The International Online The International Online Bibliography of DadaBibliography of Dada

An OPAC-Based Digital Initiative at An OPAC-Based Digital Initiative at the University of Iowathe University of Iowa

TIMOTHY SHIPE

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

NAUUG 2003

IOWA CITY

2 JUNE 2003

OutlineOutline

What was Dada?What is the International Dada Archive?What is the International Online

Bibliography of Dada?What is the Digital Dada Library?

Outline (continued)Outline (continued)

Establishing the databaseWorkflow for retrospective conversionSpecial features of the bibliographic recordsLinks from the Online Bibliography to the

Digital LibraryFuture Directions

What was Dada?What was Dada?

A literary and artistic movement in Europe and elsewhere, flourishing from 1916-1923

Brief History of DadaBrief History of Dada

Founded in Zurich in 1916 by expatriate artists in protest against World War I

Spread to other countries following the warDissolved as a movement by 1923Gave rise to vital trends and movements in

art and literature from the 1920s to the 1950s

Geographic Centers of DadaGeographic Centers of Dada

ZurichBerlinParisHanoverNetherlandsNew YorkEtc. (Spain, Croatia, Italy, Japan …)

Characteristics of Dada (I)Characteristics of Dada (I)

Cabaret performancesStreet theater (“guerilla theater”)Use of chance operationsCollage“Found objects” or “readymades”Innovative typographySound and visual poetry

Characteristics of Dada (II)Characteristics of Dada (II)

The machine as artInterest in “non-Western” art forms

(“Primitivism”)Political/social satire and caricatureGenerally to the Left politicallyBroke boundaries between art formsProvoked or insulted the audience

The International Dada The International Dada ArchiveArchive

The world’s most comprehensive collection of documents related to the Dada movement

Founded in 1979 at the University of IowaProf. Rudolf E. Kuenzli, DirectorTimothy Shipe, CuratorSupported by NEH and Jerome Foundation

grants, 1980-1984

The Collection (Where)The Collection (Where)

A “virtual collection” (dispersed throughout the University of Iowa Libraries):– Main Library open stacks– Special Collections– Art Library– Dada Archive office– Online resources– Etc.

The Collection (What)The Collection (What)

Rare, original documents of the Dada period (books, periodicals, some manuscripts)

Later editions of the Dadaists’ writingsSecondary material (books, essays,

periodical articles, etc.)Microfilms made by the Dada Archive in

collections in Europe and North America

The International Dada The International Dada Archive (Web Pages)Archive (Web Pages)

http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/(Home page of the Dada Archive)

http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/archive.html(An article on the Dada movement and the Dada Archive)

The International Dada The International Dada Archive (Web Pages)Archive (Web Pages)

http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/collection.htm(The Dada Digital Library)

http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/oasis.html(The International Online Bibliography of Dada)

The International Online The International Online Bibliography of DadaBibliography of Dada

The catalog of the International Dada Archive

The most comprehensive bibliography of the Dada movement

Over 49,000 entries (of which around 85% are analytics)

The Digital Dada LibraryThe Digital Dada Library

Scanned images of primary documents of Dada

Originals housed in Special CollectionsCurrently 123 items (5,400 page images) http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/dada/collection.htm

Establishing the DatabaseEstablishing the Database

Designed 1998-1999 using OASIS (Iowa’s NOTIS catalog)

Technical side handled by Donna Hirst and Sue Julich

Implemented February 1999Includes all new titles added since that date

Retrospective ConversionRetrospective Conversion

Existing card catalog of ca. 47,000 titlesOne-year University of Iowa Arts and

Humanities Initiative Collaborative GrantCollaborators: Donna Hirst, Timothy Shipe,

Rudolf KuenzliBy end of grant, conversion 60% completeBy May 2003, conversion 99% complete

WorkflowWorkflow

Bulk of work done by 4 student library assistants (including 2 art history students)

Students identified main entry cards and affixed color-coded tabs by format

Supervisor created templates Students used templates to create records for

manuscripts and analytics Students copied monographic records from main

library catalog into Dada catalog Supervisor reviewed students’ inputting

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Bibliographic RecordsBibliographic Records

Preponderance of analytic records– Use of 773 field (host item entry)– Bibliographic level of ‘a’ (in leader)

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Bibliographic RecordsBibliographic Records

Preponderance of analytic records– Use of 773 field (host item entry)– Bibliographic level of ‘a’ (in leader)

590 notes to indicate repository

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Bibliographic RecordsBibliographic Records

Preponderance of analytic records– Use of 773 field (host item entry)– Bibliographic level of ‘a’ (in leader)

590 notes to indicate repository856 links to Digital Dada Library

Data Conversion Data Conversion (NOTIS to ALEPH)(NOTIS to ALEPH)

AdvantagesEasier use of templatesEasier record duplicationBetter “cut and paste” (especially for 773

field)“Hot links” implemented

Links to Digital Dada LibraryLinks to Digital Dada Library

From monographic record to scanned book From serials record to scanned periodicalFrom individual article, poem, etc. to page

in scanned periodical issue

Possible Future DirectionsPossible Future Directions

Creating full TEI versions of documents in Digital Dada Library

Explore use of DigiTool and/or SFX to increase efficiency