Digital Jane
We heard from Janet Lee, who has a question for our Gentle Readers.
I am an English Leader and Literacy Consultant from Canada. I am happy that I found your Blog. You see, I have the responsibility of leading the English department Leader meetings at my school board. At the last meeting, we were debating the validity of the Internet vs. the Library. One of the leaders said, “The library is best because…I mean…you can’t find Jane Austen on the Internet!” This comment has bothered me so much because I knew that Jane had a following that would be valid in the classroom. Today I typed in Jane Austen and Blog into Google and found your amazing Austenblog site!! I have looked at the P&P Barbie, browsed announcements about Jane Austen singing tours, seen photos of people dressed like Jane and learned the term Janeites all in the past 5 minutes!
Your Blog is a wonderful way to bring Jane alive again for students! Could you post my comment for others to see and comment on. I would like to have a collection of comments to present at the next English department leaders’ meeting on Monday, February 25th. Thank you for your enormous efforts and love of Jane! GO JANEITES!!!
Thank you!
Janet Lee
We also would like to humbly point out AustenBlog’s associate site, Molland’s, particularly the e-texts, not only of Jane Austen’s novels but of public domain books and articles about Jane Austen and her work (and we will be adding more very, very soon–watch this space!).
We also would like to point out another useful site for students who are studying Jane Austen’s work, or just discovering her work and wanting to learn more. The Jane Austen Society of North America’s website at jasna.org not only has a short biography of Jane Austen but a comprehensive section about the films based on her novels and the real treasure trove of the site: the publications! Reviews of books related to Jane Austen and her work as well as the journals, Persuasions On-Line, which, as implied by its title, is an online publication of essays about Jane Austen and her work, and JASNA also has been digitizing back issues of its print journal, Persuasions. (Issue No. 10 is the latest to be added–when we get around to Friday Bookblogging this week, we planned to include it, but we’ll mention it here first). And let’s not forget the annual Essay Contest–specifically targeted to high school and university students.
We mention all these because we know we have a lot of new readers, as well as for Janet’s colleagues. So, Gentle Readers, let’s hear about your experiences with Jane Austen on the Internet! Fellowship is obvious, but what have you learned about Jane Austen on the ‘tubes?
P.S. It is an often-voiced aphorism at AustenBlog World Headquarters: Librarians Rock! As do libraries! We use ours as shamelessly as Willoughby used Eliza Williams. 
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I love libraries. They are not replaceable. But I have yet to hear a conversation about going commando in Jane Austen’s time (see Feb. 17) in even the most raucous library Austen discussion group (not that there are all that many raucous library discussion groups, of course). Well-done snark is best found in web discussion groups, and the things you learn certainly stay with you. How can you not learn something when several countries might be represented in the discussion? That’s a big table.
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
It’s been said that the internet provides bredth, while libraries provide depth. This is certainly true, but I’ve also been able to find a great depth of information on JA that I couldn’t find in the library.
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Fellowship may be obvious, but it’s still wonderful! I don’t know enough about the Canadian educational system to figure out what age group Ms. Lee teaches, but when I was in high school, I didn’t know anyone else who loved Jane Austen. It’s very empowering to find out that you’re not alone in your passions, especially when you’re a teenager with a passion for literature. I wish the Jane Austen blogosphere had been around for me back then.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Perhaps the esteemed leader was referring to Jane’s MySpace page? That woman hasn’t logged in since May 23, 1817. Someone go to Facebook and see if they can give her a poke!
Fellowship aside, Henry Churchyard’s JaneInfo pages have been long full of helpful and interesting facts about Jane, her time, and her work.
I probably have gotten a lot of info I wouldn’t have otherwise just from picking up books at the various historical locales. And, by extension, I suspect Amazon has done a lot for JA scholarship - “shopping” and “reading for fun” is a lot less intimidating than applying for help at the library. It’s that stream-of-consciousness aspect of the Internet that appeals.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Like Deborah of comment #3, as a young woman, I loved Jane Austen, but I knew no one who appreciated her like I did. The Internet opened up a whole new world of Austen enthusiasts who not only liked to discuss the books and movie adaptations, but helped me discover more about her life and other books to investigate. I am a professional bookseller and LOVE libraries, but I am just astounded that someone on a library board would be amazed that Jane Austen could be found on the Internet! What classic literature isn’t? Project Gutenberg created eBooks for libraries in 1971, long before the average person had a personal computer! Thank you Janet Lee for investigating the possibilities for your readers outside of the stacks. There is a big beautiful informational highway out there ready to be traveled. Cheers, Laurel Ann
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hi Janet!
