Progress with OWL (6 Aug 07)
What we're doing
The initial objective, to scan and proofread all the printed ROL material back to 1983, was completed in mid 2006. We believe OWL to be an unique resource for ornithologists, stretching back well before most online databases.
Work continues with:
- Identifying errors and removing duplicate records. We have done quite a bit of this in 2006/7
- Improving the user interface. Robin is cogitating this at the moment. The first step will be to upgrade the database engine to SQL Server 2005. Although not essential, this will make re-engineering the web interface easier.
- Reorganising the abstractors. We still need help with European abstractors.
Future Plans
- Scanning and collating back issues of the separate literature supplements to 1950
- Removal of duplicates in the Dowsett data, and abstraction for the remainder.
- Second editing online submitted material to remove errors.
- Improvements to the online submission process to allow checking and editing before submission
- Improvements to allow direct download into personal bibliography software
Currently
OWL now contains about 82,275 entries, which includes the 8000+ Records of the Dowsett African Birds dataset. Online submissions continue slowly but they are coming. Keep up the good work. Contact Jay Sheppard if you are interested in helping. Robin McCleery would be interested in any comments on the useability of the various data input options.