Frequently Asked Questions

More detailed insights into the project “NRW authors on the net” can be found here in a question and answer form, to assist you with the databank.

Should you not find the answer to your question on this page, please send us an e-mail and we will do our upmost to help.



#000001  Why a databank of NRW-Literature?
In the internet-age, such a databank is long overdue. It replaces the old, traditional book versions that date very quickly and (the internet version) can be constantly updated. It offers not only a quick and easy route to the literary community in NRW for those interested in literature but also access to specific areas through the search function. For example, it is concievable that the site could be used by organisers of Literary and Cultural events who don’t just need the address of a crime or fantasy writer from NRW but maybe one from their region or from a neighbouring one. Furthermore, they have in this case, instant access to the complete biography of the author to use for adverts and presentation. Yet there are many other uses imaginable, for example regional data, years of birth etc. for journalistic or scholarly research purposes. Last but not least, anyone can find details of NRW authors whose books they are reading, or of a certain literary archive or patron.

 
#000002  What definite possibilities are there?
The website has special features to make the search easier, for example not only can authors and institutions be searched for alphabetically list but also genres and regions.

 
#000003  What does the Databank include?
Writers in the Authors-Databank are listed alphabetically along with those who are soon to be included. The place names next to the author’s name is their place of birth so that it can be quickly seen who comes from NRW and who moved here or spent a significant amount of time here. The relevant page can be called up by clicking on the logo next to the name.
The Institution-Databank lists all author’s clubs, archives and patrons based in NRW, which offer advice and further training for authors or which organise literary events.

#000004  What about Author’s pseudonyms?
Authors appear on the list under their ‘most important’ name, that under which their books were published or under which they wish to be known. As a rule this is their real name with alias’ or pseudonyms following beneath. By and large, but not always as the author may not have wanted to have their real name published, it can be established from the portraits which name is being talked about. Now and then the same person turns up under two or three different names so that they can definitely be found on one page or another.


#000005  How are the portraits compiled?
The portraits are structured along the lines of an index-card. First of all, next to the photo or logo are basic details like name (pseudonyms if applicable), place and date of birth as well as ‘Places in NRW’, which shows to which towns or areas in NRW the author has links. In the case of the institutions, details include year of formation,  where it is based and contact details. Furthermore, information about genres and the main focus of the author’s or of the institution’s work can also be obtained. This is followed by more detailed data such as a short biography, a list of achievements and awards with year, title and what the award was for (e.g. a certain book or a lifetime achivement award etc.). Next is a bibliography structured according to the most important genres (see next question) as well as sections with entries about secondary literature and press cuttings and a personal statement form the author. Finally, a further index with contact details; the address information at the top of the page can be immediately recalled with a mouse click; here, only details for which the author has given permission are published. At the very end, the time of the last update is shown along with sources for the portraits, usually WLB research or information from the author.


#000006  How is the bibliography sorted?
The author’s bibliography is sorted by genres, which can lead to some overlapping because – to cite an example – a children’s book or a crime thriller are also ‘prose’, but this will, on the whole, not turn up again under this category. However, in order to make the main focus of the author’s work as clear as possible, compromises have been made as it is then easier for bookshops or schools, for example, to see at a glance which children’s books have been written by which author. 


#000007  What function does the search option “Genres” perform?
The databank nrw-autoren-im-netz contains a ‘genre’ page where authors can be listed according to certain criteria of their work: Prose/Essay, poetry, crime fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, children’s books, stage, radio, television, film, other media (CD, internet etc.), Women’s literature, satire, critique, factual, publishing.
However, as a rule only authors who have the respective areas as a main point of their work will be found by this search function. One or two titles under the category poetry in addition to one each under factual, crime or satire are not sufficient to be defined as a main point of work. On the other hand, typing in the name of a single factual or poetry title can lead to success as the author may have made a name for him/herself in the respective area with just the one publication. This category and search function is not about recording information on everyone who has ever written a crime thriller or an essay or ever worked in radio or on television. This function is more about sorting out a selection (not to be confused with a rating) that will make it clear whether we are dealing with a prose author, poet or sci-fi author. Any other procedure would water down the search function.

 
#000008  What function does the search option “Regions” perform?
The federal state of NRW is divided into different cultural regions. These ten regions show up when the relevant icon is clicked. For those interested, authors and institutions can be listed by their connection to South Westphalia, the Lower Rhein, Hellweg , the Ruhr Valley or the Münsterland. This is not simply an interesting way of compiling statistics about authors across the state but also creates an overview of the literary productivity and societies in a certain region. The place next to the author’s name reveals which place the author can be categorised by, namely the place of birth, residence or work.

#000009  Why do some areas contain no entries?
If areas, in whatever category, do not contain any entries then it means that either the author has never written, say a children’s novel or the details could not be researched or the author purposefully omitted the entry as (s)he did not want it published. The latter particularly concerns contact details. Moreover, certain details may not be fully completed (e.g. achievements) because some authors didn’t want them publishing.


#0000010 Why are some portraits missing photos or logos?
Basically, where there is no photo or logo it is because none was made available or consent was not given.


#0000011 Is the data freely accessible?
Yes, but only for journalistic or scholarly purposes, or by libraries, literature and cultural events and other non-commercial uses. Should the data be reproduced then the following copyright note : www.nrw-autoren-im-netz (Westfälisches Literaturbüro in Unna e.V.) must be attached. The permission of the site owners and potentially of the author, must be obtained for commercial use, liable to a fee, of the data.

