Update: Online Public Access for ACERA

Update: Online Public Access for

ACERA

April 30, 2009 Pamela Wright, OPA IPT

OPA IPT

• Chartered in August 2008

• Integrated Project Team includes staff across NARA

• Defining the functionality and design of ERA’s online public access interface within context of NARA’s web presence and the Internet

• Working with LMC

Online Public Access IPT Work to Date

• Defined Principles and goal• Analyzed current trends in search technology• Monitoring trends with Obama Administration• Engaging in dialogue with the NARA Offices

OPA vision and search technologies• Developing search prototype • Developing written requirements

Online Public Access Goal Statement

NARA's search page will allow the general public and researchers to use both simple and more sophisticated search tools that provide access to all available relevant information to help the searcher discover:

Online Public Access Goal Statement

• What records or other information NARA has on the topic

• The archival context of the records• The source of the information about the

records and its reliability• How to access the records online (if

available)• How to get access to the records (if not

available online).

NARA’s Online Users

• Most are first time visitors

• They self-identify as: • Genealogists/family historians• Researchers• Educators/students• Veterans• Federal Government employees

• Most are looking for family history or military records

What Our Users Are Telling Us

• Best of the current NARA online systems:• Free and convenient• Wealth of information online• “If I can’t find what I need, there is no best thing.”

• If you could change one thing:• Make it easier to use• Search everything in one place• More records/documents/photos online• Be clear about what is online and what is not

Archives Research Homepage

Search with No Results

Brief Results Page

Gallery Page for Brief Hits Available Online

Support of Standard Software Formats

Support of Standard Software Formats*

- Where possible, records viewable inline (allowing for context and description) - Link to open record in new window for fuller viewing - Dynamic navigation allowing for user to work within the search workspace (collapsing or expanding menus) - Search modification within result/result set

* NOTE: Standard software formats might include those formats that are “browser-readable” or those not necessarily “browser-readable”, but may need a browser plug-in to render. The goal is to offer these files inline with their descriptive and user contributed information. These formats might include:

• Text files (ASCII, etc.)• Adobe PDF files

• HTML files• Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel,

PowerPoint, etc.)

Electronic Record

Individual Record Item

Examples of Other Documents Available: Photos & Images

Full Description

Unprocessed Record

Support for Multimedia

User Contributed Content

OPA IPT Deliverables

Scheduled in three phases over FY 2009– May 2009 – Search Functionality

– Continue developing prototypes and requirements– Solicit feedback from NARA staff– Continue dialog and further develop requirements with

ERA PMO/LMC– Communication plan for public feedback

– July 2009 – Holdings Data Management– Legacy Systems data

– September 2009 – Web 2.0– Pilots in development for blog, Flickr, and widget

Contact

• Pamela Wright, OPA IPT Chair

• 301-837-2029

• [email protected]

Update: Online Public Access for ACERA

Documents

Transcript of Update: Online Public Access for ACERA