oxford University Press

Our first stop was to Oxford University Press, where staff members spoke with us about publishing major print works online.

"Putting Scholarship Online" 
Robert Faber, Editorial Director, Scholarly and General Reference

Mr. Faber largely presented his perspective on e-publishing by talking about the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). He gave us a history of the storied dictionary from its 19th century inception through its digitization (and currently in-progress Third Edition overhaul). Interestingly, digitization was first done in the 1980s as a way of editing and revising the dictionary, "prior to any ideas online futures." The text was first made available on CD-ROM in 1988 and online (via subscription) in 2000.He described the Third Edition as a "modern research project," which will completely rewrite the dictionary.

Faber also spoke about OUP's business models for digital publishing. They are largely pay-per-access subscription based (such as the OED). In web 2.0 environment, Faber said the publisher's role is that of an infomediary, which "creates a place of discussion for and mediates different groups. He said brand awareness is essential, and that the Press must constantly challenge misconceptions about its being archaic and not on the cutting edge of digital technology. 

"Helping Librarians Meet Their Purchases"
Annabel Coles, Marketing Manager, Online Products

Ms. Coles explained how important it is to follow-up and maintain a regular relationship with librarians after the sale of subscriptions to OUP digital products. By continuing to work with libraries, the publisher ensures that the products are being used to their fullest potential (and ensuring that librarians know how to use them and promote them to patrons). From a business perspective, this helps maintain momentum and steadiness of use, which is important as subscription renewals are directly used to usage. 

For public libraries, the Press holds panel days for librarians across the UK in order to aid in training. The publisher sees training as a way to "build a confident staff" who are comfortable teaching OUP online products to patrons. They build a sense of community. Academic librarians are marketed to directly, constantly educating them about new features and capabilities of digital products. In addition to focusing on what the products "can do," the Press openly listens to what the librarians feel the products "should do."

Coles sees discoverability, pulling together searches across library holdings and subscriptions, as the main objective of future advances. What this will look like is open to debate - Is a singe search box possible? Will it resemble an OPAC? Will it resemble Google, or even be developed by Google?

Anthony Watkinson and classmates outside Oxford University Press

Following the presentations, archivist Martin Maw, guided us through the history of OUP on a tour of the Press' museum. It was interesting (and relevent to the course) to view the development of publishing technology from Gutenberg's printing press, to 17th century Fell Types, to the CD-ROM. Martin also gave us further background into the massive undertaking on publishing the First Edition on the OED and spoke about some of the Press' most notable publications such as Alice in Wonderland. 

The museum includes displays on OUP buildings, the 17th century Fell Types, the Oxford Almanacks, and Alice in Wonderland and The Oxford English Dictionary, as well as a 19th century printing press (right) and access to OUP's latest publications online. 

An original copper printing plate from Alice in Wonderland found in the OUP Museum's collection

Next up was lunch at the fabled Eagle and Child pub (also known as the "Bird and Baby"), meeting place of Tolkein, Lewis and other Inklings. 

Eagle and Child pub

Following Lunch, we were taken on a tour of the Bodleian Library led by Mr. Bill Clennell. The Bodleian is the University's main research library. It was founded in 1602, and remains one of Europe's oldest libraries. 

Bodleian Library

Mr. Bill Clennell led the tour of the  Bodleian Library

A virtual tour of the Bodleian Library


After the Bodleian, Anthony led the group on a tour of New College, one of  the University's oldest colleges, having originally been founded in 1379. 

Anthony leads the group through Oxford

New College, Oxford

We closed out the day in Oxford with a trip to the recently refirbished Ashmolean Museum.

The Ashmolean Museum