I personally have learned so much about Jane Austen and her works from this website (especially) as well as from other sites. For those of us ex-patriots who have limited access to English literature, I consider the internet a treasure!
The critiques of other Janeites have sharpened my reading and observation skills. I have searched for new authors as a result of their recommendations. I have read whole books on-line and have found sites for our Mexican friends to read Jane Austen’s works in Spanish.
I have loved libraries all my life, but the internet is now an additional way to make our worlds bigger and to make us more “human”.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I know exactly 3 people outside the web who likes Jane Austen, my mother (who was introduced to JA by me), my mother’s old friend and my sister’s old High School teacher. I think that I can safely say that without the internet I would never have liked Jane Austen as much as I do now. One of the good things about reading a book is to be able to discuss that book, and the internet is a great place to find other people to discuss with. I’ve joined a few online group readings and even though I had read the book several times before, I was amazed by the things that some people noticed.
I have also found that the internet is great for getting small doses of information. I subscribe to several Jane Austen blogs and finds that I get lots of information even without reading a book. A good example is “Jane Austen’s World” a great way of getting information about Jane Austen’s time.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
While libraries are indeed irreplaceable, the internet is highly underrated. The internet allows people to see scholarly articles and resources that would not be available otherwise. I can live in Massachusetts and see archives in Texas. Many of the people who write the books we see on library shelves are also active in the internet community, and if they are not, there are people who have studied just as rigorously. While its true that “anyone can post anything” on the internet, those who avoid the internet are grossly misinformed. Besides, the internet is a great way to reach out to high school students and meet them halfway.
Without the internet, I would not have:
1. been persuaded to try Jane Austen (after reading many glowing reviews and finding active Janeite communities)
2. bought several of her books, and books about her
3. avoided a lot of sub-par television
4. joined JASNA
5. learned about Jane Austen events
6. found other people who share my interests; these people remind me that I am not alone and encourage me to “stick to my guns” as they say
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Without this site, I wouldn’t have learned about the PBS series, and while those aren’t perfect, they make me want to read the books again. I’ve been able to learn about each book, find question lists and commentary on books that aren’t included in the editions I read. I’ve downloaded Austen books to my PDA so that I can always have them to read. The internet has allowed me to learn so much more about Austen; it’s a great tool for autodidacts.
February 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 am
I have spent a lot of time in Western Australian libraries researching Jane Austen - I wrote my Honours thesis on Persuasion waaaaaaay back in 1984. I spent a lot of time trying to track down books and journal articles, and (legally) photocopying chapters on obscure subjects such as the importance of the father/daughter relationship in JA’s novels. Great good - serious - fun.
The fun has continued through the last ten years of my flirtation with Jane-on-the-Net. As well as enjoying some spirited discussions of her novels and their adaptations, I’ve sporked with gusto, read some very good and some very bad fan-fic, and been able to discover some gems of information. Here’s one from only this week - the 1971 BBC version of Sense & Sensibility (which I’ve always been curious about) is now available on DVD in Holland.
And, from reading this thread, I’ve also realised my great good fortune in having met nd become good friends with many other JA devotees in real life - as well as back in university, I’ve stumbled upon them in my mothers’ group, at work, and among the other mums at school. Yes indeed!
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 am
I think what is so wonderful about the web is that you easily find like-minded people who are all connected by this love of our favourite author. I’ve loved Austenblog from the moment it started and never pass a day without logging in-I suppose some people might call me obsessed but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one.
The other blogs I love are Jane Austen Today, Austentatious and Becoming Jane Blog to name the ones I know. I’m sure there are lots of others-sometimes a search on google doesn’t always show this. Then there are lots of fantastic web sites-Mags has already mentioned JASNA. I enjoy Jane Austen’s House web site, Jane Austen Centre, JASA and Pemberley.
I was a history and art teacher for many years and I would feel perfectly happy with children using the internet for research, especially with guidance from the teacher. Equally, I love a library and I’d hate to think that they could ever be replaced. A balance is required between the two. The advantage of the internet, of course, is that children love computers and I think blogs in particular have that sort of ‘comic book’ appeal with snatches of info and humour that children relate to easily. Getting them engaged in the subject is half the battle-an enthusiastic teacher with some wonderful resources can influence a whole new generation of children.
