Something New For Something Old (part 4)
December 8th, 2008 by MerrileeThe PACSCL panels were capped off by infrastructure. The four panelists focused, appropriately, on different types of infrastructure.
Brad Westbrook talked about the Archivists’ Toolkit project, and focused on the history and early motivations for the project (starting with a meeting in February 2002 — I was there and remember it well, although I can scarcely believe it’s been almost 7 years). The project has come a long ways since those days, and although it’s hard to measure where and how it is being used, there have been lots of downloads of the software. Brad reckons that 40-50 institutions have actually installed it. SAA has offered AT training (along with Archon training). In terms of the project’s own sustainability, Brad see the community as providing a path to sustainability, with a transition from project to user-based governance.
Christopher Prom talked, of course, about Archon, a project quite similar to AT in some ways, but also different in some key areas. Archon is a web-based application, and functions as both an access system and a descriptive system. The disadvantages of Archon, according to Chris, is that it is very simple and might force implementers to make some compromises (it doesn’t support EAD implementation beyond DACS, for example). The advantages are few training requirements, “Google friendly” (the published finding aids are easily crawled). Chris also thinks that Archon helps support increased efficiency — once they implemented Archon at UIUC, they saw a jump in processing stats. In terms of the larger infrastructure picture, Chris thinks it’s time to “move on from EAD” — to strip EAD down to a much more data centric model with fewer options and dispense with elements that are support textual formatting.
Bob Sink talked the integration of systems at the Center for Jewish History. The Center has library, archival, and museum collections, and maintaining systems that support all functions equally has been a challenge. They rely on a smorgasbord of tools: ALEPH, EMU, Digitool, Metalib, and some homegrown systems. The marketplace does not (yet) support the type of integration that Bob’s institution needs. For example, the ILS does not support exhibition loans or preservation needs. The museum system (EMU) is great with this kind of thing, but museum systems are typically weak on robust standards (a situation that Bob acknowledges is improving). Archival support in the ILS is limited to links in the 856, and while ExLibris developed an archival accessioning module for CJH, they have not made it available to other institutions. Largely, “access is eating the pie” — collection management functions need attention. Archivists (within libraries) need to become better advocates for themselves — find out who the systems librarians are, and make their voices heard.
Tom Clareson from PALINET rounded out the panel, talking about the importance of policies and procedures as non-technical infrastructure. He spoke about statewide digitization initiatives, focusing on collection and user needs that are unique to Pennsylvania. For example, in working with various user groups to develop topics for digitization, “communities of conscious” emerged as a priority from several groups. (I am not doing Tom’s talk justice, but my notes are thin and this is exactly why I try to write up notes shortly after I attend something!)
The meeting concluded with thematically-based breakout tables over lunch. The goal of each of the discussion tables (at least 12) was to emerge with three high-level “next steps.” Normally, I am not a fan of the breakout sessions, and I’m even less a fan of breakout session reporting. I did enjoy the conversation at my table, and most of the reporting more or less made sense, although I didn’t take notes on this portion of the meeting (hoping that the meeting organizers might).
The meeting concluded with some possible future directions. CLIR may issue a report from the meeting. CLIR or PACSCL may try to have a follow on meeting, or set of meetings. It really was one of the best meetings around archives that I have attended in some time, and I hope that it does live on in some way.
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