CAPÍTULO III: ESTADO DEL ARTE
3.2 Sistemas de mantenimiento Vial
This study surveyed the current landscape of online finding aids’ usability. Despite repeated user feedback from usability studies, this study found that archival terminology still commonly appears in finding aids, but explanations for the terminology are rare. Most institutions implemented standard navigation elements to their finding aids, but the adoption of recommended navigation elements, such as persistent local navigation and you-are-here indicators, was low. A local search box or browser built-in search indication appeared on less than half of finding aids and the adoption of help and Web 2.0 features was low. All institutions formatted finding aid section headings, but stronger formatting could improve finding aid scanability. The study also found that the visual indications for a hierarchical collection structure appear in more than half of the finding aids, but indications for accessing online materials or requesting collection materials were rare.
As with most content analysis studies, there are limitations. First, I sampled online finding aids in this study from U.S. higher education archival institutions. The findings, therefore, may not reflect other types of archival institutions (i.e., government and corporate archives) or archival institutions in other countries. Within an archival institution, moreover, collections are processed to different levels of granularity. Because I selected one finding aid from each archival institution, it is possible that some of the selected finding aids came from archival collections with a minimal description. These incidents may have led some checklist items to be underreported. For example, the ArchivesSpace framework provides the Show More/Less feature for a finding aid section
body (Item 22). If the body had a short description, however, the system would not show the feature, and the study would have counted it as “Absent (0).”
Lastly, the unit of analysis was an online finding aid webpage, which is a component of a larger archival institution website. Examinations of other website components are needed to get a holistic view of user experience. Furthermore, broader issues, such as website architecture, global (i.e., across-collection) search and browse feature, and online material delivery interface, need further investigation.
While this study does have limitations, findings show online finding aids still need improvements. Along with this study, recent archival studies have provided
consolidated usability recommendations. Walton (2017) included ten usability guidelines for online finding aids. Chapman (2010a), moreover, published an article that explains “tech-lite” and “tech-heavy” solutions for improving online finding aid usability. Furthermore, the web usability literature also provides ample amount of
recommendations, which online finding aids can use. Using these resources, archival institutions should consider updating their writing guideline to suit online finding aids better for the web.
Unlike paper finding aids, online finding aids are webpages, and if web users experience a usability issue on a webpage, they leave (Nielsen, 2012). When considering the web is now the primary platform to provide access to archival materials, improving the usability of online finding aids is worthy of archivists’ attention. As the web evolves, user’s expectations on web usability also shift. Improving online finding aid usability, therefore, is not an annual activity, but a constant commitment. Further usability testing and studies focusing on answering who uses archival description, how, and why are
required. Such research will allow archivists to better understand the needs of online users and draw a blueprint for an archival access system tailored to web users.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Altman, B., & Nemmers, J. (2001). The usability of on-line archival resources: The Polaris Project finding aid. The American Archivist, 64(1), 121–131.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.64.1.80300272655rqu74
Chapman, J. C. (2010a). DOs and DON’Ts: A primer for user-friendly finding aid design. Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists, 8(1), 2–28.
Chapman, J. C. (2010b). Observing users: An empirical analysis of user interaction with online finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 8(1), 4–30.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15332748.2010.484361
Coats, L. R. (2004). Users of EAD finding aids: Who are they and are they satisfied? Journal of Archival Organization, 2(3), 25–39.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n03_03
Cox, R. J. (2008). Revisiting the archival finding aid. Journal of Archival Organization, 5(4), 5–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332740802153245
Daines, J. G., & Nimer, C. L. (2011). Re-imagining archival display: Creating user- friendly finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 9(1), 4–31.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15332748.2011.574019
Daniels, M., & Yakel, E. (2010). Seek and you may find: Successful search in online finding aid systems. The American Archivist, 73(2), 535–568.
Ding, W., Lin, X., & Zarro, M. (2017). Information Architecture: The design and integration of information spaces / Wei Ding, Xia Lin, Michael Zarro. (Second Edition). San Rafael, CA: Morgan & Claypool Publishers.
Duff, W. M., & Stoyanova, P. (1998). Transforming the crazy quilt: Archival displays from a user’s point of view. Archivaria, 45(Spring), 44–79.
