Imperial Library Downtime : The Elder Scrolls Series Discussion

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:28 pm

According to Xan of the Imperial Library, their downtime will last another week. TIL has a humungous collection and the librarians have personal lives, so its really no surprise. I figured I'd post this thread to alert everyone of the change of plans and to pass on a few helpful tips as to how to deal with the lack of TIL. TIL's own thread about the move is located http://www.imperial-library.info/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1275915770/90, and the latest news is posted there.

Accessing Old TIL pages
All content is still avaliable, if you know how to find it.

The simplest method is to do a google search of TIL using the "site:www.imperial-library.info" prefix followed by the keyword. For instance, "site:imperial-library.info daedra" will bring up all TIL pages relating to daedra. You can also use it to find specific documents, like the 36 Lessons of Vivec ("site:www.imperial-library.info "36 lessons of vivec").

Here is a list of specific directories, thanks to B:

http://www.imperial-library.info/book_daedra/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/bsbooks/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/calendar/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/dfbooks/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/godate/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/gods/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/gttpo/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/history/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/intros/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/maps/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/nine_divines/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/obbooks/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/obscure_text/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/pge/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/pge3/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/places/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/races/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/rgbooks/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsobs/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsod/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsomw/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsoo/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsorg/index.shtml
http://www.imperial-library.info/tsosk/index.shtml

Progress
According to B, as of June 20th

Completed Sections
Daggerfall Books
Battlespire Books
Redguard Books
Arena Intro and Storyline
Daggerfall Intro and Storyline
Battlespire Intro and Storyline
Gallery of Elder Scrolls
Cartography

In Progress
The Pocket Guide, First Edition
Morrowind Books
Redguard Intro and Storyline

Not Started
The Pocket Guide, Third Edition
Shadowkey Books
Oblivion Books
Morrowind Intro and Storyline
Shadowkey Intro and Storyline
Oblivion Intro and Storyline
Astronomy and Astrology
Guide to Daedra
The Nine Divines
Daedric Alphabet
Translation Dictionary
Artifacts of Elder Scrolls
Bestiaries
Calendar of Tamriel
History of Tamriel
Major Realms of Iliac Bay
Savant's Note On Vvardenfell
Guide to Solstheim
Cities of Cyrodiil
Races of Tamriel
Characters
Guide to Akavir
Dwemer Studies
Guide to the Psijic Order
The Guilds of Cyrodiil
Dog Ate My Homework
Go Blades!
The Interviews
Book of Spells
Mad God's Masque and Bellicose Ball
Obscure Texts
Riddles
Zeph's TES Treasury

I hope this helps

Lets all wish the librarians good luck and a successful move, and show them how much we appreciate their hard work :foodndrink:

P.S. No, the move has nothing to do with TESV.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:16 am

BOO! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! I HATE YOU! GO DROWN IN A PUDDLE!

Just kidding, glad to know it'll be up soon. Thanks for the update Lady Nerevar.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:02 pm

that is very helpful. Thanks

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:58 pm

I use the UESP to look up books. :shrug:

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:17 am

BOO! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! I HATE YOU! GO DROWN IN A PUDDLE!

Just kidding, glad to know it'll be up soon. Thanks for the update Lady Nerevar.

Can I get a "Huzzah for the Imperial Library" instead?

That's more like it.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:16 am

This will really help the TES lore base if it can be monitored. It will allow more people to contribute to the library. We just have to watch out for the bad guys

Should be fun though.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:37 am

The number of people contributing will stay the same - its the way they will be contributing thats going to change. You still have to pass standard FSG procedure to get published (my guess is that the procedure and standards themselves will also get an overhaul), so its not like you can just pull something out of your nether regions and get it on TIL. The only difference is that you'll get to post your article yourself instead of waiting for the librarians to do it. I suppose you could still be a dike and deface your own article, but I doubt anyone would go through all the trouble to just do that.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:37 am

You still have to pass standard FSG procedure to get published (my guess is that the procedure and standards themselves will also get an overhaul), so its not like you can just pull something out of your nether regions and get it on TIL.

I sure hope the procedures change, I got tired of finding goats to sacrifice. That's why only two of my articles ever made it on there, I ran out of goats.

The 'standards' in general will of necessity change, simply because back when the FSG was first started it didn't take much to write something 'new' - nowadays most people have a pretty good knowledge, meaning an article will have to work harder to go above and beyond...

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 4:55 am

Glad TIL's coming back up soon. It's been one of my favorite resources for years.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:39 am

I'm really excited for the new TIL as it is one of my favorite websites out there.

