Collaborative Archival Description – Challenges and

Directions

Masha Zolotarevsky

Yad Tabenkin Archives15.11.2011

User Oriented Approach In the second half of the 20th century, archives went through a conceptual change in which access and usage of the archival materials has been given special emphasis. “We must begin to learn systematically, not

impressionistically as is our present tendency, who our users are; what kind of projects they pursue; in what time frames, and under what sponsorship; and, most importantly, how they approach records. Put another way, we must begin to think of archives administration as client centered, not materials-centered".

T. Elsie Freeman, "In the Eye of the Beholder: Archives Administration from the User's Point of View." American Archivist 47 (1984) p. 112

Israeli Archives Network (IAN)

From Users’ point of view Accessibility to archival materials in

various Israeli archives Standardized interfaces Standardized finding aids Access to various digital resources Knowledge sharing for network users

Israeli Archives Network (IAN)

From Archives’ Point of View Tools for collaborative finding aids Information system for managing

archival materials Centralized management of digital

resources Increased access to archival materials Knowledge sharing between various

archives and archivists

Centralized Management of Archival Materials Standard archival description Use of international descriptive

standards Best practices Collaborative tools

ICA’s Standard ISAD(G)

What?International standard that provides rules and principles for archival description. The standard deals with various materials of archival description and includes 26 descriptive elements.

ICA’s Standard ISAD(G)

Why? To use rules that are based on archival practice To induce uniform description To provide options for national and international exchange of descriptive information

ICA’s Standard ISAD(G)

How? Creating elements essential for information sharing Labeling descriptive fields according to the standard Preparing for the creating of finding aids according to the EAD

Example of Institute for the Research of Religious Zionism

ICA’s Standard ISDIAH

What? International standard that provides rules for

description of institutions with archival holdings.

ICA’s Standard ISDIAH

Why? To describe institutions as units within an archival

descriptive system; To serve as a standardized access point for

institutions with archival holdings, within a directory, archival information system or network

To document relationships between institutions and between those entities and the archives they hold

ICA’s Standard ISDIAH

How? Creating description of archival institution

according to ISDIAH rules

The examples from the standard

ICA’s Standard ISAAR(CPF)

What?International standard for creation of authority records for corporate bodies, persons, and families

ICA’s Standard ISAAR(CPF)Why? To provide the users with common access points -

proper names of people and organizations To create authorized sources To link between names and the relevant archival

materials

ICA’s Standard ISAAR(CPF)

How? Collaborating between archives in creating

authority records Preparing for the creation of authority files

according to the EAC

Collaboration with the General PublicPhoto description Yad va-Shem Google Image Labeler Archival description YourArchivesKnowledge sharing YourArchives Discussion group such as Axis History Forum

Questions?