By Heather O’Watch
Access to the Saskatchewan Encyclopedia has been made easier.
The 1,072 page book that holds Saskatchewan’s first century is now available online through the University of Regina’s Archer Library just in time for Archives Week which runs from February 3 to 9. The archives and special collections unit’s archivist, Mark Vajcner explained that the project was in the works for over a year.
“It came up because there was a lot of questions about it from researchers who wanted to have access to it,” said Vajcner.
Vajcner also explained why this specific material was chosen.
“We thought it would be a fairly useful archival project and an easy one because most of the original material still existed,” said Vajcner.
Part of the project was to rebuild and verify that all the internal links would properly work, which would make the encyclopedia accessible to everyone. Earlier editions with broken links has been circulating online throughout the years.
The book was published in 2005 during the centennial year of Saskatchewan through the Canadians Plains Research Centre (CPRC), which is now the University of Regina Press. The printed version included 21 in-depth essays about Saskatchewan’s history. The book has subjects including Aboriginal, agricultural, health, and education and, an Order of Canada recipients list. The printed version is still available.
Vajcner explains that because the Saskatchewan encyclopedia is archival, the archives and special collection’s unit will not be maintaining the articles including updating language terms that was used in the original text.
“There might be things in here that people disagree with but that’s a reflection on what the scholarship was at the time, this is an archival resource and we use it as such,” said Vajcner.
With over 10 hardcopies still available through the Archer Library on the University of Regina campus, Vajcner expects a positive reaction for the added accessibility for those searching to read what’s inside.
“There was a call for it. There was a lot of people looking for that online version,” said Vajcner.
George Hoffman, a sessional lecturer with the department of history at the University of Regina, is pleased with the online accessibility of the encyclopedia.
“It’s a positive development,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman said the added online accessibility through the Archer Library will benefit the students he teaches among his prairies history courses.
“It’s more accessible to students, that’s the key thing,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman also explains that the transition to online makes the material similar to national resources that are already available online such as the Canadian Encyclopedia and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
The ability to access the material for the universities’ classrooms will help aide professors such as Hoffman in their future lectures.
“I think students in Canadian history courses are often encouraged to consult the Canadian encyclopedia as a basic beginning point to studying history and now that the Saskatchewan Encyclopedia is online it likely will be used similarly,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman also suspects that more students will now utilize the material.
“When taught Prairie history you are always aware of that publication and frequently referred students to it and now the big change will be that it’s just that much more accessible, which probably means students will look at it a lot more than previously,” said Hoffman.
The online form can be accessed through Archer Library’s oURspace page that is linked through its library main page with hard copies for rental. It can also be purchased at the University of Regina Press (URPress) for $125.00.
