The Oxford Bibliographies Online (OBO) is a new undertaking that has the potential to change how academic research is conducted.
Oxford University Press, best known in literary circles as the publisher of the beloved and, in some cases, reviled Oxford English Dictionary, launched the OBO to “help busy researchers find reliable sources of information in half the time.”
Oxford Press’ new online bibliography, compiled by panels of scholarly experts, offers short Wikipedia-esque introductions coupled with comprehensive bibliographies.
The primary goal of the OBO is to be selective rather than comprehensive. It essentially lists the “best-reads” on any subject making diving into a topic a lot easier and more focused.
When I do research I am often forced to sift through pages and pages of useless information. As you know, that can be as enjoyable as a root canal. The OBO makes online research reliable, easy, and comprehensive.
For now, the subjects offered through the OBO are fairly limited. At the moment most of the entries pertain to classical texts and Islamic studies, but they promise to expand in the near future. I am confident that this resource will make our lives a little easier. In a world of increasing stress and aggravation it’s no small achievement.
