Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Conference of Intermountain Archivists
Location
Logan, UT
Publication Date
5-10-2023
Abstract
USU Libraries investigated discoverability of local Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids using different levels of description. The research team created two dueling finding aids of the same collection; one with an MPLP stripped down box level inventory, and the other with a more robust item level of description. Both finding aids were posted online simultaneously and left untouched for over a year. The data was then pulled and assessed for each collection with the more 'glowed up' item level finding aid being, on average, 61x more discoverable than the finding aids described at the file level. Presenters will discuss the methodology of the project, what tools were used to conduct the research and analyze results, how these results have informed internal metadata practices, and next steps to expand this research by 'retouching' other existing legacy finding aids.
Recommended Citation
Daybell, P., Woolcott, L., Rovegno, K., Payant, A., Skeen, B., & Housley, H. (2023). It's Time for an EAD Glow Up! How to Make Finding Aids More Attractive to Users. Conference of Intermountain Archivists. Logan, UT. May 10-12.