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Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA) Jodi Allison-Bunnell NWDA Program Manager. What is NWDA?. Regional consortium: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska Provides enhanced access to archival and manuscript materials
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Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA) Jodi Allison-Bunnell NWDA Program Manager
What is NWDA? • Regional consortium: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska • Provides enhanced access to archival and manuscript materials • Union database of Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids and associated digital content. • Brings together academic (public and private), state, historical societies, and municipal archives.
Some Research TopicsFrom NWDA Finding Aids • Arts & Humanities • Business, Industry & Labor • City & Town Life • Colleges & Universities • Environment & Natural Resources • Ethnic and Religious Groups • Government & Politics • Home & Family • Native Americans • Pioneers • Sexuality • …and more!
Making a Difference for Researchers • Why archives and special collections matter • Broad research audience • Unique collections • MARC records vs. finding aids • MARC records: format integration • Finding aids: MARC record plus
What NWDA Makes Possible • Members can do accomplish what they can’t do alone • Technical • Training • Administrative • Electronic search increases details available • Collection exposure • Cross-search • Google exposure
Phase II grant, 2005-2007 • Funded by: • National Endowment for the Humanities (OSU) • National Historical Publications and Records Commission (Whitworth College) • 19 institutions
Grant Activities • Membership growth • Training program developed • Growth of database • Sustainability • Usability testing • Website/search interface/technical • Dissemination
Growth of Database • July 2005: 2535 finding aids • July 2007: 4528 finding aids • Goal for Phase II: 4279 finding aids
Sustainability • Long-term planning with Advisory Board • Becoming a program of the Alliance • Membership fees • Strong communications with other regionals, RLG/OCLC • Future of online finding aids • Data harvest/exchange • Interchange of finding aids, digital content
Usability Testing • Three rounds of testing • Start with Nielsen’s principles • Section 508 on accessibility • Script preparation, in-person, full transcripts
Usability Testing Results • Real feedback from two major research populations • Helping site become more user-focused • Major positive impact
Website/Search Interface/Technical • Making site more user-focused • Improving search capabilities • Responding to UT feedback • Google exposure • Stylesheet presentation • Digital content
Directions for FY08 • Establish Committee, Steering Team • New cost distribution model for FY09+ • Investigate new tools • Digital future • Continue state, regional, national conversations