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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Dear SOA Members,</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">OhioLINK is creating and hosting a
statewide repository of archival finding aids to increase access to and showcase
the rich collections housed in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place> archival repositories. This message is to
inform you of the progress being made toward this goal, and to help you prepare
for contributing your institution's finding aids to this shared repository in
the future.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">In December 2004, the OhioLINK
Database Management and Standards Committee (DMSC) appointed an Encoded Archival
Description (EAD) Task Force to develop standards and guidelines for the
creation and use of electronic finding aids within the OhioLINK repository. The
EAD Task Force is to complete the following charge by December,
2006:</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'"><?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Develop specification/template
for EAD documents that may be contributed to OhioLINK.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Follow progress of DLXS (the EAD
software) enhancement requests <o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Customize software toolkit for
multi-institutional environment (e.g., in the context of EAD metadata and
content, customize search options, and institutional branding)
<o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Generate some marketing/training
ideas <o:p></o:p></SPAN>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Educate members of the DMS
committee on progress and findings <o:p></o:p></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">During its first year, the Task
Force created Content Guidelines defining the range of requirements – from
“minimally encoded” to “fully encoded” – needed to contribute a finding aid to
the EAD repository. The Content Guidelines will be released in early May, 2006,
at which time we hope that you will review them and offer
feedback. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'">The
Content Guidelines and tools will encourage consistency across Ohio EAD finding
aids. </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">In its
second year, the Task Force is continuing its work on refining the content
guidelines, developing a Web-based template for encoding finding aids,
evaluating EAD software, customizing a software toolkit, and developing training
ideas. One of the primary advantages of these developments is that institutions
across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>
will be able to create EAD finding aids without having to know or understand the
technicalities of XML encoding. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">While work continues in
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'">laying
the foundations for an EAD repository in <st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State>,
the Task Force recognizes that there are several tasks that individual
institutions can do now to get ready for the future of EAD in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The Task Force has created this
packet to help <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place> archival institutions prepare themselves
and their finding aids for participating in the OhioLINK statewide repository of
archival finding aids. Included is the document “Why EAD?” explaining the
advantages of encoding finding aids in EAD, as well as a chart of required
elements for a minimally encoded finding aid to be contributed to OhioLINK.
Institutions can evaluate their finding aids and make sure the information for
the required elements exists in their finding aids. The packet also includes
instructions for finding or requesting a Library of Congress Repository Code.
This code uniquely identifies each repository in a shared resource environment,
and will be required for EAD finding aids submitted to OhioLINK. We have
included a list of recommended reading, as well as links to examples of other
cooperative EAD projects. The final section of this packet outlines future
developments on the road to an OhioLINK repository of EAD finding
aids. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">OhioLINK EAD Task Force
Members:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Amy McCrory, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Ohio</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Amanda Wilson, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Ohio</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, Co-Chair<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Linda Cantara, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Case</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Western Reserve</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Dianna Ford, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Akron</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Cara Gilgenbach, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Kent</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Toni Jeske, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wright</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Anne Gilliland, OhioLINK Staff
Liason<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Task Force
Advisors:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Nan</SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> Card, Rutherford B. Hayes
Presidential Center<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Cynthia Ghering, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place> Historical
Society<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Barbara Strauss, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Questions?
Comments?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Please contact the EAD Task Force
Co-Chairs for more information.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Amy McCrory: mccrory.7@osu.edu or
(614) 292-8647<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Amanda
Wilson: wilson.1596@osu.edu or (614) 292-6314</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>