RLG FAST TRAINING TEACHES SGML MARKUP OF ARCHIVAL FINDING AIDS
From: ftp://ftp.rlg.org/pub/r-focus/22oct96/fast.txt
   RLG FAST TRAINING TEACHES SGML MARKUP OF ARCHIVAL FINDING AIDS


RLG's Finding Aids SGML Training (FAST) Project has several
objectives: providing centralized access to archival finding aids,
creating links from RLIN collection-level records for the materials
to associated finding aids, and training staff at RLG member
institutions in the application of Encoded Archival Description
(EAD), the Standard Generalized Markup Language Document Type
Definition (SGML DTD) for finding aids. FAST is closely tied to two
other RLG initiatives: Arches, the archival server and test bed, and
Eureka on the Web.

Archival finding aids generally list the contents of a collection as
well as information about the creation of the materials. Until
recently, finding aids were typically available only on paper,
although some repositories were sending finding aids to researchers
on diskettes in word-processed format, or making them available via
FTP or on World Wide Web sites as HTML documents. EAD has been
developed as a data structure standard that will enable archival
repositories to store their finding aids in a format that is platform-
and software-independent and deliver the finding aids over the Web
in a manner that allows sophisticated navigation and retrieval.

RLIN records will provide links to the encoded finding aids in the
856 field, containing the URL for the encoded finding aid. Links can
be made to finding aids on RLG's server, to finding aids on servers at
RLG member institutions, or both. With its extensive indexing and
use of controlled vocabulary, the collection-level RLIN record will
serve as a gateway to the more detailed information about the
collection provided in the finding aid, and perhaps to digital
surrogates of collection materials through links or embedded images
in the finding aid. To restrict search results to those records that
might contain links to finding aids, use the RLIN Electronic Access
index by adding "and ea y" to a current search. RLG will also offer
centralized powerful searching of the rich information in the finding
aids themselves.

To help RLG member institutions begin using EAD, RLG has scheduled
eight two-day FAST workshops to be presented at sites across the
US and in London. Four of these were held between July and
September. The curriculum was developed by Michael Fox (Minnesota
Historical Society), Kris Kiesling (RLG Visiting Associate), and staff
at the University of California at Berkeley. The workshop
emphasizes the application of EAD and includes a significant amount
of hands-on computer work. Participation is limited to RLG member
institutions; attendees are encouraged to put marked-up finding aids
on RLG's server. The schedule for the remaining workshops will be
announced on the RLGMEM-L listserv. Funding for the workshops has
been provided in part by a generous grant from The Gladys Krieble
Delmas Foundation.

Kris Kiesling, RLG Visiting Associate

INDEX: FAST (Finding Aids SGML Training) 22:4
INDEX: EAD (Encoded Archival Description) 22:4
INDEX: SGML (Standardized General Markup Language) 22:4
INDEX: Archival materials 22:4
INDEX: Finding aids 22:4