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Northwest Digital Archives: Connecting Researchers with Regional History

NWDA is a regional consortium providing enhanced access to archival materials in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The union database offers finding aids in various topics like arts, business, environment, ethnicity, and more. NWDA facilitates research by offering unique collections and cross-search capabilities.

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Northwest Digital Archives: Connecting Researchers with Regional History

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  1. Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA) Jodi Allison-Bunnell NWDA Program Manager

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Phase II grant, 2005-2007 • Funded by: • National Endowment for the Humanities (OSU) • National Historical Publications and Records Commission (Whitworth College) • 19 institutions

  7. Grant Activities • Membership growth • Training program developed • Growth of database • Sustainability • Usability testing • Website/search interface/technical • Dissemination

  8. Growth of Database • July 2005: 2535 finding aids • July 2007: 4528 finding aids • Goal for Phase II: 4279 finding aids

  9. 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

  10. Usability Testing • Three rounds of testing • Start with Nielsen’s principles • Section 508 on accessibility • Script preparation, in-person, full transcripts

  11. Usability Testing Results • Real feedback from two major research populations • Helping site become more user-focused • Major positive impact

  12. Website/Search Interface/Technical • Making site more user-focused • Improving search capabilities • Responding to UT feedback • Google exposure • Stylesheet presentation • Digital content

  13. Directions for FY08 • Establish Committee, Steering Team • New cost distribution model for FY09+ • Investigate new tools • Digital future • Continue state, regional, national conversations

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