More about its Niche: How Does this Differ from Other Digital Publishing Initiatives?
All the same, it seems that an initiative such as SourceLab could occupy a distinctive niche within this rapidly evolving publishing world.
First, we aren't a mass digitization initiative. Our focus isn't on bringing large amounts of new material into the Internet. Instead, we hope to make fascinating materials digitized by others 'good to go' for historical work. We'll be building our 'editions,' in essence, as frames around a digital object that has already gone online: something people want to use for history, but aren't yet sure how.
Second, our editions will be built with this specific purpose in mind. Since our goal isn't just to 'get it out there,' making it accessible in any old format isn't enough. We'll provide readers with basic information and scholarly commentary about the artifact, clarifying its origins, evolution, meaning over time and current location. We'll establish its copyright status, and provide guidance as to how it should be cited in both teaching and research. We'll also put it into formats that make it easier to use and study. Want a paper copy of the edition to print off, or prefer to read it on an e-reader or tablet? We'll get you covered. Think an audio-text recording of the original poem would help your students understand its artistry? We're learning how to make audio-files, as well, using platforms such as Librivox. In short, we want our editions to actively help people who want think about history, in addition to providing them raw material to work with.
Finally, and most importantly, SourceLab is distinguished by its ambition to draw students into the process of preparing Internet resources for teaching and research. The idea isn't to build a new publishing house or non-profit center, but to make the edition of historical sources a part of history education once again, to the benefit of both students and society alike.