Overview: Archives Management
Library Technology Services supports two systems in the area of archival data management and access: OASIS and Archivists' Toolkit. This site describes how to access and use these systems. Information on local repository encoding practices for finding aids is available from the Manuscript and Archives Tools Affinity Group isite (HUID/PIN required).
Tab 1, OASIS
About Archivists' Toolkit (AT)
AT's relationship to OASIS
How to participate
About Archivists' Toolkit (AT)
The Archivists' Toolkit (AT) is an open source archival data management system implemented at Harvard in late 2009. The AT provides archivists and curators with a centrally-supported and shared tool for the management and description of archival and manuscript holdings. AT supports the collection workflow (appraisal, accession, processing and deaccession), description (including digital objects within the collection), and the generation of various outputs (EAD finding aids, MARCXML, METS, MODS, Dublin Core, administrative reports). More information about the AT project is available on the archiviststoolkit.org web site.
AT's relationship to OASIS
Archivists' Toolkit can replace desktop XML authoring tools as the source of EAD finding aids that are contributed to the OASIS catalog. If Archivists' Toolkit is used to describe a collection, it can be used to generate an EAD finding aid. Finding aids generated by AT can then be previewed and uploaded using OASIS utilities.
New OASIS contributors are encouraged to use AT to create finding aids, although using desktop authoring tools is still an option. Repositories that elect not to use AT usually do so because they already have a local collection management process, or because AT lacks some functionality that they need. New OASIS contributors needing advice about AT participation can consult with other participating repositories. See the Liaisons List for participating repositories.
How to participate
Repositories interested in using the Archivists' Toolkit should review How to participate instructions on this site. Consult the liaisons list to identify repositories that currently use AT.