For the last ten years the Computers in Teaching Initiative has been assembling a database of digital resources for textual studies at Oxford University. They have published their information in print and on their web site. Like many other institutions they are now caught between the tensions of fixed print convenience and a quickly updatable database. They have decided that this may be the last time their catalogue will be published on paper.
The catalogue is arranged in subject divisions: classics and ancient history; language and linguistics; literature; media and film; philosophy; religion and theology. One of the most useful features of the compilation is a series of essays introducing each chapter. These summarise the latest developments in software and Internet resources in each field of study, outlining
the potential uses of the many texts, databases and programs now available on CD-ROM and the Web.This latest edition of the Guide contains details of over 360 digital resources.
And there are some very interesting packages described - from Electronic Beowulf to an encyclopaedia of Spanish film; fom concordance makers to the Hebrew font gallery and bibliographic tools; from Latin inscriptions to the complete novels of Raymond Chandler; from Le Corpus Montaigne to an interactive program on screenwriting. There is a description of each program; web site reviews are listed; suppliers details are given; both Mac and PC versions are listed; and prices range from free to 'contact the distributor' [which usually means 'rather expensive'].
The problem of publishing catalogues in print form is now obvious. There might well be new programs released before the ink is dry. But no matter. Much of this software is built on years of research, and will be around for years to come. This is a wonderfully rich compilation. If you are in the business of delivering online resources for study in the humanities, your digital mouth will water when you see what is on offer here.
