How do we know what they want?

A2A and user evaluation of archival resource discovery

Sarah J A StarkRegional Liaison Co-Ordinator, A2A

Public Record Office

Collection Description FocusWorkshop 5, 30 January 2003

www.a2a.pro.gov.uk

How do we know what they want?

• A2A (Access to Archives) and its background

• Monitoring usage• Evaluation• Outcomes• Know what they want!

A2A: the background

Until recently:• Access to archives through paper finding

aids (calendars, indexes, lists or catalogues) or discrete local/web databases

• Researchers generally had to travel to repositories to view finding aids

• Paper catalogues not necessarily indexed• Electronic catalogues had to be searched

one at a time

A2A: the background

• English strand of the UK National Archives Network

• First online presence in 2000• A2A programme led by PRO, HMC and BL• Funded by HM Treasury, Heritage Lottery

Fund, partners and contributors• Over 220 repositories involved so far• Links to contact details• Over 4 million catalogue entries so far

A2A: the catalogues

• Generally multi-level (not collection level)

• 21 archive categories:– Institutional archives

• Local government and the courts• Hospitals• The churches• Businesses

– Personal papers (notably scientists and politicians)

– Family and estate archives

A2A: the catalogues

• A wide range of subjects including (for example):– Information on people and places– Commerce and industry, 18th-20th century– The British in India and elsewhere– Local government and administration in

London and the English counties, 16th-20th centuries

• More content projects, 2002-2004• Online at www.a2a.pro.gov.uk

A2A: usage figures

May 2001 – December 2002:• 1,267,731 searches

– average almost 63,400 per month

• 2,739,935 catalogues viewed– average almost 137,000 per month

• Database updated regularly

A2A: monitoring

A2A: monitoring

• Optional online new user form: 3250 returns, 2000-2002 (11 April)– 65% using archival catalogues for the

first time– 43% new to archives– 79% family historians, 27% local

historians, 15% academics– 40% aged 51 or above

A2A: monitoring

• Optional online new user form: 701 returns, April-Dec 2002– 57.5% using archival catalogues for

the first time– 41.4% new to archives– 86% family historians, 33% local

historians, 13% academics– 69% aged 51 or above

A2A: evaluation

• More than passive monitoring• Focus group members sought,

summer 2001• A2A Formal and Virtual Focus

Groups established, autumn 2001• Participation in NANURG initiative,

December 2001

A2A: evaluation

• A2A Formal Focus Group– 15 members from user groups:

• Family history (AGRA, FFHS)• Local history (BALH, VCH)• Academics (SCONUL, BAC, BSHS)• Library and archive users (BRA, user group)• Teachers• Black and Asian Archives Working Party

– Experience with archives and internet– Chair from A2A Steering Group– 2 meetings held since 2001

A2A: evaluation

• A2A Virtual Focus Group– 12 members who communicate by

email: • PRO Friends• BL readers• New members sought!

– Experience with archives, varying experience of internet

– 2 questionnaire rounds since 2001

A2A: evaluation

• National Archives Network User Research Group (NANURG)– A2A, SCAN, Archives Hub, AIM25– 6 evaluation sessions in December 2001:

• London, Manchester, Edinburgh• Including postgraduates, library users, 6th

formers, family and local historians

– Final report issued, March 2002

• Individual feedback (email, online form)

A2A: evaluation

A2A: outcomes of evaluation

• In-house and NANURG recommendations broadly in line

• Feedback on look and feel, functionality, and information

• Site enhancement early 2002– Cleaner look and feel– Search options rearranged– Contextual information better laid out

A2A: outcomes of evaluation

• Further site enhancement planned for 2003– General– Special Interest Search (indexes)

• Why is it not being used?• Does it help academic researchers?

A2A former home page

A2A home page

A2A search page

Know what they want!

• Know who your users are• Ask them what they want (and ask

again)• Network with user groups• Keep in touch with your focus

groups• Reach out to new users

Contact

Email:sarah.stark@pro.gov.uk

Tel:020 8392 5328

www: www.a2a.pro.gov.uk (A2A site)

www.pro.gov.uk/archives/a2a (info site)