 
#0000012 What about copyright for the photos?
The copyrights for the photos are shown next to the respective preview-pictures. These may only be used with permission to be obtained from the copyright owners. We would also ask in this case to refrain from even the slightest request, as the resolution required for the internet is not suitable for printing purposes. 
This is not valid for the database of press photos.

#0000013 How was the data formulated?
The data was researched by the Westfälisches Literaturbüro in Unna e.V. (WLB) and authors were invited to send in a short biography, bibliography, press cuttings etc., this means that the portraits are, in the main, based on the author’s own contributions, though the information was edited to fit the criteria developed for the databank by the WLB. From time to time, existing materials such as the ‘Westfälische Autorenlexikon’ (Bd.4), the ‘Lexikon der deutschen Krimi-Autoren (Internet Edition) or other reference works were used or at least expanded upon, especially when expressley asked to do so by the author. Contact details are only published with the express permission of the author. 

 
#0000014 How will the data be kept up-to-date?
New portraits, which will be continually put on the net (see next question), aside, existing portraits will be updated at least once a year. In this respect, the WLB is reliant upon the cooperation of the authors or their publishers. The most recent update is given at the end of each portrait.

 
#0000015 Will the databank be extended?
Definitely, as many portraits as our financial and personell resources allow will continually be added to the website. Any other suggestions for the development of the site will be warmly welcomed at: post@autorendatenbank.

 
#0000016 Why can I not find certain authors or institutions?
The website www.nrw-literatur-im-netz.de has been in existence since 31.12.2001. As of the beginning of 2003, the databank of institutions has been added.  It goes by the ‘work in progress’ principle and is reliant on the co-operation of the authors and institutions themselves, who have to make their details available. More and more portraits will continually appear, although this is also dependant on who sends us what material (digital data is quicker to edit).
Of course, the WLB will also carry out further, independent research, though well-known authors such as Peter Rühmkorf, who was born in Dortmund but has no other relationship to NRW (he didn’t grow up here), may be omitted form the list at first.
Besides which, not every author wishes to appear on the net, which we would like to respect. In such a case, we have only recorded, if it has already been publicised, the name, place and date of birth, place of residence and main areas of work.
Moreover, in spite of extensive research, not every author who lives or works in NRW can be recorded; hereby it is one of our aims to create a wide range of contributions. Maybe the author is well-known but the (new) address is unavailable for one reason or another. Should a certain author you know not appear on the site, let him/her know about the possiblity, or let us know his/her name (and if know also the email or postal address), and we shall do the rest.



#0000017 Can the genre search be specified further?
In principle, yes. In practice, a further expansion of the databank search function would be at an immense cost, which means we have limited the search first off to the most important genres. Besides, it is not always obvious from the bibliography which books fall into which genre category (whoever sends us data, should try and make this clear).
 

#0000018 Who created the databank and Website?
The project was concieved and realised by the Westfälisches Literatubüro in Unna e.V., an institution for the promotion of authors and literature in NRW. The project is supported by the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen. Anyone wishing to know more about the WLB and ist work should click here : link to the info page “about us”. Project leader is Dr. Herbert Knorr, director of the Westfälisches Literatubüro in Unna e.V., and is also responsible for the conception of the project. Maren Duisburg and Stefanie Bergmann from the WLB are responsible for the organisation and compilation of the data. In addition the following people are currently working on the project as well:
Dr.Iris Nölle-Hornkamp (Nordwalde), who worked for the literary commission of Westfalen and the countryside association of Westfalen-Lippe on the four volume ‘Westfälischen Autorenlexikon’ (for authors born before 1950). Dr. Thomas Hoeps (Krefeld), who amongst other things, organises literary events for the Literaturbüro NRW in Düsseldorf.

#000019 Is there an offline version of the database?
Yes, an offline version has been available since early 2003. The CD Rom offers an overview of literary life in and around Northrhein-Westfalia. The CD Rom of the website www.nrw-literatur-im-netz.de is divided into a database of authors and one of literary institutions and provides a user friendly version without having to be hooked up to the internet. There are in-depth portraits of around 500 authors and 100 institutions and just like the website there is a detailed search function (for regions, genres, fields of work, dates of birth etc) and is ideal for a quick overview, detailed research, contact search or simply browsing offline. Regular updates can also be found on the web.


#000020 How can I update the CD Rom version?
This can be found in the programm-area of the CD Rom (Changes and new portraits). New versions and software can be found under “download” on the website www.nrw-literatur-im-netz.de. Current version is 1.0.16


#000021 For whom is the download-area intended?
This area is intended for CD Rom users of the database. Those in possession of the current version can download new versions or software. The downloads are useless without a copy of the CD, which can be obtained for 13 Euro from the Westfälischen Literaturbüro.


#000022 What are the benefits of the database of press photos?
A database of press photos was added to the authors database in the middle of 2003 to make media and press work easier for authors. Editors and event organisers can download photos direct from the site, saving a lot of organisational work.


#000023 What criteria do the photos have to fulfill?
In order to provide a universal quality, the photos should be at least 70 x 100mm and NOT a computer print out of a digital photo. Digital photos should be a .jpg format at be least 900 x 1300 dpi or 1500 x 900 pixels big.


#000024 How do I download the press photos?
Click on the author whose picture you wish to download. The portrait of the author will then appear along with the button Pressefotos. If a picture is available the technical details of the photo will appear upon clicking the button and this can then be downloaded.


#000025 Does the service cost anything?
Naturally, the author incurs no costs in providing a photo for the database and has right of recall. The photos are also free to download.


#000025 What are the conditions of use?
All rights are reserved. Pictures may only be used for journalistic or event marketing purposes. All other commercial use is forbidden. By downloading the photos, the user agrees to these conditions