Launch date for the Oregon Encyclopedia Project is February 14 at Oregon Historical Society. It’s free, probably snacks and speeches are involved.
The ambition is to list and describe all things Oregon. Currently the Encyclopedia contains eleven entries, from Book Publishing to Vortex I (sorry – no interesting pictures yet). A massive undertaking about to begin. Yet someone has not done the math.
I know, historians are behind the times. But why? Why? Clearly the petitioners for this project have been ducking the question. There are smart people associated with this project, including Carl Abbott and David Milholland. But what they need on the advisory board is someone with Web 2.0 tattooed on their forearm.
The race to create encyclopedias is, for the time being, over. The race has been run, and won. Jimmy Wales’ Wikipedia has an overwhelming lead in creating a free, open content, worldwide, multi-language, gigantic by any scale, online encyclopedia. Last I looked, his staff was three and Jimmy was moving to half-time. This under half the staff of the Oregon Encyclopedia Project.
Instead of pursuing a containment strategy for their information, the OHS should get their unique materials, such as their extensive photo and film collection, and their maps and rare books, online in a similar free and accessible environment. Instead of copyrighting their content (presumably created with public dollars) they should release it to the Creative Commons.
February 11, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Do you get all your coffee at Starbucks? Is the only brew pub you go to is Mcmenamins? I don’t think the Web 2.0 concept makes Wikipedia the sole provider of all encyclopedic content. In fact the ability to link and share information across sites is more in line with Web 3.0 than subscribing to just one site.
The Oregon Encyclopedia will not be an encyclopedia in traditional terms: it will be a full featured web application with interactive maps and animations linking directly to the articles and essays. And to the rest of the web…
I think the historians might be a step a head of you on this one.
February 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Oh I was too kind. You’re purposely misunderstanding how information works and feathering a nest with donated dollars. There is a vast difference in degree of prudence between personal decisions, and the decisions of organizations which the community relies on to keep track of our history.
You’re comment about web 3.0 is equally misleading.
There are over 50,000 interlinks within Wikipedia to the wiki Oregon page and 1659 incoming links. Currently, albeit early in your game, oregonencyclopedia.org shows 5 incoming links.
But yes it’s too early to tell. Perhaps your staff can do the work of a hive. Put an honest hitcounter up and we shall see.
February 11, 2008 at 9:37 pm
It seems someone is pointing fingers at a project they know little about. I don’t think it’s the goal of the Encyclopedia’s creators to run a race with Wikipedia. The goal is to provide solid – publicly available information about a broad range of Oregon topics. Other states like Ohio, Georgia, Arkansas, and Virginia, have done or are still developing similar works. C, rather than have an attitude about the project, wouldn’t it be more constructive to ask how you could get involved? Maybe you could provide useful input? Or are you just one of those hit and run blogosphere lurkers that just like to piss & moan?
February 11, 2008 at 10:55 pm
You’re digging yourself into a deeper hole with the personal attacks.
If you want useful input, read my original post.
February 16, 2008 at 8:03 am
If anything this project will help Wikipedia by providing more readily available information for Wikipedia contributors. I don’t think it can or should try to compete with the biggest and most widely read encyclopedia in existence. It can be of some benefit and I’m glad they are making their resources more readily available. Much better than only being inside books.