The Reading Experience Database (RED), run jointly
by the Open University, UK and the British Library's Centre for the Book,
was launched on 23 November 1996. RED will record evidence of every type
of reading experience over the period 1450-1914. Initially it will be restricted
to reading experience in the British Isles and reading experience of those
born in the British Isles (so the reading of British travellers abroad
and first generation British and Irish emigrants will be included) but
later we hope to expand the range.
Printed forms on which a reading experience can
be recorded will be available from RED. At the same time RED will be launched
on the Internet with a home page which will include an electronic version
of the form (so that it will also be possible to send examples of reading
experience to RED electronically).
Anyone interested in a particular individual who
lived at any time in Britain during the period 1450-1914 (and who left
letters, diaries, annotated books, etc. which contain evidence of reading
experience) should get in touch with one of RED directors listed below.
RED is looking for volunteers to work their way systematically through
such materials in order to record evidence of reading.
We aim to keep everybody informed of developments
in RED by issuing regular reports on its progress. Within a few years we
hope to make the growing contents of RED available to all those who have
contributed to it. Somewhat later RED will be made accessible to all interested
parties.
Further information and copies of the RED record form
are available from either Simon Eliot or Mike Crump.
Dr Simon Eliot, RED, The Open University, 4 Portwall
Lane, Bristol BS1 6ND. Internet address: s.j.eliot@open.ac.uk
Mr Mike Crump, RED, Centre for the Book, The British
Library, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
