CLSC601

History of the Book

Summer 2005

Term project: "Harry Potter and the Library of Tomorrow"

This summer we have a unique opportunity to witness book history as it happens: the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ("HPATHBP"), the sixth book in J.K. Rowling’s series, on July 16, 2005. The major project for our class will be to help document that history as it unfolds, gathering information about the many events surrounding the launch of the book.

The core of this project will be to identify key web sites that exemplify the many facets of the book release. The sites we select will be submitted to the Library of Congress for possible inclusion in a new book-and-author-related web archive. This archive could become an invaluable resource in future years, as scholars look back at 2005, a crucial period in the complex relationship between print and electronic media.

We will also gather other related information - print articles, links to news stories, information about events at bookstores and libraries, etc. Our goal is to take a "snapshot" of the event and the variety of related activities.

Part I: Identify three web sites as candidates for harvesting by the Library of Congress

Because time is so short, the first task is to identify candidate sites, submit them to the Library, and begin the process of requesting permission to harvest. The goal is to identify whole sites, or significant portions there of (not individual pages), that may have research value in the future and are worth preserving. Each student will submit three sites. The "core" HP sites (see below) have already been identified and so are not available; feel free, though, to use these as starting points. Almost anything else is fair game. Be sure to spend some time exploring the site(s) before you recommend one.

Sites will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. First one in gets it.

Each site submitted should be accompanied by a 2 or 3 sentence statement explaining why this site is a good candidate. (All sites submitted will be considered for harvesting, but not all may be able to be added to the archive, depending on ability to secure permissions, Library of Congress policies, etc.) Even if your site is not included, the research you do will still be extremely valuable, both to LC staff and future researchers.

Due date: as soon as possible, so that sites can be contacted to secure permissions. This is negotiable, depending on workflow at the Library, but probably no later than close of business Wednesday July 6.

Part II: Site "diaries"

Throughout the rest of the class, revisit your sites on a regular basis. Take brief notes in a "site diary" on whatever changes you see.

Due date: Submit your notes by Friday of each week, on the following schedule: July 8 (this can be your initial list of sites); July 15; July 22; and July 29. This can be a simple email, no special format needed.

Part III: "Omnium Gatherum"

The class will divide into small groups to gather other HPATHBP-related information. The goal here is not to select web sites, but to look for anything and everything you can find in your group’s area - on the web, in print on TV or radio, in person, etc. This will form the basis of an "enumerative bibliography" (ahem), which we will put together throughout the class. Submissions can be links to web articles, print-offs, photocopies, citations to broadcasts, handouts from events, etc. In this part, we want references to the material, not electronic downloads (for copyright/permission reasons). The material we gather will be presented either to the Library of Congress or to SLIS. Be sure to look for material in other countries and languages. The small groups should meet occasionally to discuss what their finding.

Due date I: throughout the course, as you find them.

Due date II: at our last session, each group will make a short presentation to the rest of the class of their findings.

Groups: Libraries

Bookstores

Business & publishing (including other books released at this time)

Fans & others

Collectibles & "tie-ins"

Reviews

Core Harry Potter Project Sites

Author J.K. Rowling Official Site

http://www.jkrowling.com/

Publishers Harry Potter Books from Bloomsbury [UK]