Farrell, S. (2015, October 25). Navigation: You are here. Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/navigation-you-are-here/
Freund, L., & Toms, E. G. (2016). Interacting with archival finding aids. Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, 67(4), 994–1008.
Gilliland-Swetland, A. J. (1998). Evaluation design for large-scale, collaborative online archives: Interim report of the Online Archive of California evaluation project. Archives and Museum Informatics, 12(3), 177–203.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009067622617
Hostetter, C. J. (2004). Online finding aids: Are they practical? Journal of Archival Organization, 2(1–2), 117–145. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n01_09
Jackson, T. M. (2012). I want to see it: A usability study of digital content integrated into finding aids. Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists, 9(2), 20–77. Kim, J. (2004). EAD encoding and display: A content analysis. Journal of Archival
Organization, 2(3), 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n03_04 Krause, M., & Yakel, E. (2007). Interaction in virtual archives: The Polar Bear
Expedition Digital Collections next generation finding aid. The American Archivist, 70(2), 282–314. https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.70.2.lpq61247881t10kv
Krug, S. (2014). Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability (3rd ed.). New Riders.
Lack, R. (2007). The importance of user-centered design: Exploring findings and methods. Journal of Archival Organization, 4(1–2), 69–86.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v04n01_05
Loranger, H. (2017, October 8). Plain language is for everyone, even experts. Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language- experts/
Meissner, D. (1997). First things first: Reengineering finding aids for implementation of EAD. The American Archivist, 60(4), 372–387.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.60.4.6405275227647220
Nielsen, J. (1997, October 1). How users read on the web. Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/
Nielsen, J. (2012, January 4). Usability 101: Introduction to usability. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-101- introduction-to-usability/
Nielsen, J. (2016, April 17). F-shaped pattern for reading web content. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern- reading-web-content-discovered/
Nielsen, J., & Loranger, H. (2006). Prioritizing Web Usability. Berkeley, CA: New Riders.
Nimer, C., & Daines, J. G. (2008). What do you mean it doesn’t make sense? Redesigning finding aids from the user’s perspective. Journal of Archival Organization, 6(4), 216–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332740802533214
Pearce-Moses, R. (2005). A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago, IL: The Society of American Archivists.
Pernice, K. (2017, November 12). F-shaped pattern of reading on the web: Misunderstood, but still relevant (even on mobile). Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content/ Prom, C. (2002). The EAD Cookbook: A survey and usability study. The American
Archivist, 65(2), 257–275. https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.65.2.b3783jr052731588 Prom, C. (2004). User interactions with electronic finding aids in a controlled setting. The
American Archivist, 67(2), 234–268.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.67.2.7317671548328620
Schade, A. (2018, February 11). Inverted pyramid: Writing for comprehension. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/inverted-pyramid/ Schaffner, J. (2009). The metadata is the interface: Better description for better discovery
of archives and special collections, synthesized from user studies. Dublin, Ohio: OCLC Research. Retrieved from
http://www.oclc.org/programs/publications/reports/2009-06.pdf
Scheir, W. (2006). First entry: Report on a qualitative exploratory study of novice user experience with online finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 3(4), 49– 85. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v03n04_04
Walton, R. (2017). Looking for answers: A usability study of online finding aid
navigation. The American Archivist, 80(1), 30–52. https://doi.org/10.17723/0360- 9081.80.1.30
Yakel, E. (2004). Encoded Archival Description: Are finding aids boundary spanners or barriers for users? Journal of Archival Organization, 2(1–2), 63–77.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n01_06
Yakel, E., & Torres, D. (2003). AI: Archival intelligence and user expertise. The American Archivist, 66(1), 51–78.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.66.1.q022h85pn51n5800
Zhou, X. (2007). Examining search functions of EAD finding aids web sites. Journal of Archival Organization, 4(3–4), 99–118. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v04n03_06
APPENDICES
Appendix A List of Archival and Web Usability Publications
Altman, B., & Nemmers, J. (2001). The usability of on-line archival resources: The
Polaris Project finding aid. The American Archivist, 64(1), 121–131.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.64.1.80300272655rqu74
Chapman, J. C. (2010a). DOs and DON’Ts: A primer for user-friendly finding aid design.
Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists, 8(1), 2–28.
Chapman, J. C. (2010b). Observing users: An empirical analysis of user interaction with
online finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 8(1), 4–30.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15332748.2010.484361
Daines, J. G., & Nimer, C. L. (2011). Re-imagining archival display: Creating user-
friendly finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 9(1), 4–31.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15332748.2011.574019
Daniels, M., & Yakel, E. (2010). Seek and you may find: Successful search in online
finding aid systems. The American Archivist, 73(2), 535–568.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.73.2.p578900680650357
Ding, W., Lin, X., & Zarro, M. (2017). Information Architecture: The design and
integration of information spaces / Wei Ding, Xia Lin, Michael Zarro. (Second
Edition). San Rafael, CA: Morgan & Claypool Publishers.
Duff, W. M., & Stoyanova, P. (1998). Transforming the crazy quilt: Archival displays
from a user’s point of view. Archivaria, 45(Spring), 44–79.
Farrell, S. (2015, October 25). Navigation: You are here. Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/navigation-you-are-here/
Gilliland-Swetland, A. J. (1998). Evaluation design for large-scale, collaborative online archives: Interim report of the Online Archive of California evaluation project.
Archives and Museum Informatics, 12(3), 177–203.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009067622617
Jackson, T. M. (2012). I want to see it: A usability study of digital content integrated into
finding aids. Journal for the Society of North Carolina Archivists, 9(2), 20–77.
Kim, J. (2004). EAD encoding and display: A content analysis. Journal of Archival
Organization, 2(3), 41–55. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n03_04
Krause, M., & Yakel, E. (2007). Interaction in virtual archives: The Polar Bear
Expedition Digital Collections next generation finding aid. The American
Archivist, 70(2), 282–314. https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.70.2.lpq61247881t10kv
Krug, S. (2014). Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web
Usability (3rd ed.). New Riders.
Lack, R. (2007). The importance of user-centered design: Exploring findings and
methods. Journal of Archival Organization, 4(1–2), 69–86.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v04n01_05
Loranger, H. (2017, October 8). Plain language is for everyone, even experts. Retrieved November 25, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/plain-language- experts/
Nielsen, J. (1997, October 1). How users read on the web. Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/
Nielsen, J. (2012, January 4). Usability 101: Introduction to usability. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/usability-101- introduction-to-usability/
Nielsen, J. (2016, April 17). F-shaped pattern for reading web content. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern- reading-web-content-discovered/
Nielsen, J., & Loranger, H. (2006). Prioritizing Web Usability. Berkeley, CA: New
Riders.
Nimer, C., & Daines, J. G. (2008). What do you mean it doesn’t make sense?
Redesigning finding aids from the user’s perspective. Journal of Archival
Organization, 6(4), 216–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332740802533214
Pernice, K. (2017, November 12). F-shaped pattern of reading on the web: Misunderstood, but still relevant (even on mobile). Retrieved from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/f-shaped-pattern-reading-web-content/
Prom, C. (2002). The EAD Cookbook: A survey and usability study. The American
Archivist, 65(2), 257–275. https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.65.2.b3783jr052731588
Prom, C. (2004). User interactions with electronic finding aids in a controlled setting. The
American Archivist, 67(2), 234–268.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.67.2.7317671548328620
Schade, A. (2018, February 11). Inverted pyramid: Writing for comprehension. Retrieved November 24, 2017, from https://www.nngroup.com/articles/inverted-pyramid/
Schaffner, J. (2009). The metadata is the interface: Better description for better discovery
of archives and special collections, synthesized from user studies. Dublin, Ohio:
OCLC Research. Retrieved from
http://www.oclc.org/programs/publications/reports/2009-06.pdf
Scheir, W. (2006). First entry: Report on a qualitative exploratory study of novice user
experience with online finding aids. Journal of Archival Organization, 3(4), 49–
85. https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v03n04_04
Walton, R. (2017). Looking for answers: A usability study of online finding aid
navigation. The American Archivist, 80(1), 30–52. https://doi.org/10.17723/0360-
9081.80.1.30
Yakel, E. (2004). Encoded Archival Description: Are finding aids boundary spanners or
barriers for users? Journal of Archival Organization, 2(1–2), 63–77.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J201v02n01_06
Yakel, E., & Torres, D. (2003). AI: Archival intelligence and user expertise. The
American Archivist, 66(1), 51–78.
