User:TERaphael/sandbox

My name is Tali Raphael. I am a graduate student of Library Science living in Maryland.

Jewish Thought

The article in Jewish thought is sort of a weird overview. It focuses on the history of the concept, but not its implications and alternate uses. It proposes a singularity of the terminology. It does not deal with cultural awareness of Jewishness in the contemporary sphere, nor the implications of being Jewish on one's thoughts and behaviors, and the effect of self-reflection upon these behaviors.

Finding Aid

The Finding Aid article has a surface level explanation of the content, uses, and reasoning of a finding aid. Some of the contextual information about the history of finding aids is not relevant, or seems out of place. Perhaps it needs its own section. But the full explanation of the finding aid and its component parts needs boosting.

Some preliminary augmentations: I have a few sources that can add to the definition of the term in the introduction, as well as enhancing the elemental parts of a finding aid. I think I will go into how finding aids are being reconsidered and are evolving based on changing technologies, as well.

What is the academic literature saying about finding aids- allowing for multiple perspectives on finding aids and their place within archival work and archival theory?

Freund/Toms:

Finding aids exist as a central tool for user and archivist interaction with archival collections. Freund and Toms argue that finding aids became the preferred means of user mediation with a collection, as a result of the print nature of most historical materials. They go on to explain that the finding aid within this print-based form is designed to describe a single collection or arrangement from a similar provenance.

However, Freund and Toms believe that user expectations of the archives changed as technology changed in the 20th century. Archivists could no longer assume that their patrons would inherently understand archival cataloguing practices and collections. As collections became digitized, archivists could no longer be expected to assist users as needed. The rise of full text search cemented a rift between patron expectations of searching the archives and the realities of the physical repository.

Issues with FA for users: inconsistent terminology across repositories, design/display of finding aids, hierarchical structure.

Altman/Prange:

Growing number of formats for finding materials online requires more archivist assistance in getting scholars to the materials they are looking for.

Farley:

User annotations as a supplement to traditional finding aids, can highlight useful materials not found by the archivist or by traditional finding aids. "Online participatory finding aids with user annotations are feasible for a repository of any size and budget, and will result in more complete resources for users and archivists."

"To be successful in reaching users, archivists must open themselves to new collaborations with diverse communities beyond the academic world, relinquishing the role of record gatekeepers and inviting in open communication with users."

Part of adapting to technology and the need to access new users.

McGahee:

Part of definition of finding aid includes the notion that the finding aid allows for archivist and repository physical and intellectual control over the objects in their possession. Paper based finding aids make researchers heavily dependent upon the archivist.

Role of EAD: standard for encoding finding aids, created in 1998 for use of finding aids in an online environment. Creation of a consistent national standard for finding aid terminology.

Basic info about finding aids in DACS content standard and Archives Space: administrative information, executive summary, collection description, and contents list.

Concern about the lack of interaction between finding aids of different libraries and repositories. Finding aids need to interact with digital libraries in order to remain current. Advocating for using new technology for finding aids.

Frusciano:

Barriers to user success with online finding aids: "lengthy text blocks, numerous links to hierarchical arrangements of content, long lists of folders and items, and terminology that means very little."

Advocating user centered design.

Scheir:

"Many of those now accessing archives through online finding aids are encountering primary materials (albeit virtually) for the first time. These users are often unfamiliar with finding aid structure, terminology, and principles."

Hierarchy of EAD finding aids causing confusion for users.

Desire for broader user population, including non-scholars in archival research. Desire for more detailed information by users about each series. Users enjoy a short summary of the catalog records followed by a list of series.

Fenton:

Campaigning for use of controlled vocabulary in online finding aids

Need for index consistency across networks

Subject headings may put forward a particular cultural and social hegemony

EAD: "Encoded Archival Description Document Type Definition (EAD DTD) is a non proprietary encoding standard which specifies the structure of an electronic archival finding aid. The standard was developed in response to the growing role of networks in accessing information describing archival holdings, and to enable the exchange of records between repositories."

Different approaches to subject keywords

"Contributors to the Archives Hub are encouraged to assign subject keywords to records they submit, and the website allows contributors to search the UNESCO thesaurus, UKAT and LCSH to help them find appropriate subject terms to assign to collection descriptions they are submitting."

Free text or controlled vocabulary- which is most effective?

Lack of suitable thesauri to fit specific collections

May be forced to have inconsistent subject indexing, if thesauri not constantly maintained and updated.

EAD and Finding Aids

see also: Encoded Archival Description

Encoded Archival Description was created in 1998 for the use of finding aids in an online environment. Its creation allowed for a consistent national standard in the US for finding aid terminology.

Candida Fenton writes, "Encoded Archival Description Document Type Definition (EAD DTD) is a non proprietary encoding standard which specifies the structure of an electronic archival finding aid. The standard was developed in response to the growing role of networks in accessing information describing archival holdings, and to enable the exchange of records between repositories."

However, the hierarchical format of EAD finding aids has caused some controversy among users, as archivists have noted that it perpetuates the same confusions regarding finding aids for users.

Digitization and Finding Aids

Freund and Toms believe that user expectations of the archives changed as technology changed in the 20th century. Archivists could no longer assume that their patrons would inherently understand archival cataloguing practices and collections. As collections became digitized, archivists could no longer be expected to assist users as needed. The rise of full text search cemented a rift between patron expectations of searching the archives and the realities of the physical repository.

Clayton McGehee expressed concern about the lack of interaction between finding aids of different libraries and repositories. He argued that in order to remain in touch with the rapid share and spread of information, finding aids must interact with digital libraries. Advocating for using new technology for finding aids.

User annotations as a supplement to traditional finding aids, can highlight useful materials not found by the archivist or by traditional finding aids. "Online participatory finding aids with user annotations are feasible for a repository of any size and budget, and will result in more complete resources for users and archivists."

"To be successful in reaching users, archivists must open themselves to new collaborations with diverse communities beyond the academic world, relinquishing the role of record gatekeepers and inviting in open communication with users."

Part of adapting to technology and the need to access new users.

Subsection headings: controlled vocabulary, EAD, controversies, Barriers to using finding aids