This document discusses the changing role of mediation in archival research as online access to archival documents increases. It notes that while archival research traditionally involved in-person visits, users are now more remotely located. Online access provides digitized surrogates that are available anywhere and anytime. However, some argue selection is still involved in digitization and it does not ensure true equality of access. The document suggests digital access should come before archival practice and mediation may need to change from its traditional form to embrace more openness and user engagement online. Archival notions of control are being challenged by increased online sharing of collections.

1. A future without mediation? Online access, archivists and the future of archival researchSigrid McCausland RAILS 10 May 2011

2. Users of archives are increasingly physically remote, but we still tend to measure success primarily in terms of personal visits to an archive repository. This is not surprising, as our profession is generally focused on the physicality of documents and the secure accommodation that we need to provide for them, and the understanding and interpretation of physical archives is crucial to many areas of research. Jane Stevenson (2008) ‘The Online Archivist: A Positive Approach to the Digital Age’, p.91

3. Outline Introduction Definitions Online access and archival research Mediation and archival reference practice A new paradigm? Conclusion

6. Disintermediate (Macquarie) to connect directly to the primary source of a commercial product, thus cutting out distributers, retailers, wholesalers and all other intermediaries. –disintermediation, noun

7. Archival research Archival research means accessing and using original records, created by organisations or individuals and placed under archival control, as sources for intellectual enquiry.

9. Professional researchers

10. Local area historians

11. Academics

12. University students

13. Secondary school students

14. Other – inc architects, journalists, visual artists(CAARA/ASA (2007) Archives Survey 2007, pp. 46-48)

15. Archives users

17. Inadequacy of finding aids – coverage and comprehensibility

18. Organised according to provenance not subject

19. Limitation of ready reference tools

21. Users don’t know how to research primary materials

23. Archivists have often processed the materials and bring deep knowledge of content(adapted from Duff 2010, p.118)

24. Online access – one view Digitised records available online are … accessible to all, irrespective of location, and at a time to suit individual convenience and preference rather than reading room hours of opening. (Macpherson, P. (2010) Building a better horse and buggy: The privileging of access in reading rooms over online access, p. 64)

25. Online access – another view On a broader, more philosophic level, the notion of digitisation as an agent of equality needs a bit of scrutiny. Contrary to the rhetoric, it is not really value-free. Databases are like maps, they are representations of reality and similarly a model set of relationships…which means that selection is always involved. (Susan Crean, (2011) National Archives Blues : Is a precious Canadian asset being digitized to death?)

28. Mediation has a future but not in its traditional form

29. Archival institutions and archivists need to embrace user engagement on many fronts, not just reference services