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So, what might the prospects be for OAI (Open Archives Initiative) providing a lower cost, less complex, more accessible, more universal alternative? How much is the extra functionality used? Wayne Miller Plattsburgh State U of NY ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Shaw" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 2:15 PM Subject: Re: Intended scope of the EAD (2nd try at sending) > Hi, > > EAD is used for the encoding of archival finding aids -descriptive guides > to collections of materials -not general purpose web pages. > > One can imagine that finding aids for collections of digital objects might > be encoded in EAD but the objects themselves might be images, word files, > pdf or what ever. > > Perhaps the reason your last posting didn't receive an answer is your > final paragraph. EAD is *not* a general purpose encoding scheme like HTML > or XHTML but is a document type designed to encode very specific types of > information. EAD is really only of interest to those who work > with archival collections or other cultural heritage materials. > EAD encodes the metadata about a collection (ie information about a > collection) not the collection itself. It seems unlikely that anyone but > those who are developing web sites for archives or cultrural institutions > would adopt EAD. > > Descriptions of collections that are encoded in EAD are generally > prioritized by an individual archive based on factors such as the > importance of the collection to the institution, the level of existing > descriptive metadata about the collection, the likelihood that the > collection would be of broad general interest. Each institution has chosen > its own way. > > While it is true that large institutions are disproportionately > represented in the ranks of those who have adopted EAD this may reflect a > variety of things - the relative immaturity of XML tools, the steep > learning curve to implement, the resources available in an institution, > the usefulness of making one's finding aids available beyond the > institution's doors. > > Many EAD encoded finding aids are migrated from pre-existing paper based > finding aids. The are enhanced with the EAD encoding in order to provide > additional structure so the XML transformation and search/retrieval tools > can be utilised to access precise information within an individual or > collection of finding aids. > > > Hope that points you in the right direction. > > Liz Shaw > Visiting Lecturer > Room 626 IS Building > Department of Library and Information Sciences > School of Information Science > University of Pittsburgh > Pittsburgh, PA 15260 > Phone: (412)624-9455 > Fax: (412)648-7001 > > > On Tue, 23 Apr 2002, L.H. Grant wrote: > > > I am new to the list so please forgive me if this topic has already been > > discussed. Essentially, I would like to know how people knowledgeable in > > this area view the practical scope or influence of the EAD particularly as > > it relates to Web pages and other digital material such as PDF, WORD and > > other similar types of files. > > > > Do many of you view the EAD as having limited reach and application ? For > > instance, given the nature of the EAD, do most see it as a tool for use by > > government and academic institutions? I perused some of the listserv's > > archive and surmised from what I read that most institutions that have > > adapted the EAD were those with substantial resources and the ability to > > designate and train one or more in the use of the EAD. Does this make the > > use of the EAD impractical with smaller institutions, groups or individuals? > > > > Also, given the effort required to use the EAD, I wonder what guidelines are > > used in selecting the digital material for EAD inclusion. Is it only what > > is considered the most important documents? > > > > Finally, there are over 2 million Web pages added every day and many > > thousands of pdf and word files as well. Is it practical to even consider > > using the EAD for a fraction of this amount? Other than a few select > > institutions, have webmasters incorporated the EAD into their sites on any > > appreciable level? > > > > Thank you, > > Lee > > > > Research and Development > > IconFind, Inc. > > 4849 El Cemonte Ave., #169 > > Davis, CA 95616 USA > > tel: (530) 756-6477 > > http://www.iconfind.com > > >