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Technology Conference Call for Papers

                         CALL FOR PAPERS

              "Ancient Studies; New Technology II:

                The World Wide Web and Scholarship

            in Ancient, Byzantine, and Medieval Studies"

              Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

                       December 6-8, 2002

A series of conferences has been initiated addressing ways in which the
World Wide Web is being, and can be, developed, in the fields of
Classical, Medieval, and Byzantine studies. The first was held at Salve
Regina Univ. in Newport, RI, in December, 2000. The second will occur in
the Scholarly Communication Center, Alexander Library, College Avenue
Campus, Rutgers University, December 6-8, 2002.

Classical, Medieval, and Byzantine scholars long have relied on printed
media to disseminate their research. In the last two decades, however,
the Internet and the World Wide Web have made new forms of publication
possible. Electronic journals now provide wide audiences with primary
materials, scholarly studies, and access to other resources. Search
engines like Argos have been developed to help navigate the rapidly
multiplying resources available via this new medium.In other ways the
Internet is just beginning to fulfill its scholarly promise.

Potential participants in this conference are encouraged to use their
imaginations in considering different ways in which the WEB can help to
promote ancient and medieval studies. Presentations of both a
theoretical nature and a practical, "how-to", nature are welcome. Just
some of the topics on which abstracts are invited include the following:

1. Electronic publication. E.g. The operation of e-journals. Increasing
the status of electronic publication to the point where it stands more
on a par with traditional print publication; Copyright issues.

2. Tenure/Promotion. Pros and cons of electronic vs. print publication
of books and articles; At what point does a Web Site become scholarship?

3. Reference WEB sites. Case studies of the creation of fully
functioning WEB storehouses of information, which assemble, sometimes
locally and sometimes from other WEB sites, reference material (such as
texts and translations) that previously had been available only in
printed form, if at all.

4. Scholarly WEB sites. Case studies of fully functioning web sites that
make scholarly research accessible via the internet.  Issues such as the
nature of the scholarly topic, database construction, the means by which
data have been converted to web﷓accessible form, and user
interactivity might be discussed.

5. Standards. What standards have been (or should be) adopted for
electronic publishing and for the creation of scholarly web sites?; The
future of various mark-up styles; Archiving and the issue of the
"permanence" of web publications and sites; Dealing with dead-end URL's;
Peer review of web resources (what is the most effective manner for
validating and endorsing web publications and web sites)?

6. Security: Safeguarding material; Protecting against hackers and viruses.

7. Coordination: What are some practical means (such as the creation of
clearing-house sites) of coordinating web-based research activities, and
reducing duplication of effort?

8. Promotion: How can the scholarly facilities and resources of the
Internet become known to the audiences that can benefit from them?

9. Communication. How can the web be used to further scholarly
discussion and interaction, as by means of discussion lists.

10. Research: Navigation and Search Engines; Discussions of "how to
find" scholarly resources on the WEB, and how they can best be applied
to scholarly research.

11. Technology: What is the state of current WEB technology as applied
to scholarly publication/research? What are its limitations? How can it
be improved? What kinds of purely *technical* standards should be
applied to the dissemination of scholarly resources on the WEB?

12. Authoring: What kinds of authoring tools are available to assist
academics in the creation of resources that take full advantage of web capabilities?

13. Education: How can the scholarly community be educated to us WEB
resources effectively and efficiently?

14. Access: Who is our audience?; How can electronic resources be
packaged so as to be accessible to non-specialist audiences, such as
undergraduates, or the general public?; How to take into account the
differing backgrounds of potential users?

15. Philosophical issues: The WEB as a "state of mind"; The WEB and
academic freedom; "Open Source" philosophy (how it affects issues of
security, funding, confidentiality, copyright); Whither the WEB?; The
significance of the "Gift Economy" vs. Commercial use of the WEB.

16. Open source. How do open source tools facilitate the use of the web
for scholars? Operating systems like Linux and Plan 9, database software
like MySQL and PostgreSQL are becoming the foundation for web projects
at many institutions.

Those interested in participating should send a 300-word electronic
abstract of a proposed 20-minute presentation to Ralph Mathisen, Program
Chair, at ralph.w.mathisen at sc.edu (snail-mail: Department of History,
Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208). Abstracts should indicate
clearly the nature of the problem or issue being addressed, the methods
for doing so, and the current status of the project. If a web site is
being discussed, please include a URL. Roundtable and panel proposals
also are welcome. Deadline for submissions is May 15, 2002. Abstracts
will be made available on the Web in advance of the conference.

Information regarding Local Arrangements is available from Conference
Convener Brian Hancock, bhancock at harvest.rutgers.edu (snail mail:
Humanities Librarian, Coordinator for CETH, Alexander Library, Rutgers
University Libraries, 169 College Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163).
For conference background and philosophy, contact Michael Dimaio (mdimaio at ids.net).

Conference Web Site:
http://tabula.rutgers.edu/conferences/ancient_studies2002