Dear Colleagues,
After the posts on the Archives NRA list this morning about the changes to the A2A database I just wanted to explain the reasons for the changes to A2A and to reassure colleagues that it is still possible to carry out the majority of the searches mentioned previously.
Following the end of the fourth and final phase of A2A in March 2008 - and the end of any dedicated funding - The National Archives took the decision to make some changes to A2A to ensure its long-term sustainability. The A2A database is now hosted on TNA's own servers. The A2A web pages have been redesigned to bring them in line with the rest of TNA's website and to make them easier to use (for example catalogues can be viewed both hierarchically and in full).
Another change is that A2A is now searched by Autonomy, the search engine behind The National Archives Global Search (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/). Global Search has been running successfully for 2 years, extensive user testing was carried out before Global Search went live, and Global Search has proved to be very effective. Staff at The National Archives have also gained considerable experience in using the Autonomy search software. Autonomy provides a powerful search tool, which should enable users to carry out the majority of searches that were possible on the old A2A site.
It is still possible to search A2A by repository. The most straightforward way to do this is to start by using the ARCHON Directory. A link is in place from the bottom of the relevent ARCHON page to A2A. If you click on this link you will be taken to a list on A2A of all the records held at a particular repository. If this is a search you do frequently you can bookmark this page's URL.
To search A2A by catalogue reference you need to go to the Advanced Search page and enter the catalogue reference in the third box ("this exact wording or phrase"). Using this option will ensure that the constituent parts of the reference are all searched (and in the right order) regardless of any punctuation used. For example, any of these variations would be found: QS/23/1, QS\23\1, QS-23-1, QS:23:1, QS.23.1, QS 23 1.
Comprehensive help pages which will assist users in searching the new A2A site are due to go live before the end of this week (and before the old A2A database is switched). We are also listening to feedback from A2A contributors and users, and have plans to make some refinements to the A2A search. For example we are looking into the possibility of grouping A2A search results by repository and then, within the repository, by catalogue.
I hope this response is of use. Please do not hesitate to contact me off list if you have any further questions.
Amy
Amy Warner
Senior Information Resources Officer (Systems)
National Advisory Services
The National Archives
Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 4DU
Tel: +44 (020) 8392 5330 x 2610
Website: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
National Register of Archives: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/default.asp
-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Brough Paul
Sent: 17 June 2008 11:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A2A TNA Search Platform
I would agree with Jo's and Teresa's comments.
However, these changes to A2A only confirm to us that we were right to
identify our 'direction of travel' as away from A2A. We were always
disappointed with the inability to up-load further catalogues and by the
always rather 'clunky' search system (though I guess we never thought it
would trade useful fields for faster operation as it were). The loss of
statistics and the new platform are just further evidence that we were
right.
It's a shame (but not necessarily a criticism of TNA) that a sustainable
and expandable single catalogue presence has not proved to be feasible -
what A2A did was prove what an appetite there was for online catalogues
and the advantage of cross-searching. And let us not forget that the
part it played in giving retro-conversion a boost was invaluable.
No doubt technologies will render the aspiration to have an integrated
site redundant sooner than we expect.
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Teresa Doherty
Sent: 17 June 2008 09:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A2A TNA Search Platform
Joanne
I had a brief look at the new site when it went up.
We mainly use A2A for extra publicity as we now have our own online
catalogue. We still get a good number of users who come because of A2A.
Also, like most archivists it is good to know there is 'back up' in
case our catalogue is down for any length of time (not that it's
happened so far!)
Two other useful things they have removed from the search are:
* the catalogue reference
* the name index search (where you could pick names from a list)
It may be that they can add these back to the search screens without too
much work - it depends how their database is set up
Teresa
Joanne Robson wrote:
>
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>
> Dear All
>
>
>
> I was wondering if anyone has looked at the new A2A search platform?
It
> can be found at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ or by
> following the link on the old A2A homepage which is still currently
> active.
>
>
>
> As an office we do have some issues with the new searching method
> particularly as they appear to have removed the 'Location of Archives'
> field which we used [as A2A is our only source of electronic
catalogues]
> to perform a quick search on our own holdings. Through experimenting
it
> appears that if we put our full title in one of the key word fields on
> the new platform, that does help narrow the results to just our
> collections but it is rather frustrating to have to type our full
title
> in each time we perform a search [just Oldham is not specific enough].
>
>
>
> We are intending to send our comments to TNA and though it might be
> useful if other repositories could have a look and perhaps feed back
> comments to the TNA. I do not know if there was any consultation with
> repositories about the layout of the new platform, I certainly have
not
> received anything.
>
>
>
> For as long as it is active I will be continuing to use the old
platform
> at http://www.a2a.org.uk/ and keep my fingers crossed CALM gets here
> before it is taken down.
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Jo Robson
>
> Archive Officer
>
> Oldham Local Studies and Archives
>
> 84 Union Street
>
> Oldham
>
> OL1 1DN
>
> Tel: Direct 0161 770 1887
>
> Tel General: 0161 770 4654
>
>
>
>
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> http://www.oldham.gov.uk
>
>
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--
________________________________________________________________________
___
Teresa Doherty
Archives and Museums Manager
The Women's Library
London Metropolitan University
Old Castle Street
London E1 7NT
[log in to unmask]
www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk
t +44 (0)20 7320 3513 (direct)
f +44 (0)20 7320 2333 (shared)
For our online catalogue see
www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk/archivemuseumcatalogue
For Genesis, a resource for women's history maintained by The Women's
Library, see www.genesis.ac.uk
Companies Act 2006 : http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/companyinfo
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