The Rausing Room

The Rausing Room and the Endangered Languages Archive are situated in R201 at SOAS. The Rausing Room has facilities for preparing archive materials, and for training in skills related to language documentation. Access to the Rausing Room is controlled, via an electronic password combination lock. ELAR staff will change the password periodically.

Facilities in the Rausing Room

The Rausing Room has 5 workstations with specialised hardware and software for various linguistics, documentation and archiving tasks. Peripheral devices such as audio digitising units and scanners may also be available. Click here for a list of workstations and software.

There is also a library of books on topics such as language endangerment, audio, video, designing web pages, XML etc. Currently we have over 300 titles. The library is managed by Mike Franjieh.

Using the workstations

To log in, use your SOAS login - you will automatically be logged in to ELAR's visitor account. You can store data on workstations if you make a folder within D:\users\, naming the folder D:\users\yourname. Normally you can use up to 2GB of space. If you have important data you should also keep it elsewhere; it is advisable to bring your own storage device. Periodically the drives will be cleaned, so please notify us of any special circumstances. Data stored on workstations may be accessed or modified by other users. We cannot take responsibility for data stored on Rausing Room workstations.

When connecting drives and other portable devices you must be sure that they are virus free and pose no risk to others' data. If you use the workstations you agree to abide by Conditions of Use for SOAS Information Technology Systems as described at http://mercury.soas.ac.uk/it/policy/itpolicies.htm, particularly in regard to observing copyright.

Who can use the Rausing Room?

How can I access the Rausing Room?

For HRELP staff and students, SOAS Linguistics staff and postgraduate students, and other relevant SOAS staff, please register with MyHRELP and request Rausing Room access by contacting David Nathan.

Others may receive the password by applying on the password application form. Please download, print, read, sign and return it to us. You may need to visit us in person. If you intend to use the room on a regular basis, you must be registered with MyHRELP so you can be sent the password when it changes.

Once you have obtained the password...

How do I open the door?

Type in the password and wait for the blue light to show; after the blue light has gone off, press the handle down.

Does the password change?

The password will change regularly - you may need to find out the current password. If you have already been granted access to the Rausing Room, the latest password will be sent to your MyHRELP email address automatically when the password is changed. Should you wish to obtain a reminder of the current password:

• Log in to MyHRELP (www.hrelp.org/myhrelp)
• Find the "Rausing Room Access Options" box on the right of the page
• Click "Get Rausing Room Password"
• The password will be emailed to you

What are the opening times?

If you have the password to the Rausing Room, and the room is enabled, you may use it during normal School hours, i.e. 9 am to 9 pm. At some times, the door will be locked and access disabled e.g. during the weekends, or when staff are away.

What levels of security apply?

At some times, the door will be completely locked and access will be disabled. At other times, such as during open events, the door will be unlocked and a password will not be needed.

The Rausing Room is also under video surveillance. If you access this room using a password obtained unofficially, you may be prosecuted. Note that the terms of agreement for using the room forbid divulging the password to anyone else.

I am a visitor to ELAR or the Rausing Room

You can press the buzzer to the left of the door. Note: if staff are not around, or are busy using headphones, they may not be able to respond. Try calling us on (020) 7898 4523/4584.

Emergency access

In case of fire, or other emergency, see SOAS security at Reception on the ground floor or in the Brunei Gallery.

Results of March 2007 User Survey

Survey results - aggregated form data
Survey results - discussion