We at the Oxford English Dictionary currently
publish the dictionary on CD-Rom concurrently with the print copy. You may or
may not be aware that a new printed edition is very infrequent simply because of
the time taken to update an entire dictionary. Therefore a new CD-Rom is also
infrequent.
Simultaneously we now publish the OED
online, access to which is subscription-based. Individual members and
institutions can subscribe to the dictionary and benefit from updates every
three months, as they are made, which are not available either in the print
edition or on the CDRom. Online access is much more sensible for a good
digital resource – providing it is maintained in a professional manner,
it will be up-to-date at all times, can take account of immediate changes, and
is accessible to all without risk of theft or damage.
Best
Julie Albrow
Project Coordinator - OED
From:
The Digital Classicist List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Juan Garces
Sent: 28 September 2005 15:14
To:
[log in to unmask]
Subject: [DIGITALCLASSICIST] CD as
medium for digital publications
I was forwarded not long ago an email exchange
between a director of a digital lexicography project and a librarian. The
former enquired whether the library could purchase a lexicon on CD-ROM. The
librarian’s answer was that the acquisitions department strongly
disencouraged the purchase of CD-ROMs. Some of the arguments put forward
included:
- public machines are too locked-down for loading new
software
- there is a very high rate of theft in relations to
CD-ROMs
- whenever there is an on-line alternative, the
latter should be preferred
- major publishers are moving away from publishing on
CD-ROM.
While I do find some arguments persuasive and others
not so, it truly begs the question: are CD-ROMs (and, I suppose, the same goes
for DVD-ROMs) still a desirable medium for ditigal publication?
I would appreciate your feedback on this.
Best
Juan
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Dr Juan Garcés
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College
Kay House,
T: +44 (0)20 7848 1393
F: +44 (0)20 7848 2980