What is it about?
This case-study looks at how three institutions think about and implement multi-level description for archival collections with unique content. It discusses the reasons for this approach, including specific researcher needs and the materials' characteristics. Since most archival collections are described at the collection level, this has meant that the institutions used approaches that go beyond the typical archival standards, including item-level description and transcription.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Many collections can be adequately described at the collection level, but some benefit from multi-layered description. Natural sciences field books provide an example of how institutions are meeting these increased description needs, using current schema and standards, as well as developing new methods when needed. It also demonstrates how the institutions work to develop similar methods when possible and why they sometimes choose to deviate.
Perspectives
This case study discusses a challenge dealing with collections that are not adequately described using standard archival methods. The institutions in question have a long-standing relationship, and so have been able to work together and build on each other's expertise to develop the current methods.
L Parilla
Smithsonian Institution
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Excavating archival description: from collection to data level, Digital Library Perspectives, August 2017, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/dlp-11-2016-0043.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Social Media and Crowdsourced Transcription of Historical Materials at the Smithsonian Institution
Crowdsourced transcription has grown in popularity as a tool for generating transcribed data and public engagement. This article discusses how an institution utilized one to two week-long highly structured experiences to engage volunteers. Evidence suggests that it helped volunteers discover new ways to interact with the materials, increased transcription output and supported sustained online activity.?
Increasing Online Discoverability of a Mixed-Format Collection
An overview of a project to increase online accessibility for archival materials in a special collections environment. Resulting records now make the collection and item level description available in multiple online platforms while adhering to Library and Archives description standards.
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
