Foreword

Denis Hlynka, Ph.D., Project Manager

“Virtual Bibliography”

Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies

University of Manitoba

The Ukrainian experience in Canada is now into its second century of development. The investigation of this experience from a variety of perspectives constitutes an important aspect of the research conducted by the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies in Winnipeg. The realization that a large part of this experience is now disappearing has redoubled the Centre’s efforts to track and investigate those phenomena that have made the Ukrainian presence so rich and vibrant.

The concept of a virtual bibliography is significant in at least two respects. First, it is a document that is available on the internet, which promises wider access than any print bibliography can boast. Since it is not produced as a hard copy document, it exists as a virtual document.

Second. Bibliographies are notoriously difficult to publish. Either they date quickly; or it is hard to find a publisher. Bibliographies, though important, do not readily fall into acceptable research paper formats, so are often overlooked by editors of journals. And to publish a bibliography as a book is even more prohibitively expensive.

The solution is a “virtual” online bibliography. Publication expense becomes negligible; material is easily updated if necessary; readers to not have to purchase an expensive book or journal; the developers of the bibliography can concentrate on developing a quality product and a useful product.

The virtual bibliography that follows marks an initial, strong step in this direction. Subsequent virtual bibliographies will offer critical, authoritative surveys devoted to such areas of Ukrainian Canadian life as music, history, folklore and visual arts.

Funding in support of this project was provided by the Steve and Anna Zurawecki fellowship fund and a Teaching and Learning with Technology grant from the University of Manitoba (University Teaching Services).

In many respects this project was a team effort that included not only the work of our two research associates, Drs. Alexandra Pawlowsky and Robert Klymasz, but also the technical support of our webmaster, Marina Ranenko, and student assistant, Corey Syrnyk.