A Question of Interpretation The role of archivists in an online age Amanda Hill University of Manchester, UK

“ How others see us” Do others see us? Does it matter whether they see us?

“ How others see us”

Do others see us?

Does it matter whether they see us?

Role of archivists Same as it ever was… To provide access to information To interpret our records for users through descriptions and exhibitions To keep things safe

Same as it ever was…

To provide access to information

To interpret our records for users through descriptions and exhibitions

To keep things safe

So what’s changed? Technology Expectations

Technology Rapidly changing Opening up new audiences Taking us out of our comfort zone

Rapidly changing

Opening up new audiences

Taking us out of our comfort zone

Expectations Users expect to be able to find everything on the Internet (preferably through search engines) New audiences have their own requirements for interpretation, which may be different from those of traditional users

Users expect to be able to find everything on the Internet (preferably through search engines)

New audiences have their own requirements for interpretation, which may be different from those of traditional users

Archives Hub Developing since 1999: a union catalogue for archives held in universities, colleges and other organisations throughout the UK Funded by the JISC Now holds c.20,000 finding aids from 150 institutions Funded for UK academic community, but free for anyone to use

Developing since 1999: a union catalogue for archives held in universities, colleges and other organisations throughout the UK

Funded by the JISC

Now holds c.20,000 finding aids from 150 institutions

Funded for UK academic community, but free for anyone to use

Rapid change in role for archivists

Relationships with users Small staff in many archives More contact between archivists and users than there often is in, for example, libraries and museums We know our traditional users and their needs well

Small staff in many archives

More contact between archivists and users than there often is in, for example, libraries and museums

We know our traditional users and their needs well

Gatekeeper Users had to talk to archivists before finding aids were available more widely We interpreted our finding aids for them, within the repository Duke Humfrey’s Library, Bodleian, www.visitbritain.com

Users had to talk to archivists before finding aids were available more widely

We interpreted our finding aids for them, within the repository

Gatekeeper Users had to talk to archivists before finding aids were available more widely We interpreted our finding aids for them, within the repository Duke Humfrey’s Library, Bodleian, www.visitbritain.com There is a vast amount of information available at the Bodleian concerning its manuscripts, but only a tiny fraction is currently available online; we intend progressively to make more information available at this website, as and when resources permit . http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/medieval/medieval.htm

Users had to talk to archivists before finding aids were available more widely

We interpreted our finding aids for them, within the repository

Work we’ve done in putting finding aids and digital versions of archives online has changed that gatekeeper role entirely Our knowledge and expertise has to be transferred into the finding aid or metadata – many existing finding aids not up to the job The user no longer ‘sees’ or is aware of the existence of the archivist Online, things change

Work we’ve done in putting finding aids and digital versions of archives online has changed that gatekeeper role entirely

Our knowledge and expertise has to be transferred into the finding aid or metadata – many existing finding aids not up to the job

The user no longer ‘sees’ or is aware of the existence of the archivist

Users May not need to know about archivists … if they can find what they need online

May not need to know about archivists

… if they can find what they need online

Consequence of visit to Hub site Survey, May 2006, part of a JISC review of resource discovery services

We need to change what we do Different types of users have differing requirements New interpretative skills are required to meet their respective needs Cataloguing needs to take new context (and users) of finding aids into account Revisiting Archival Collections project

Different types of users have differing requirements

New interpretative skills are required to meet their respective needs

Cataloguing needs to take new context (and users) of finding aids into account

Revisiting Archival Collections project

Interpreting users’ needs Important to stay in touch with users Some are easy to talk to – traditional users Others more difficult – potential users, casual online users

Important to stay in touch with users

Some are easy to talk to – traditional users

Others more difficult – potential users, casual online users

Particular problem for Archives Hub as a purely online service Lack of direct contact with users Rely on online questionnaires or participation of contributing institutions Difficult to get significant level of response (survey fatigue) Bribery works to a degree

Lack of direct contact with users

Rely on online questionnaires or participation of contributing institutions

Difficult to get significant level of response (survey fatigue)

Bribery works to a degree

June 2005 (163 responses)

Target audience…

Current survey

Interpreting technology Understanding technological developments and applying them for the benefit of users and archivists Without implementing new technology for technology’s sake Sometimes easier to get funding for the new and exciting at the expense of core work … but some new developments are low-cost and easy to implement – so worth experimenting with

Understanding technological developments and applying them for the benefit of users and archivists

Without implementing new technology for technology’s sake

Sometimes easier to get funding for the new and exciting at the expense of core work

… but some new developments are low-cost and easy to implement – so worth experimenting with

Interpreting jargon 300 archival terms provided to interpreters at a recent European conference

300 archival terms provided to interpreters at a recent European conference

More jargon (Image of search interface featuring archival jargon) Keep jargon away from end users!

(Image of search interface featuring archival jargon)

Keep jargon away from end users!

Online finding aids Jargon-free Written with a general audience in mind Available through search engines All collections catalogued, if only at a minimal level But the more detailed the better Linking to digital surrogates or originals where possible Capable of displaying contributions from people outside the repository

Jargon-free

Written with a general audience in mind

Available through search engines

All collections catalogued, if only at a minimal level

But the more detailed the better

Linking to digital surrogates or originals where possible

Capable of displaying contributions from people outside the repository

Best of both worlds Technology Expectations Satisfied users

Side effects… In opening up resources online, archivists and other information professionals are becoming increasingly invisible… … whilst reaching a larger audience than ever

In opening up resources online, archivists and other information professionals are becoming increasingly invisible…

… whilst reaching a larger audience than ever

Focus attention where it matters Paymasters Advocates

Paymasters

Advocates

Must find Meaningful ways of measuring: Use Impact

Meaningful ways of measuring:

Use

Impact

So… If our users can find what they need and easily understand it If our paymasters understand and value what we do It doesn’t matter if our professional public profile is low or non-existent… … as long as the value and importance of our records and archives is understood

If our users can find what they need and easily understand it

If our paymasters understand and value what we do

It doesn’t matter if our professional public profile is low or non-existent…

… as long as the value and importance of our records and archives is understood

Gatekeeper (Image of Sigourney Weaver as the Gatekeeper in Ghostbusters) Keymaster (Image of Rick Moranis as the Keymaster in Ghostbusters)