A brief overview of the search and browse capabilities of the SROWA's archives catalogue, using the open source system, AtoM.

1. From AEON to AtoM:

2. Who are the ‘Archivally Intelligent’?
•Expert users of archives can do research
successfully within the systems and
procedures of the archives.” (National
Archives UK blog, 2012)
•Understand archival concepts
•Use catalogues and finding aids
•When they visit different archives, or use different archives’
websites, they can pick up and adjust to variations in how things
are done

3. Context Entities
Record Entities
Record Series [WAS]
Item
Document [SRO Piece]
( ISAD/G)
Function Entities
Function
Activity
(ISDF)
Agency Entities
Organisation
Agency/ Person [WAA]
ISAAR (CPF)
Archival Description
Is hierarchical
But also relational
Basic description defined by
International Standards
ISAD (G)
ISAAR/CPF

4. AEON – Archives Explored Online
Created in 2000 by SRNSW
Implemented by SROWA in
2004
Catalogue is
created in backend
Uses Microsoft
database
Accessed with
Internet Explorer
Limited search functionality

5. AtoM – Access to Memory
Different look and feel -
Search – many ways
Digital objects
(Pdf and other formats)
Request items online
Developed for the International Council
on Archives
Based on international standards for
archives.
Used by archives around the world,
including

6. system to rule them all

7. So many ways to browse and search

8. Search Search options - whole catalogue
filter with side menu
wild card*

9. Search strategies – Search boxview
Phrase or specific
searching “ “
e.g. north
fremantle finds
everything with
north or fremantle,
but add some
quotes and you
only get ‘north
fremantle”. Also
use for file
numbers.
E.g.”1900/0827”
Wild Card search *
e.g. premis* also
finds premise and
premises
Can also use the *
to find words which
end in a phrase, or
*phrase*
Straight search –
e.g. Fremantle.
Choose from drop
down, or press
return.
Will also find
related files, which
might have a place
or other link.
Filter by side menu.
Use the side menu to further
refine your search, e.g. choose
Fremantle and then choose the
creating agency.

10. Search strategies – Advanced search
Advanced search
Click in Search box, then choose advanced search.
Can search by ID, title and type.
Uses Boolean logic – and,or, not.
Don’t get carried away…

11. Browse

12. Browse – digital objects

13. Browse
Archival description –
series (a group of records housed together with a common purpose or
information type, e.g. minutes or correspondence files)
item (a file, folder, photograph album or map set, etc.)
Organisations and people –
State and local government agencies
Some Ministerial Offices.
But now we can add….

14. Series page

15. Search within Series Quick Search

16. Item page

17. Request an item

18. Request an item

19. FAQs
When will SRO go AtoMic?
User acceptance testing to be completed
Data migration from old system
What happens to my old links?
They will,unfortunately, be broken. But because you have archival
intelligence, you should be able find items using series and item searches, and by
retaining the standard reference formats for your items – Series, cons/acc, item.
For more information – keep an eye on our blog, Facebook and Twitter feeds.