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Re: EADs...was the name of a famous Civil Engineer too



Regarding access tools, I think archivists should feel they have the freedom to employ any technology, whether it be databases, finding aids in SGML/XML, electronic document management systems, etc., that makes sense within the context of their parent organization's technological strategies/long-term plans, given their financial and staffing resources, and based on the needs of their patrons.  MARC and EAD, though, do provide some metadata standards that would be useful no matter what technological approach you take.

For those who think EAD is the only way, you may not be aware that some archives have not been creating traditional finding aids for years. Moving to EAD for these archives just doesn't make sense.  The same may be true for archives who have finding aids and have the funds to convert their finding aids to SGML, but have no additional moneys to build a proper search engine (one that can employ tagged elements to conduct structured searches) or additional moneys to purchase an object database (if needed).  I think archivists must to determine for themselves what "access and collection management tool" is going to give them the most bang for buck.  This requires real study, though, not just picking something because it's all the rage!

Just my two cents,

Heather Willever-Farr
Electronic Records Archivist
American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine
Philadelphia, PA
hwillever-farr@mail.acponline.org
215-351-2470

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