I've done some distant reading against the Code4Lib mailing list. Temporarily, see: [1]
The reading does many things: 1) introduces the reading's underlying technology, 2) evaluates the mailing list's aboutness, 3) describes how core parts of speech words are manifested, 4) illustrates how the mailing list's discussions have ebbed and flowed over time, 5) and summarizes the whole.
What did I learn? Well, I didn't really learn anything new. Instead, what I had already thought to be true was confirmed. (Confirmation bias?) Considering its twenty-year long existence, Code4Lib is about computers in libraries. It is a collaborative community. And DEI is a core value.
In short, it has been an interesting experience watching our community evolve, and at the same time, stay the same.
[1] distant reading - https://distantreader.org/stacks/carrels-patrons/ericleasemorgan/code4lib/
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Eric Lease Morgan <eric_morgan_at_infomotions.com>
Received on Sun Sep 13 2026 - 11:07:29 EDT