GEN: Thoughts on editing the archives

["Joanne E. Ladewig" <shatz@LIGHTSIDE.COM>]

Netters:

Like Kevin, I too have searched the archives at various times and rarely
find anything helpful. On one hand, the archives are a documentary/history
of LMNet and therefore, should not be altered or weeded. On the other hand,
many of listings are questions without answers (original posts or
"Targets") - and who finds it helpful to go through dozens of these?

Perhaps we need a dual system -

1. The archives (proper) which would include EVERYTHING, UNEDITED.

2. An indexed archive which would contain genuinely helpful (and reasonably
current) information. These listings would be (dare I say it? No flames
please!) edited for clarity and efficiency of use. Medium to longer-length
posts or "Hits" would be edited if necessary (removing duplication,
correcting any errors, etc.) and listed as individual files, while shorter
responses could be compiled in one file with the same subject heading.

These files should probably be limited to helpful information, and not
"commentary" (since most of us would NOT want our comments edited!).

The next question is of course, who is going to do all this? Who has the
time and expertise? Those of us currently "on the job" probably don't have
the time to assist. We contribute to the listserv and also to individuals
privately, and that might be all some, or most of us, can manage.

Here is one suggestion (and just a suggestion!) - perhaps a group of MLIS
students could tackle this as a project for one of their classes. This
group would be responsible for sorting the commentaries, "Targets," etc.
from the "Hits" and other posts that may contain helpful data.

Then another group could refine the helpful data into indexed files.
Perhaps there are a few of our "listmates" (did I coin a new term here? Or
perhaps we prefer the term "netters?") who have retired from full-time
employment but have the expertise and would enjoy this type of challenge. I
know I've seen posts from several of you who particularly enjoy cataloging.

Well, these are just some thoughts and perhaps others can add or improve on
these - please do! The archives are going to continue to grow and become
less and less helpful as they do, unless there is some refining process
started soon. Access, efficiency and accuracy - that's what it's all about,
right?

For those who missed Kevin's original post, it follows below.


Date:    Fri, 1 Oct 1999 15:12:07 -0400
From:    "Kevin T. Clement" <ktclemen@UNCG.EDU>
Subject: Re: GEN: New LM-netters

Yes, there is an archive.  Unfortunately, I have to disagree about the
archives not being hard to search.  I have used the archives many times
and usually find that my time is wasted because the answers I am looking
for are not there.  It is true that the same questions are being repeated
however the answers are not always being return in the form of a hit so
all I am finding in the archives is the question. A lot of good that does
me. And yes I have e-mailed the posters of the original questions for
their results and have either received no response or the
e-mail address is no longer valid. Also the threads are not very helpful
because normally most responses are sent outside the list.

Also the subject titles do not always provide a clue to what the message
is and so when one does a search for key words, one receives a multitude
of false hits.  I recently did a search on book care.  And out of 97 hits,
only 7 were of any use to me.  That is not a great percentage.

I realize some do not want to do the research, but to automatically assume
that they are not is not a great rule of thumb.  Plus I have been on the
listserv for about a year and the archive being available didn't hit me
until this past August. After August, I have received e-mail from members
of the list who have responded to my questions under the assumption I
haven't even made attempt after I spent hours scouring the archives.  One
response was primarily a lecture on not wasting people's time when the
work had already been done. Fortunately I chose not to respond to the
untrue accusation.

I apologize for my rambling style.  And my comments about the archives are
not to say it isn't useful but that it isn't that easy to search.  This is
not the fault of any programming but due to the fact that the entrie are
being submitted by people who are not always using a distinct vocabulary
as would a professional indexer.
Joanne Ladewig
Information Center Director
Fairgrove Academy - a K-8 public school focusing on
   the Visual and Performing Arts, and Technology
La Puente, CA
jladewig@ns700-1.enet.hlpusd.k12.ca.us
home email: shatz@lightside.com

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