https://doi.org/10.17723/aarc.66.1.q022h85pn51n5800
Zhou, X. (2007). Examining search functions of EAD finding aids web sites. Journal of
Appendix B List of Checklist Items
Item Note Present Absent N/A
Terminology and Labels
1 Occurrence of the term “Finding Aid” 197 67 0
2-1 Occurrence of the term “Creator” in labels 155 109 0 2-2 Occurrence of the term “Extent” in labels 165 99 0 2-3 Occurrence of the term “Container” in labels 81 183 0 2-4 Occurrence of the term “Series” in labels 143 121 0
3 Explanation of finding aid function 3 261 0
4 Explanation of finding aid labels 2 262 0
5 Hover caption feature for explanations 2 262 0
Navigation
6 Site ID (Institution name or logo) 227 37 0
7 Section navigation (Top navigation) 219 45 0
8 Page name (Collection name) 264 0 0
9 Breadcrumb feature 159 105 0
10 Local navigation used for finding aid 179 85 0
10-1 Persistent local navigation 91 88 85
10-2 You-are-here indicator for local navigation 50 129 85
11 Back-to-top feature 66 198 0
12 Footer navigation (Bottom navigation) 192 72 0
Search
13 Local search box
or browser built-in search indication 120 144 0
Help Feature
14 Link to a help or frequently asked questions (FAQ) page 33 231 0
Web 2.0 Feature
15 User comment feature 2 262 0
16 User tagging feature 0 264 0
Straightforward and Visual Design
17 Section headings 263 1 0
18 Section heading formatting 263 0 1
19 One or more whitespace lines between sections 264 0 0
20 Collapsible sections 56 208 0
21 Summarizing bullets in section body 0 264 0
22 Show More/Less feature in section body 22 242 0
23 Collection-specific visual content 22 242 0
24 Visual indication of a hierarchical collection structure in the local navigation or the collection inventory 161 74 29 25 Visual indication for online materials in a collection 13 251 0 26 Visual indication for requesting collection materials 61 203 0
Appendix C List of Online Finding Aids
1. Alabama, Auburn University:
http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archiv e/find-aid/448.htm
2. Alabama, Samford University: https://library.samford.edu/archo n/index.php?p=collections/findin gaid&id=4&q=
3. Alabama, University of Alabama, Birmingham:
http://library.uab.edu/locations/ar chives/collections/manuscripts/n umerical/collection-mc46 4. Alabama, Troy University:
https://www.troy.edu/wiregrassar chives/inventories/117.html 5. Alaska, University of Alaska,
Anchorage:
https://archives.consortiumlibrary .org/collections/specialcollection s/hmc-0376/
6. Alaska, University of Alaska, Fairbanks:
http://star.library.uaf.edu/ 7. Arizona, Arizona Archives Online:
http://azarchivesonline.org/xtf/vi ew?docId=ead/uoa/UAMS594.x ml
8. Arkansas, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville:
https://libraries.uark.edu/specialc ollections/findingaids/ead/transfo rm.asp?xml=mc1806&xsl=findin gaid
9. Arkansas, University of Arkansas, Little Rock; Center for Arkansas History and Culture:
http://arstudies.contentdm.oclc.or g/utils/findingaidfull/collection/fi ndingaids/id/4554
10. Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas:
http://uca.edu/archives/m89-33- milford-pete-atkinson-collection/ 11. California, Online Archives of
California:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ ark:/13030/c8125zg8
12. California, Saint Mary's College: http://stmarys.libraryhost.com/in dex.php?p=collections/findingaid &id=291
13. Colorado, Colorado State University: https://lib2.colostate.edu/archives /findingaids/university/urbb.html 14. Colorado, Colorado State University,
Pueblo:
https://archon.csupueblo.edu/?p= collections/findingaid&id=39 15. Colorado, Regis University Library:
http://libguides.regis.edu/varnell 16. Colorado, University of Colorado,
Boulder:
http://archives.colorado.edu/repo sitories/2/resources/390
17. Colorado, University of Denver: https://duarchives.coalliance.org/ repositories/2/resources/167 18. Colorado, University of Northern
