[sigCR] Workshop proposal

Tue May 1 10:34:13 EDT 2012

Hi all, I LOVE the plan of the workshop. The original (planned with Susanne Humphrey) had that format. Everyone had a very short time -- I even think it was 5 minutes. There were about 20 presenters, which was perhaps too many but it meant we didn't have to limit topics. It was VERY exciting and I've often hoped for this energy to come back. One thing that was different then was that attendees received the short papers (just a few pages) in advance. Would that be possible?  Thanks for doing this on short notice Kathryn, Joe and Jane. Barbara

On May 1, 2012, at 10:19 AM, Kathryn La Barre wrote:

> Greetings,
> 
> I wanted to share the workshop proposal that Joe Tennis and I submitted
> yesterday - with help from Jane Greenberg. We'll hear if it was accepted on
> June 8th. At that point we'll start to send out announcements about
> scheduling and when to submit expressions of interest for presenting at the
> workshop.
> 
> *Classification Research: Past, Prospect and Pinnacles*
> 
> ABSTRACT
> 
> As part of the 75th anniversary of ASIS&T, this full day workshop will
> examine the past and future prospects of SIG/CR, one of seven original
> Special Interest Groups established at the American Documentation Institute
> on March 3, 1966. Of this original group only SIG/CR [Classification
> Research], SIG/ED [Education for Information Science] and SIG BC
> [Biological and Chemical Information Systems] now known as SIG/STI
> [Scientific & Technical Information Science] remain.
> 
> Instead of the traditional format, this workshop will assemble researchers
> from the major schools in information organization to comment on their
> current work, past work done in classification research, and the major
> advances in the field.
> Keywords
> 
> classification research, workshops, state of the art
> Overview
> 
> This day-long workshop will have two components –
> 
> (1) *Capturing the state of the art* in classification research (2) *Taking
> the pulse of the SIG* in the form of a debate about whether or not to
> retain or to change the current scope of the SIG.
> 
> *Capturing the state of the art:*
> 
> In the morning, attendees will be invited to prepare  lightning talks
> (seven minutes in length) on any of the following topics:
> 
> ·       Current research projects,
> 
> ·       Past work in classification research,
> 
> ·       Major advances in the field.
> 
> The goal of these presentations will be to get a sense of the scope and
> accomplishments in this area. We will then have a general discussion guided
> by the workshop chairs. **
> 
> *Taking the pulse of SIG/CR:*
> 
> In the afternoon, attendees will be invited to participate in an open
> discussion on the merits of a potential name change, or scope change for
> SIG/CR moderated by:
> 
> *Jane Greenberg* professor at the School of Information and Library
> Science, UNC-CH, and director of the SILS Metadata Research Center.
> 
> 
> 
> *Background for name change*
> 
> The first statement of purpose for SIG/CR stated a range of interests
> including:
> 
> “The construction and application of classification schemes by human or
> auotmata; studies of fundamental principles and underlying processes, and
> descriptive, analytic and comparative studies of classification schemes and
> procedures.”
> 
> In this early statement (from 1968) the chair of SIG/CR, Miles Libbey,
> indicated that the current focus was directed, “more at preparing the
> ground and sowing the seed than cultivating the crops or harvesting the
> fruits of classification research.” To this end the SIG created four
> working groups for members in the following areas:
> 
> (1)    Subject analysis
> 
> (2)    Scheme  construction
> 
> (3)    Descriptive, analytical, comparative and statistical studies of
> existing schemes
> 
> (4)    Creation or development of foundational or fundamental applications
> including scheme construction, automation, optimization, conceptual/
> terminological frameworks and so forth.
> 
>> From time to time, the SIG has discussed changing the name from
> Classification Research to something else, but none of the changes was as
> controversial as the one introduced in 1974 by Simon Newman, former Chair
> and liaison with FID/CR.
> 
> Newman drafted a document that asserted that one of the chief problems with
> the name of SIG/CR was the appearance of the term “Research” in the title.
> He began this conversation in the Members Forum of the *Newsletter of
> SIG/CR *(March 1974 pp. 5-6).
> 
> “While the SIG is interested in research in classification, it is also
> interested in and comprehends the technology of classification, both
> applied and theoretical..  . . The title ‘Classification Research’ is too
> narrow – and the following are offered as possible alternatives:
> 
> 
> 
> Classification
> 
> Classification Technology
> 
> Classification Research and Development
> 
> Content Representation
> 
> Today SIG/CR has the following statement of purpose:
> 
> “SIG/CR studies the fundamental principles, underlying processes, and
> analytic constructs of classification schemes and procedures by humans or
> automata. It is concerned with organizing information, and includes
> indexing, index construction, indexing language, thesaurus construction,
> terminology, classification of information in any form, and testing and
> evaluating the effectiveness of these products. It is also concerned with
> the ability to develop abstractions from perceived reality. Theoretical
> emphases include cognition, grouping and organization of groupings, and
> linguistics.”
> 
> Members will be invited to submit propositions for retaining or changing
> the name of the SIG – or to submit suggestions for reformulating the
> statement of purpose. This activity will extend the morning’s discussion
> about the current and future focus of the SIG and provide a conceptual map
> of current developments and provide a template for SIG activity as we
> prepare for the future.
> Impact of the Workshop We anticipate the outcome of this workshop to be a
> reinvigorate this core component of ASIST and to look forward to many more
> years of contributing to a better understanding of information systems and
> practices around classification.
> 
> 
> REFERENCES
> 
> Newman, S. (May 28, 1974). ASIS memorandum to Jessica Harris from Si Neman.
> Re: Draft of 500 word statement on CR. Bentley Historical Library. ASIS&T
> Records. Box 59. Folder: SIG Correspondence 1973-1976.
> Newman, S. (March, 1974). “Members Forum” *Newsletter of the SIG/CR. *pp.
> 5,6. Bentley Historical Library. ASIS&T Records. Box 59. Folder: SIG/CR
> Newsletters 1967-1985.
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