Focusing primarily on British and American authors, the Online Literary Criticism Collection fills a gap that has long frustrated students, teachers and librarians looking for high-quality literature resources online. The growing collection culls evaluative or explanatory writings about works of literature from numerous authoritative sources. The collection contains links to sites concerning many important English language authors, primarily representative of the literary canon taught in high school and college English classes. It is of service to more advanced scholars as well. Many author entries also include biographical statements and interesting, relevant non-literary sources.
Users can browse for criticism and biographical information by author name, period or work title.
The collection was designed by Ken Irwin, Katie Stottlemyer, and David Carter with assistance from Patricia Memmott, Beth Atkinson and Caitlin Tillman. Over a four-month period, these students and staff members researched more than 100 authors and hundreds of Web sites, choosing more than 1,000 linked sites that made up the collection at the time of opening. As a result, the project will appear in the Energy Efficiency category of Renew America's 1998 Environmental Success Index. The project, begun in 1987, provides funding for improvements that reduce energy costs in U-M buildings. Inclusion in the Index means the program has successfully undergone a rigorous verification process, including local and state evaluation and careful screening by the National Awards Council.