EmoryFindingAidsA Magical, Mystical Tour

Project team

Project manager: Susan Potts McDonald

Strategist: Stacey Martin

Lead Programmer: Rebecca Koeser-Sutton

Other contributors:Steve Collins, Pete Hornsby, Ben Ranker, Alex Thomas,

Scott TurnbullLaura Carroll, Liz Chase, Elizabeth Russey Roke

What is a finding aid?

A document containing detailed information about a specific collection of papers or records

Used by researchers to determine whether information within a collection is relevant to their research

Content may differ depending on the type of material it is describing

Usually compiled by an archivist during processing

What is EAD?

EAD is a non-proprietary data structure standard for encoding finding aids for use in an online environment.

XML [extensible-markup language]-compliant.

Developed by the archival community; jointly administered and maintained by the Society of American Archivists and the Library of Congress.

Version 1.0 was released in 1998

<did> <origination> <persname source="lcnaf" encodinganalog="100">Avant, Mamie Wade.</persname> </origination> <unittitle encodinganalog="245$a">Mamie Wade Avant papers, <unitdate type="inclusive" encodinganalog="245$f" normal="1930/1982">1930-1982</unitdate></unittitle> <unitid countrycode="US" repositorycode="geu-s" identifier="887">Manuscript Collection No. 887</unitid> <physdesc encodinganalog="300"><extent>1.75 linear ft.</extent><extent>(3 boxes)</extent> and <extent>2 oversized papers (OP)</extent></physdesc> <abstract>Papers of African American fortune teller Mamie Wade Avant relating to fortune-telling and her involvement with Masonic organizations.</abstract> <langmaterial encodinganalog="546">Materials entirely in <language langcode="eng">English</language>.</langmaterial> <repository encodinganalog="852">Emory University<subarea>Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library</subarea></repository> </did>

Background

Goals of the Project

Improve user interface – speed and functionality

Permanent links

From MARBL to Emory-wide resources for archives and manuscript collections

MARBL finding aids > EmoryFindingAidsmarbl.library.edu/findingaids >

findingaids.library.emory.edu

Consistency in design, navigation, function and message is the key to this. Departments and school sites should reflect individual flavor and character within guidelines that users will recognize as "Emory.”

http://communications.emory.edu/web_guide/index.html

Your site may be Emory's only chance to make a lasting impression on many visitors. It's important that all our sites look and feel like they belong to the same institution.

A *light* analysis…EmoryFindingAids

Highest percent of traffic (54%) from Search Engines

google #1 keyword: Elijah mixon georgia

Top Referring sites MARBLEUL (georgia

encyclopedia)

MARBL

Highest percent of traffic (52%) from Referring sites

Top Referring Sites EUL Emory.edu FindingAids (wikipedia, guides,

civil rights digital library)

Apr 25 – May 25, 2011

http://findingaids.library.emory.edu/