1. Chris Prom University of Illinois Archives
OAI and EAD
Chris Prom
University of Illinois Archives

2. EAD/OAI Issues Should we map whole finding aid?
Context for “hits”-- representing hierarchical inheritance
What level of materials are being described?
EAD’s flexibility as a data structure standard

3. EAD/OAI Study Study of encoding patterns
Basic metadata elements exist in many finding aids
Lack of standardization
Unique encoding practices
Empty or near empty records;
Some lack key metadata elements
Little use of content standards like APPM, LCSH, LCNAF
Archivists’ workflow difficulties
Preprint:
OAI may help harmonize differences in markup protocols and provide better access

4. Mapping EAD to OAI Use one master record
represent hierarchy using mini records
Xpointer
//dsc[1]/c01[2]/c02[3]/c03[10]
When EADs are split into their subordinate components, XPointers identify the individual parts and link them together
Server-side scripts use the XPointers for rendering and linking
unbundles EAD while preserving context on output

5. Index and Search Issues
Size of EAD finding aids: 1 EAD can result on 1000’s of DC records
Frequently occurring search term can overwhelm results list
working on revised mapping

6. Work to Do
Upcoming article--Reengineering Archival Access Through the OAI Protocols
Does it scale?
Will archival community embrace OAI?
Build OAI support into Archivist Workbench tools?
Issue White Paper with technical and mapping details
Follow on (production level) grant/project?