ArchivesUM Turns 600!
The 600th finding aid/EAD record was uploaded to ArchivesUM this morning. ArchivesUM is the database that manages the finding aids (indexes) to manuscript and archival collections at the University of Maryland Libraries using Encoded Archival Description (EAD). It also includes abstracts to collections for which complete finding aids are not yet available in electronic format. Access to complete finding aids allows researchers to better plan their research visits or make long-distance information requests, and to gain a clearer understanding of the relationships between collections at the University of Maryland. Placing finding aids online makes collections discoverable and allows researchers to easily prepare prior to visiting the University of Maryland. It also helps facilitate long-distance research requests.
The 600 EAD records can be broken down as follows:
Historical Manuscripts: 322
Literary Manuscripts: 61
University Archives: 89
Library of American Broadcasting: 10
National Public Broadcasting Archive: 68
Special Collections in Performing Arts: 49
World’s Fair: 1
Of those 600, there are 318 full finding aids and 272 are abstracts of either unprocessed collections, or collections for which we just have not mounted a full finding aid in ArchivesUM yet. That’s pretty good news for exposing our “hidden collections.”
I want to thank everyone who helps contribute to ArchivesUM, whether it is content, technical skills, design, or data entry.
Jennie Levine