Thanks for posting this info here Lady Nerevar. Maybe now people will realize this has nothing to do with TES V and that they know no more then we do. :spotted owl:

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:19 pm

I just wanted to thank everyone for their patience and support.

I would also love to hear some of your suggestions for procedures and quality standards for the FSG, but I don't know if this is the place to put them. You're welcome to put them in a more appropriate place, though. We will take ideas under advisemant.

Up until now, the two biggest obstacles were the lack of time/motivation of the Librarians to input the html code, and the quality review of articles (whether they were truly scholarly works). Soon, the lack of time/motivation will be overcome by our new content management system. Now, we just need to address the quality standards of the submissions.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:53 pm

What kind of work does it take to rehabilitate a page for the new presentation system? Couldn't XSLT do it?

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:42 am

Thanks for the update and the quick links are very helpful - I had forgotten how much I took the library for granted - typical, I never really appreciate something until it's gone

The library has been an invaluable resource for my modding - as well as being entertaining in it's own right

Looking forward to the revamp

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:42 pm

A completely unintentional side effect of this is that it's funny seeing people just saying things like "trust me when I say that this is true" instead of providing quotes. Well, not actually saying it, but you catch my drift.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 3:51 pm

We will open up TIL before we are 100% finished. With only two of us working at the moment, if we waited until everything was completed, it would take weeks. It will be a work-in-progress and will resemble the old style as far as colors and basic layout, for the most part. Eventually, once everything is transferred, we well work on making it a beautiful as we can -- with Astion's help. We hope!

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:31 pm

When the imperial library gets back up i will donate all my files to them to do with what they will so that they become even more complete. This includes a revised version of my transcript of stormhold and dawnstar and all of the documents i have found that they are missing.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:17 am

Hey, thanks Lady N. Well appreciated.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:29 am

When the imperial library gets back up i will donate all my files to them to do with what they will so that they become even more complete. This includes a revised version of my transcript of stormhold and dawnstar and all of the documents i have found that they are missing.

Thank you. We appreciate the offer.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:07 pm

Can I get a "Huzzah for the Imperial Library" instead?

That's more like it.

Huzzah for the Imperial Library!

I was sorry to discover that my link was broken and am glad to learn that the library hasn't shut its doors permanently.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:28 pm

Actually...What exactly is/was/will be the Imperial Library?

DON'T HIT ME!!! (metaphorically speaking of course...)

I've referenced it and looked to it in the past but...what exactly is it? Is it "THE" database on all lore relating to the Elder Scrolls? Is it all viable, or are there parts that deal with speculation and conjecture?

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:31 pm

The Library is a collection of texts.

These include:

* Most of the in game books from all games.
* The conversations in main story lines for each game.
* The text of Pocket Guides to the Empire.
* Interview with developers about lore.
* In character posts made by developers
* A few well written guides checked for accuracy.
* A handy timeline of events.
* An archive of insightful discussions of the community from before 2002.
* A collection of semi-scholarly texts written by members of the forum of varying quality and accuracy.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:57 pm

It also had an extensive cartography section, art from the games, official introductions to the games, easter eggs and developer weaseling, and info about things that were originally supposed to be in games but were not added, as well as a great little forum. The new library will have all of that, plus a section on the Infernal City and an easier editing system (which means the librarians can add even more cool stuff).

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 7:25 am

It also had an extensive cartography section, art from the games, official introductions to the games, easter eggs and developer weaseling, and info about things that were originally supposed to be in games but were not added, as well as a great little forum. The new library will have all of that, plus a section on the Infernal City and an easier editing system (which means the librarians can add even more cool stuff).

Ah yes, how is the new site adressing the Infernal City? Quite obviously can't have the book on the site, so in terms of making references to the book, how will this be acheived? Quotes from the book? Page notation about specific pieces of lore?

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:55 am

Its not really been discussed. I've already copied out all lore from the book, from major stuff like Elsweyr's geography to minor stuff like the color of the curtains in Toel's sauna room. The document came out to 17 Word pages, which is probably too much to constitute fair use. My guess is that its going to be a combination of paraphrasing and direct quotation where appropriate, with page numbers for every reference.

» Wed Nov 03, 2010 2:01 pm

Its not really been discussed. I've already copied out all lore from the book, from major stuff like Elsweyr's geography to minor stuff like the color of the curtains in Toel's sauna room. The document came out to 17 Word pages, which is probably too much to constitute fair use. My guess is that its going to be a combination of paraphrasing and direct quotation where appropriate, with page numbers for every reference.

Thanks for working on that. Did you catch the reference to the Caros? Interesting that Alessia Caro's grandchildren are secretly poisoners.