Well, I’ll get off my box now- how about someone compiling a list of web sites and blogs with clear indications of whether they are for serious research or just for fun? Perhaps there is one, I don’t know of it. Also, if you have got a blog I haven’t mentioned I would love to hear about it!
There are never enough!
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:18 am
Sometimes it seems as if there is more Jane Austen on the internet than in the ‘real world’, so to say. Living in the Netherlands, there’s a serious lack of Jane Austen in libraries and book shops. Most of them don’t even have her books, or maybe just ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Also in high school Jane Austen’s work didn’t get as much attention as it deserves. At some schools maybe no attention at all. I was astonished to find out some time ago that a girl my age didn’t even know who Jane Austen was. She never even heard of her or her work!
So, I’m very happy that there’s so much enthusiasm about Jane Austen and her work going on on the internet. It’s wonderful to be able to discuss her work with other Janeites, who understand her work. Those Janeites are from several different backgrounds, which leads to very interesting indepth discussions sometimes. Besides, the internet (and especially AustenBlog) is the perfect place to stay up to date about what’s going on in the world of Jane Austen, and also to discuss (and snark about!) all the movies and series, based on her work.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 am
I love the Internet, but I love books more.
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I can’t tell you how many authors I have been convinced to try because of recommendations from fellow Janeites. When I hear a Janeite raving about some other book, I’m much more likely to try it. Janeites have good taste in general.
Let’s see–I’ve been introduced to, among others
Elizabeth Gaskell
Dodie Smith
Nancy Mitford
Anthony Trollop
Diana Wynne Jones
All authors I knew nothing about, until recced by online Janite friends…
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
These comments are going to be rather long, and not all entirely related to Jane Austen specifically, but I think your colleague’s comments speak to a much larger issue, and maybe I can offer a useful perspective. I’ve worked in an academic library for almost eight years now, and the issue of appropriately utilizing the internet is one that we grapple with all the time. The attitude that we’ve tried to adopt is that the internet can be a valuable tool in helping us accomplish our mission, and that librarians have an important role to play in helping patrons identify information of value on the internet. In other words, we shouldn’t have an attitude of libraries VERSUS the internet, but rather an attitude of libraries AND the internet.
Librarians and library para-professionals are obsessed with information; it’s why we do what we do. Librarians, on the whole, are passionate about providing access to information to as many people as possible, and as efficiently as possible. The internet helps us do this in several ways. Libraries put their catalogs online, allow patrons to renew their books online, and even pay fees online. These seem like simple matters, but really they help us serve our patrons better, and allow them access to library information at any time of the day. I don’t know how it is in other countries, but across the U.S. more and more libraries have Interlibrary Loan (ILL) departments. Using the internet, patrons can request copies of materials that their local library does not have, then the ILL department sends those requests out to libraries across the country. When a library can fill the request a copy is sent to the patron’s library, and they can check out the material for a certain amount of time. I’ve personally used our ILL department to gain access to several books—including books on Jane Austen—that our library didn’t have. It’s a valuable option that I recommend to patrons all the time.
I work specifically in the Special Collections department in our library, and we’re working like mad to digitize our collections and put them online for two reasons: 1) It’s a preservation issue. When we digitize our collections they are pulled out, rifled through, and copied less often. 2) When we put our unique collections online, patrons from anywhere in the world have access to information that we alone can provide. That’s a pretty amazing thing in my opinion, and something that we’re really excited about.
And we’re not alone. Around the world, libraries are engaged in digitization programs to allow greater access to information. A Jane Austen related example? The Chawton Library, which is housed in the remodeled estate of Austen’s brother, is working on their Novels Online project. The library collects novels and manuscripts of women writers from 1600 – 1830, and many of their items are one-of-a-kind. Their Novels Online project is putting many of those manuscripts online for readers around the world to enjoy. (And as a side note, I only found out about the Chawton Library because of my involvement in Jane Austen related online-communities. Because of those online-communities I also found out about the master’s program in conjunction with the Chawton Library, which I hope to get into in the near future—fingers crossed.)
Sure, there are downsides to the internet, but this is where librarian (and teachers too, of course) play such a crucial role. There is all kinds of misinformation on the internet, and it is especially horrifying when a senior in college walks into my department and tells me he/she can’t find a book because they’ve never used a library before. Teachers and librarians can work together to teach students how to use libraries and their resources, and we can also teach students to identify good and bad information on the internet. Our library teaches a university course (now required for graduation) that teaches such skills.
