SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 79
With the help of grant funding, we hope to soon add the creation of EAD finding aids to routine processing work.
Haven’t done this yet. This has been enabled by our consortium’s EAD finding aid creation tools.
Impact of hosting finding aids on the Web N=62
All collections processed have both print and online finding aids resulting in increased researcher interest.
All finding aids are made accessible on the Web. In processing we take into consideration the fact that Web access
facilitates keyword searching which benefits from rich folder description.
All newly processed collections are on OAC. High priority.
All of our finding aids are placed on the Web, and such Web posting is a minimal requirement to consider a series
processed. If it is processed, it has a series-level description, and often a folder title level finding aid on the Web.
All written finding aids are destined for online presentation, which results in uniformity of finding aids.
As an institutional archives, many of our collections are restricted to use by officers of the institution. Finding aids to
heavily restricted materials are not posted to the Web. All others are posted. This does not affect processing decisions.
As the host for the Rocky Mountain Online Archives, we are able to see collections from other institutions that relate to
our holdings and direct researchers to these related collections.
Considerable.
Creates more standardization.
Encourages minimal processing to provide at least collection-level access.
Enormously expanded use by a far more diverse public: we rarely put a finding aid online without receiving some
request for use within a week or two.
Exposed collections to international audience, methods of outreach and promotion.
Exposure of finding aids on the Web has created increased work for public service staff responding to remote inquiries.
Facilitates the use and discovery of collections heretofore available only on site. Increase use of collections.
For online searchability, we probably pay more attention to uniformity of language used in description, but we’ve always
kind of done this.
Greatly increased our number of electronic requests — currently 200–250 per month. We are focused on providing
online access to all of our collections at the minimal level.
Has made us more aware of needing to standardize how we process collections and describe them.
Has made us more aware of the shortcomings of some of our finding aids, they are more visible has made us less
worried about physical arrangements since we can more easily associate materials electronically and “describe our way
out.”
Helped us to determine which collections are most used and impacts what we process.
Hosting finding aids on the Web does not change priorities for processing or the level of description. (2 responses)
Hosting finding aids on the Web has affected decisions about processing, including decisions about the level of
processing only to the extent that for many collections there needs to be enough detail in the finding aid to 1) inform a
With the help of grant funding, we hope to soon add the creation of EAD finding aids to routine processing work.
Haven’t done this yet. This has been enabled by our consortium’s EAD finding aid creation tools.
Impact of hosting finding aids on the Web N=62
All collections processed have both print and online finding aids resulting in increased researcher interest.
All finding aids are made accessible on the Web. In processing we take into consideration the fact that Web access
facilitates keyword searching which benefits from rich folder description.
All newly processed collections are on OAC. High priority.
All of our finding aids are placed on the Web, and such Web posting is a minimal requirement to consider a series
processed. If it is processed, it has a series-level description, and often a folder title level finding aid on the Web.
All written finding aids are destined for online presentation, which results in uniformity of finding aids.
As an institutional archives, many of our collections are restricted to use by officers of the institution. Finding aids to
heavily restricted materials are not posted to the Web. All others are posted. This does not affect processing decisions.
As the host for the Rocky Mountain Online Archives, we are able to see collections from other institutions that relate to
our holdings and direct researchers to these related collections.
Considerable.
Creates more standardization.
Encourages minimal processing to provide at least collection-level access.
Enormously expanded use by a far more diverse public: we rarely put a finding aid online without receiving some
request for use within a week or two.
Exposed collections to international audience, methods of outreach and promotion.
Exposure of finding aids on the Web has created increased work for public service staff responding to remote inquiries.
Facilitates the use and discovery of collections heretofore available only on site. Increase use of collections.
For online searchability, we probably pay more attention to uniformity of language used in description, but we’ve always
kind of done this.
Greatly increased our number of electronic requests — currently 200–250 per month. We are focused on providing
online access to all of our collections at the minimal level.
Has made us more aware of needing to standardize how we process collections and describe them.
Has made us more aware of the shortcomings of some of our finding aids, they are more visible has made us less
worried about physical arrangements since we can more easily associate materials electronically and “describe our way
out.”
Helped us to determine which collections are most used and impacts what we process.
Hosting finding aids on the Web does not change priorities for processing or the level of description. (2 responses)
Hosting finding aids on the Web has affected decisions about processing, including decisions about the level of
processing only to the extent that for many collections there needs to be enough detail in the finding aid to 1) inform a
