From manuscript catalogues to a handbook of Syriac literature: Modeling an infrastructure for Syriaca.org

TL;DR

This paper proposes a data model for Syriaca.org's digital handbook to improve discovery, classification, and referencing of Syriac literature, addressing gaps in current infrastructure and resources.

Contribution

It introduces a tentative data model for an open-access digital Syriac literature handbook, aiming to unify and enhance access to Syriac texts and references.

Findings

Draft data model presented for feedback

Aims to serve as an authority file and access guide

Addresses gaps in Syriac literature infrastructure

Abstract

Despite increasing interest in Syriac studies and growing digital availability of Syriac texts, there is currently no up-to-date infrastructure for discovering, identifying, classifying, and referencing works of Syriac literature. The standard reference work (Baumstark's Geschichte) is over ninety years old, and the perhaps 20,000 Syriac manuscripts extant worldwide can be accessed only through disparate catalogues and databases. The present article proposes a tentative data model for Syriaca.org's New Handbook of Syriac Literature, an open-access digital publication that will serve as both an authority file for Syriac works and a guide to accessing their manuscript representations, editions, and translations. The authors hope that by publishing a draft data model they can receive feedback and incorporate suggestions into the next stage of the project.