4.0675 Citing Network Sources (2/49)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Thu, 1 Nov 90 21:36:17 EST
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0675. Thursday, 1 Nov 1990.
(1) Date: Thu, 01 Nov 90 10:26:54 EST (14 lines)
From: Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM>
Subject: electronic references
(2) Date: Thu, 1 NOV 90 18:16:11 GMT (35 lines)
From: SA_RAE@vax.acs.open.ac.uk
Subject: RE: 4.0672 Citing Network Sources
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 01 Nov 90 10:26:54 EST
From: Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM>
Subject: electronic references
A good paper by Sue A. Dodd at the U. of N. Carolina is "Bibliographic
references for computer files in the social sciences: A discussion
paper." It is available online by sending mail to COMSERVE@RPIECS
and in the body put SEND COMPFILE BIBREF.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elliott Parker BITNET: 3ZLUFUR@CMUVM
Journalism Dept. Internet: eparker@well.sf.ca.us
Central Michigan University Compuserve: 70701,520
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 USA UUCP: {psuvax1}!cmuvm.bitnet!3zlufur
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------46----
Date: Thu, 1 NOV 90 18:16:11 GMT
From: SA_RAE@vax.acs.open.ac.uk
Subject: RE: 4.0672 Citing Network Sources (1/19)
Jeff Porten, Annenberg School for Communication, UPenn says
> My feelings on references to networked material:
>
> The whole idea on references is to give the reader the opportunity to trace
> back sources for more information and for verification. ....
> I think it's more responsible to say something like this in the bibliography:
>
> (Asterisked references are derived from computer network sources. Hard copy
> available on request from the author.)
Can't help but feel that this rather limits the 'shelf life' of the
things referenced this way ... if I see a reference to a
book/journal/printed document then, given time and effort, I should
stand a chance of tracking down a copy somewhere regardless of how long
ago it was published.
I would hate to have to rely on the chances of the author (1) still
being alive (2) still working on the same computer system (3)
'computing' still being able to cope with todays formats. I get the
impression that as soon as someone dies or moves on a lot of files get
trashed and I still come across folk with punched card decks (remember
those?) who can't get them read (weak analogy there but I remember when
punched cards were the safest, surest way of saving programs ... for
program read article).
LISTSERV archives might be a way ...
Simon Rae. SA_RAE@VAX.ACS.OPEN.AC.UK (BITNET)
Research Adviser, Academic Computing Service, The Open University,
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.