Update: Online Public Access for ACERA April 30, 2009Pamela Wright, OPA IPT

Page 2 OPA IPT Chartered in August 2008 Integrated Project Team includes staff across NARA Defining the functionality and design of ERA’s online public access interface within context of NARA’s web presence and the Internet Working with LMC

Page 3 Online Public Access IPT Work to Date Defined Principles and goal Analyzed current trends in search technology Monitoring trends with Obama Administration Engaging in dialogue with the NARA Offices OPA vision and search technologies Developing search prototype Developing written requirements

Page 4 Online Public Access Goal Statement NARA's search page will allow the general public and researchers to use both simple and more sophisticated search tools that provide access to all available relevant information to help the searcher discover:

Page 5 Online Public Access Goal Statement What records or other information NARA has on the topic The archival context of the records The source of the information about the records and its reliability How to access the records online (if available) How to get access to the records (if not available online).

Page 6 NARA’s Online Users Most are first time visitors They self-identify as: Genealogists/family historians Researchers Educators/students Veterans Federal Government employees Most are looking for family history or military records

Page 7 What Our Users Are Telling Us Best of the current NARA online systems: Free and convenient Wealth of information online “If I can’t find what I need, there is no best thing.” If you could change one thing: Make it easier to use Search everything in one place More records/documents/photos online Be clear about what is online and what is not

Page 8 Archives Research Homepage

Page 9 Search with No Results

Page 10 Brief Results Page

Page 11 Gallery Page for Brief Hits Available Online

Page 12 Support of Standard Software Formats

Page 13 Support of Standard Software Formats*  - Where possible, records viewable inline (allowing for context and description)  - Link to open record in new window for fuller viewing  - Dynamic navigation allowing for user to work within the search workspace (collapsing or expanding menus)  - Search modification within result/result set     * NOTE: Standard software formats might include those formats that are “browser-readable” or those not necessarily “browser-readable”, but may need a browser plug-in to render. The goal is to offer these files inline with their descriptive and user contributed information. These formats might include: Text files (ASCII, etc.) Adobe PDF files HTML files Microsoft Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Page 14 Electronic Record

Page 15 Individual Record Item

Page 16 Examples of Other Documents Available: Photos & Images

Page 17 Full Description

Page 18 Unprocessed Record

Page 19 Support for Multimedia

Page 20 User Contributed Content

Page 21 OPA IPT Deliverables Scheduled in three phases over FY 2009 –May 2009 – Search Functionality –Continue developing prototypes and requirements –Solicit feedback from NARA staff –Continue dialog and further develop requirements with ERA PMO/LMC –Communication plan for public feedback –July 2009 – Holdings Data Management –Legacy Systems data –September 2009 – Web 2.0 –Pilots in development for blog, Flickr, and widget

Page 22 Contact Pamela Wright, OPA IPT Chair