Stormont Parliamentary Debates Alastair Dunning Arts and Humanities Data Service, King’s College London http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/ Ice cream, golf and striptease

Source material Debates from Stormont Parliament, 1921 to 1972 72 volumes, mostly from Queen’s University Library Few copies in existence, no comprehensive subject index Based on Hansard model

Debates from Stormont Parliament, 1921 to 1972

72 volumes, mostly from Queen’s University Library

Few copies in existence, no comprehensive subject index

Based on Hansard model

Funded as part of AHRC’s 2002 Resource Enhancement scheme 92m pages, 84 volumes Centre for Data Digitisation and Analysis (Queen’s) did scanning and OCRing Arts and Humanities Data Service (King’s) did mark-up, indexing and web delivery http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/ How digitised

Funded as part of AHRC’s 2002 Resource Enhancement scheme

92m pages, 84 volumes

Centre for Data Digitisation and Analysis (Queen’s) did scanning and OCRing

Arts and Humanities Data Service (King’s) did mark-up, indexing and web delivery

http://stormontpapers.ahds.ac.uk/

Digitising related papers Greater usability testing Incorporating timelines, geographical searching, exploiting data Connecting data with learning packages All dependent on funding; but basic service in place Future developments

Digitising related papers

Greater usability testing

Incorporating timelines, geographical searching, exploiting data

Connecting data with learning packages

All dependent on funding; but basic service in place

Circa 4,000 unique users, 60,000 pages accessed (by 29 March 2007) 9,136 searches (by 1 February 2007) Users of the resource

Circa 4,000 unique users, 60,000 pages accessed (by 29 March 2007)

9,136 searches (by 1 February 2007)

Preponderance (90% of sample) used home-page basic search box for index terms Not reaching full richness of text? Adjusted mechanism for searching Result: 85% searched index terms Unfinished problem – requires other technologies How people search

Preponderance (90% of sample) used home-page basic search box for index terms

Not reaching full richness of text?

Adjusted mechanism for searching

Result: 85% searched index terms

Unfinished problem – requires other technologies

I.R.A. (395) “ Paisley Rev. Dr. I. R. K.” (361) drunkenness (291) civil service (265) emigration (202) army (199) “ irish language” (188) “ civil service” (176) “ craig rt. hon. sir james” (168) belfast housing (160) Most popular searches (i)

I.R.A. (395)

“ Paisley Rev. Dr. I. R. K.” (361)

drunkenness (291)

civil service (265)

emigration (202)

army (199)

“ irish language” (188)

“ civil service” (176)

“ craig rt. hon. sir james” (168)

belfast housing (160)

But … users are pushed in these directions Most popular searches (i)

But … users are pushed in these directions

By 1 February 2007: 12 terms searched over 100 times > 21% of total searches 3,048 terms searches less than 10 times > 54% of total searches Most popular searches (ii)

By 1 February 2007:

12 terms searched over 100 times > 21% of total searches

3,048 terms searches less than 10 times > 54% of total searches

Majority of searches are not for what you expect (M1 motorway, Strabane Technical School, "music broadcasting”, water rates, ice cream, golf, striptease) Wider range of themes and issues Conception of Northern Ireland as a functioning state, like any other democratic country What does this mean historically?

Majority of searches are not for what you expect (M1 motorway, Strabane Technical School, "music broadcasting”, water rates, ice cream, golf, striptease)

Wider range of themes and issues

Conception of Northern Ireland as a functioning state, like any other democratic country