I’ve probably gone on long enough, but I hope I’ve given you some ideas that can help you in your discussions. Like I said, we shouldn’t see the internet as being in competition with libraries, we should see it as another tool to help us access information—a tool that must be used appropriately just like any other tool. Good luck!
February 24th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Dear Austenblog Editrix,
I’m a fellow Janeite working on a second draft of an Austen-inspired novel. I’m writing to announce that bidding is open at $710 for a “Personalized Video Birthday Message from Colin Firth” on Ebay. Bidding ends March 2nd. My birthday happens to be coming up…
You can title this post “Happy Firth Birthday.” Wouldn’t it be?!
PS/I am ardently in love with your blog and will be quite put out if someone on Austenblog doesn’t win this one.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I was introduced to this blog by my Mum when I was studying Pride and Prejudice at school a little while ago. I will never be a Janeite like she is but Austenblog and other web sites made the subject much more interesting to me.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:19 am
MelissaJ says librarians have an important role to play in helping patrons identify information of value on the internet. In other words, we shouldn’t have an attitude of libraries VERSUS the internet, but rather an attitude of libraries AND the internet.
I agree with her and she gives some good examples of the way the Internet makes the services and collections of libraries around the world more visible and more accessible.
However, in many instances the Internet does replace the library. Say, for instance, you wanted to read as much as possible that had been published in the nineteenth century about Jane Austen’s life and work. Twenty years ago, you could have gone into an academic library or large public library, found Gilson’s Bibliography of Jane Austen in the stacks, and copied out the citations for articles and books published in the period (say) 1811 to 1870. Then, you’d use the library catalog and interlibrary loan to locate the items & read them, write notes, or photocopy them.
Now, from the comfort of your home or wherever you use the internet, you could go to http://books.google.com and click on advanced book search (just to the right of the search input box.) Then, you could type in Jane Austen in the “exact phrase” box, and type in 1811 and 1870 into the “publication date” box, and click on the “google search” button… Google would return something like this - “Books 1 - 10 of 629 on “jane austen” date:1811-1870. (0.10 seconds)”
What are these 629 links? Some are editions of Jane Austen’s works published between 1811 and 1870. Some are merely advertising notices in the periodical press for Jane Austen editions (quite interesting in themselves,) while others are articles about Jane, or passing mentions of Jane Austen in books about many different subjects. All are within complete, fulltext renderings of the original works, mostly scanned in libraries such as Oxford, Stanford, Harvard and the University of Michigan.
This search, that took Google about 10 seconds to execute, returns most of the works that Gilson lists in his bibliography (published in 1982) but also lists many interesting articles and book-references that he doesn’t list, because the power of computer indexing means that the full contemts of all the scanned books is available to be searched, even if no human being has read that text for many decades.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Jane Austen not on the Internet?! As the subtitle and content of this blog so succinctly make clear ‘ “She’s everywhere!
I also agree it’s not a question of libraries VS Internet, but how the information that can be found on both can compelement the other best. As Robin points out, a few seconds skillful searching on internet can put an astonishing amount of fascinating and sometimes even rare information right at your fingertips. But, just as in a library, the better you know how to search the better your results will be. On the other hand, you also have to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff on the Internet, and be clearly aware that just because you read something, for instance, on Wikipedia, it’s not necessarily fact!
I’ve loved Austen’s work since I first became acquainted with it in 1984, but I can assure you that the Internet has played a crucial role in expanding my knowledge of her, her works and - especially - her times. I started as a mere ‘Janeite’, but by now have taken myself through a virtual course of 18-century studies. The online communities I’m part of, including Austenblog, have kept me informed, introduced me to fascinating new books and films, provoked much thought and - also important - amused and entertained me immensely.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am
P.S. Only one other respondent mentioned the Republic of Pemberley in passing, but I think it’s one of the most awesome Austen sites out there: http://www.pemberley.com.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Robin - thank you for the instructions about googlebooks search. What a wealth of JA publications and items mentioning her! I have been reading it for an hour already.
February 26th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. The Leader Meeting was a success! We read through your responses and many were writing down the ideas you offered amazed by the amount of effort you put in. I think everyone was thrilled to hear from all parts of the globe.
Thank you so much! We all agree the Internet and the library must go hand in hand.
All the best!
Janet Lee