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Standards and exchange formats in the UK:
The Role of Encoded Archival Description (EAD) in promotion of Access to Archives in the UK
Bill Stockting: Standards and exchange formats for interoperability among archival information systems: Bologna
8 May 2008
Introduction
UK archivists started using beta version of EAD in 1997, mainly at:
The National Archives (TNA) (then the Public Record Office (PRO)
University manuscripts and archives departments
EAD implemented in online applications of individual university repositories and programmes providing federated access, such as:
Access to Archives (A2A) - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a
Introduction
Discussion will look at:
Background to success of EAD - the right tool at the right time
Illustration of EAD as a flexible tool in the archival description process:
Capturing standardised metadata Editing and storing metadata Searching and presenting metadata Exchanging metadata
Background
Development of ICT and Internet in 1990’s:
Archivists see potential of ICT tools for access to archives and development of EAD in US
UK strategic environment favourable and Government policy argues for increased access to archives as part of and electronic service delivery in public sector
Need for data format standards to achieve presentation of archival metadata online
Background
EAD - the right tool at the right time:
Based on open standards: Initially SGML but early compatibility with XML and developing technologies
Not tied to commercial software and freely available
Commitment to development and maintenance by international EAD Working Group
Great flexibility
Capturing Standardised Metadata
EAD a structure standard designed to work with description standards such as
MARC ISAD(G), especially in current version - EAD 2002
EAD tags allow representation of: finding aids conforming to rules of multi-level
description all ISAD(G) data elements
Capturing Standardised Metadata
EAD used to create new finding aids:
Text files easy to create
Use of common SGML/XML authoring tools that allow validation against EAD DTD
Templates developed to lessen routine tagging - e.g. Archives Hub online template - http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/template/new/eadform2.html
Capturing Standardised Metadata
EAD used in process of retro-conversion of legacy finding aids:
TNA conversion from distributed finding aids system to integrated standardised multi-level catalogue
A2A Programme - conversion of paper and non-standardised electronic finding aids using EAD template
Conversion services such as RLG/APEX
Editing and Storing Metadata
Despite advantages of relational databases for the storage and editing of descriptive metadata EAD also used:
Smaller repositories - e.g. Modern Records Centre, at the University of Warwick
Federated services such as Archives Hub and A2A Programme
Searching and Presenting Metadata
EAD used to present finding aids online:
Single finding aids by transformation of EAD as XML to HTML via XSL
Federated services show many strategies:
Archives Hub: Cheshire Search engine XML, Z39.50 and GRS1
NAHSTE: perl, XML::Twig and cgi
A2A: XML, HTTP and XSL