Colorado:
https://uncoarchives.coalliance.or g/repositories/2/resources/280 19. Colorado, Colorado College:
https://libraryweb.coloradocolleg e.edu/library/specialcollections/ Manuscript/Beidleman.html 20. Colorado, Fort Lewis College;
Center of Southwest Studies: https://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/fin ding_aids/Andrew_Gulliford.htm
21. Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University: https://library.ccsu.edu/help/spco ll/equity/cardarelli.php 22. Connecticut, University of Connecticut: http://archives.lib.uconn.edu/isla ndora/object/20002:860123188 23. Connecticut, University of Hartford:
http://archives.hartford.edu:8081/ repositories/2/resources/67 24. Connecticut, Wesleyan University:
http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/sch ome/FAs/be2009-32.xml
25. Connecticut, Western Connecticut State University:
http://archives.library.wcsu.edu/fi ndingaids/geddes.xml
26. Connecticut, Yale University: http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/ms sa.ms.0809
27. Connecticut, Connecticut College: http://collections.conncoll.edu/ca rson/learcars.html
28. Delaware, University of Delaware: https://library.udel.edu/special/fi ndaids/view?docId=ead/mss0127 .xml
29. District of Columbia, American University:
https://www.american.edu/library /archives/finding_aids/bliss_fa.cf m
30. District of Columbia, Catholic University of America:
http://archives.lib.cua.edu/finding aid/kane.cfm
31. District of Columbia, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Trustees for Harvard University:
http://atom.doaks.org/atom/index .php/thomas-whittemore-papers- ca-1875-1966
32. District of Columbia, Gallaudet University:
http://www.gallaudet.edu/archive s-and-deaf-
collections/collections/manuscrip ts/mss-005
33. District of Columbia, George Washington University:
https://library.gwu.edu/ead/ms07 66.xml
34. District of Columbia, Georgetown University:
https://findingaids.library.georget own.edu/repositories/15/resource s/10196
35. Florida, Ave Maria University: https://avemariauniversity.conten tdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p1 7148coll3
36. Florida, Barry University:
http://eguides.barry.edu/c.php?g= 287071&p=1912060
37. Florida, Florida Atlantic University: http://fauarchon.fcla.edu/index.p hp?p=collections/findingaid&id= 880&q=
38. Florida, Florida International University:
http://fiuarchon.fcla.edu/index.ph p?p=collections/findingaid&id=3 7
39. Florida, Florida State University: http://fsuarchon.fcla.edu/index.ph p?p=collections/findingaid&id=2 44
40. Florida, University of Central Florida:
http://ucfarchon.fcla.edu/index.p hp?p=collections/findingaid&id= 122
41. Florida, University of Florida: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pky onge/jenningswilliams.htm 42. Florida, University of Miami:
http://proust.library.miami.edu/fi ndingaids/index.php?p=collectio ns/findingaid&id=446
43. Florida, University of North Florida: https://www.unf.edu/library/speci alcollections/manuscripts/collecti ons/William_M__Jones.aspx 44. Florida, University of South Florida:
http://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0032 062/00001
45. Florida, University of West Florida Libraries:
http://librarydigitalservices.uwf.e du/Archon/index.php?p=collectio ns/findingaid&id=88
46. Florida, New College of Florida: http://ncfarchon.fcla.edu/index.p hp?p=collections/findingaid&id= 9
47. Florida, Rollins College:
https://aspace.rollins.edu/reposito ries/2/resources/97
48. Georgia, Atlanta University Center: http://findingaid.auctr.edu/arc/vie w?docId=ead/auctr.edu/lemoine_ deleaver_pierce.xml
49. Georgia, Columbus State University: https://archives.columbusstate.ed u/findingaids/mc293.php
50. Georgia, Emory University:
https://findingaids.library.emory. edu/documents/muldoon784
51. Georgia, Georgia State University: http://digitalcollections.library.gs