1. 1
Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
Facing the
Challenge of Web-
based Programs
to Meet the
Needs of Online
Researchers
Session 66
2. 2
Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
“Send Me
EverythingYou
Have on Sex”
An Archivist Responds to the
Novice Researcher in the
Online Environment
3. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
3
Introduction
The title of my talk points to the often frustrating
reference questions we receive by email.
This talk looks at the expectations of novice users
of archives who have turned to the web for help,
and it demonstrates a web site tailored to their
needs.
4. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
4
Online Users
3 things that set them apart:
Misinformation
Experience
Approach to research
5. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
5
Online Users
1. Misinformation: Online users may be confused
about archival resources.
Marshall found that archives are misrepresented in
genealogical literature on the web.
I find I am often asked questions not related to
primary sources.
6. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
6
Online Users
Requests for information outside the focus of the collection:
Date: 11/24/99
Subject: Question:
information on theraputic crisis intervention
in a juvenile residential setting. in
particular, issues and alternatives with
sexually abused and or sexual
perpatraitors.
7. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
7
Online Users
Brenda’s Corollary:
As much as they are confused about
us, we may be confused about them
and their needs.
Their requests often lack context.
8. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
8
Online Users
2. Experience: These users may have little or no
experience with archives.
Tanya found that people who are new to
genealogical research (3 years or less) are more
likely to use the Web for research than more
experienced genealogists.
I too found that online, we more frequently
encounter the novice researcher.
9. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
9
Online Users
3. Approach to research differs: less
methodical.
10. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
10
Online Users
3. Approach to research differs: less methodical.
Subject: SM History
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000
Hello.! I wonder if you can help me finding
some facts about the history of SM-
Sadomasochism. I am going to make a
"lecture" about "The history of SM. And
i dont cnow wery mutch so i hope you
can give me some help.
My adres is:
11. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
11
Online Users
3. Approach to research differs: less
methodical.
Our understanding of walk-in users may not be
transferable to the on-line user.
Different users require different reference tools.
12. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
12
Marshall’s
Conclusion
“Our online users, as a whole, may be
very different from those that visit our
archives in person. Taking time to note
these differences and making necessary
adjustments to your site will help your site
succeed!”
Tanya Marshall, "Archives Users and the Web: Considerations for Archivists," Society of American Archivists, 1999 Annual Meeting,
Pittsburgh, PA. August 27, 1999.
14. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
14
Models Considered
Online exhibits
Editorial projects that introduce users to a selected
group of primary documents and their
interpretation.
Thomas Dublin and Kathryn Kish Sklar’s “Women
and Social Movements in the United States, 1830-
1930,” (womhist.binghamton.edu/)
15. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
15
Models Considered
Sites that provide narrative and facts about certain
topics:
Lesbian History Project by Yolanda Retter
(http://www-lib.usc.edu/~retter/main.html)
Denver LBGT History by Lisa Diguardi
(clem.mscd.edu/~diguardi/)
Class projects
16. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
16
Research Guides &
FAQ/help Pages
Guides to Primary Source Research
Yale’s Using Manuscripts & Archives: A Tutorial
http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/tutorial/tutorial.htm
UC Berkeley’s Library Research Using Primary
Sources
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Prima
rySources.html
17. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
17
Research Guides &
FAQ/help Pages
Guides to Lesbian and Gay Research
Stanford’s Beginning Library Research on Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Studies
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/kkerns/gays.html
Colorado State’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Studies
http://manta.library.colostate.edu/research/gnl/index.html
Yale’s Library Research Guide for Gay and Lesbian Studies
http://www.library.yale.edu/rsc/gayles/gayindx.htm
New York Public Library’s lgbt bibliogrpahy
http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/resguides/gay.html
18. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
18
Our Research Guide
1. addresses the information needs of people
seeking general information
2. addresses people who might want to explore
research with primary sources
3. addresses a broader range of subjects –
sexuality studies.
19. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
19
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options,
then determine a manageable project)
20. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
20
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options,
then determine a manageable project)
Narrow the goals
Manage user expectations
Give a proper orientation
SRG
21. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
21
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options,
then determine a manageable project)
Narrow the goals
Manage user expectations
Give a proper orientation
Link to sites with Permanence, Authority,
Diversity
22. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
22
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options,
then determine a manageable project)
Narrow the goals
Manage user expectations
Give a proper orientation
Link to sites with Permanence, Authority, Diversity
Redirect inquiries
SRG
23. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
23
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options,
then determine a manageable project)
Narrow the goals
Manage user expectations
Give a proper orientation
Link to sites with Permanence, Authority, Diversity
Redirect inquiries
Promote user self sufficiency
SRG
24. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
24
Approach Taken
Think outside the box
Tailor to current resources (consider the options, then determine a
manageable project)
Narrow the goals
Manage user expectations
Give a proper orientation
Link to sites with Permanence, Authority, Diversity
Redirect inquiries
Promote user self sufficiency
Make good use of existing on-line resources and
create the additional pieces your users need.
25. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
25
What This Means
I can respond to questions like the following:
“I am looking for some information about the origins of the
homosexual and gay terms because I am making a document
for college about gay teenagers in this decade an how they
are coming out at an earlier age so I am trying to make an
excellent essay.”
26. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
26
Conclusions
This project is one good model for responding to
the needs of a large segment of our online users:
the novice researcher. It orients them to the site
they’ve found and helps them figure out how to
proceed. And it requires a moderate amount of
effort to create and maintain.
27. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
27
Conclusions
Archivists ought to balance the needs of experienced
and inexperienced researchers online. Creating a
web presence for your archives means that you will
be more accessible to non-traditional users, and
when they find you, you owe them some kind of
orientation to make sense of your services and
resources.
28. Brenda Marston
September 2, 2000
SAA-Denver, CO
28
HSC On-line
HSC Web Site: rmc.library.cornell.edu/HSC
HSC Sexuality Research Guide:
rmc.library.cornell.edu/HSC/faq/hscfaq.htm