The Reading Experience Database (RED), 1450–1945

UK RED is an open-access database housed at The Open University containing over 30,000 easily searchable records documenting the history of reading in Britain from 1450 to 1945. Evidence of reading presented in RED is drawn from published and unpublished sources as diverse as diaries, commonplace books, memoirs, sociological surveys, and criminal court and prison records. In January 2010 the RED project was awarded a generous AHRC grant to develop an international digital network for researching the history of reading across borders, in collaboration with partners in Australia (Griffith University), Canada (Dalhousie University), The Netherlands (The University of Utrecht), and New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington). This project, ‘Developing an International Digital Network in the History of Reading: collaboration between the UK Reading Experience Database and invited partners’, has now reached a successful conclusion. To celebrate, the RED team hosted two user workshops in February 2011. Details of these can be found here.

Announcement: AUS RED/UK RED Joint Workshop, Thursday 28 April 2011

A day workshop jointly organised by the UK Reading Experience Database (UK RED) and the Australian Reading Experience Database (AusRED) projects

Final Programme

Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University, South Bank Boardroom (SO1_3.46).

The first half of the day’s activities will focus on introducing users to the new AusRED and UK RED databases, while the second half will focus on current research being undertaken by both project teams on reading during The First World War.

9.30-9.45am    Arrival, welcome and Introduction from Patrick Buckridge (Griffith)

9.45-11.15am    Panel 1: Introducing AusRED and UK RED Chair: Paul Eggert (ADFA)

• 1.1. Demonstration of new AusRED database and interface (30mins)
  
  Patrick Buckridge (Griffith)
• 1.2. Demonstration of re-launched UK RED, including new teaching and research tools (30mins)
  
  Rosalind Crone and Shafquat Towheed (OU)
• 1.3. Question and Answer session (30mins)

11.15-11.30am    Tea break

11.30-1.00pm    Panel 2: Spreading the RED: Contributing, Using, Networking. Chair: Patrick Buckridge (GU)

• 2.1. The New Zealand RED: A progress report and demonstration (30 mins)
  
  Sydney Shep (Victoria University, Wellington).
• 2.2. A tutorial/training session: entering data, the online contribution form, advanced searches and constructing research questions (60 mins)
  
  Rosalind Crone and Shafquat Towheed (OU).

1.00-1.45pm    Lunch

1.45-3.00pm    Panel 3: Investigating the First World War: locating and using archival and digital resources for AusRED and UK RED. Chair: Sydney Shep (VUW)

• 3.1. Presentation on locating and using archival sources for Australian civilian reading in World War I AusRED (30mins)
  
  Jim Cleary
• 3.2. Presentation on locating and using archival sources for British reading in World War I (30mins)
  
  Edmund King
• 3.3. Question and answer session (15 mins)

3.00-3.15pm    Tea break

3.15-4.45pm    Panel 4: The Evidence of Reading in the First World War. Chair: Shafquat Towheed (OU)

• 4.1. Sources and methodologies for military reading in the First World War.
  
  Amanda Laugesen (ANU) (30 mins)
• 4.2 ‘A Captive Audience: Uncovering the Reading Experiences of Australian Prisoners-of-War, 1914-18.’
  
  Edmund King (OU) (30 mins)
• 4.3. Question and answer session (15 mins)

4.45-5.00pm    Summing up of day’s activities and future directions. Patrick Buckridge (Griffith)

5.00pm    Drinks and nibbles: All workshop participants are invited to attend the opening reception for the SHARP conference, which is being held at the State Library of Queensland, 5.00-7.30.

For information, please contact Professor Patrick Buckridge, School of Humanities, Griffith University

Notice: 15 April 2011

We are pleased to say that the contribution form is now up and running again! New contributions will be gladly and thankfully accepted. As we move towards the release of the new version of the database, however, some other functionality (particularly searching) is still temporarily affected. The advanced search is still accessible through the old site. We'll continue to keep you on these developments, both here and via our Twitter feed.

Follow the links on the left for more information about members of the team, what we mean by a ‘reading experience’, what sorts of data we’re looking for, how you can contribute, and to view the latest news on how RED is progressing. For any enquiries, please get in contact with the RED Research Associate, Dr Edmund King. Otherwise, up-to-date information about RED can be found via @TheUKRED on Twitter or on our project Blog.