Update: Online Public Access for ACERA

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Update Online Public Access for ACERA
April 30, 2009
Pamela Wright, OPA IPT
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OPA IPT

• Chartered in August 2008
• Integrated Project Team includes staff across
  NARA
• Defining the functionality and design of ERAs
  online public access interface within context of
  NARAs web presence and the Internet
• Working with LMC

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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

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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

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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).

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NARAs 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

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What Our Users Are Telling Us

• Best of the current NARA online systems
• Free and convenient
• Wealth of information online
• If I cant 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

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Archives Research Homepage
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Search with No Results
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Brief Results Page
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Gallery Page for Brief Hits Available Online
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Support of Standard Software Formats
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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
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Electronic Record
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Individual Record Item
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Examples of Other Documents Available Photos
Images
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Full Description
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Unprocessed Record
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Support for Multimedia
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User Contributed Content
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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

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Contact

• Pamela Wright, OPA IPT Chair
• 301-837-2029
• Pamela.wright_at_nara.gov