More on Your Archives
Earlier this year I posted about Your Archives, a wiki based site launched by the UK National Archives which allows users to contribute information and about, and transcripts of, documents held by the NA (and also information to supplement the National Register of Archives). Despite being excited about the possibilities of the site, I’ve been too busy to actually get involved. But today I finally registered and started contributing. I’m pleased to say that the terms of use now make it clear that restrictions on re-use of content don’t apply to transcripts of documents which are covered by waiver of Crown Copyright, and don’t apply to fair dealing under UK copyright law.
To start with I put up a transcript of a report on prisoner of war camps in the First World War, which you can see here. My first impression is that the site is very easy to use. Anyone who can use a web forum or a blog shouldn’t have any problems with it. The help pages are still very basic and there’s no style guide, but the easiest way to work out how to do things is to look at existing pages for examples.
I’ll be adding more contributions whenever I have time, and I’m also trying to encourage other people to contribute. I’ve posted on the Great War Forum asking people there to get involved. Between them forum members have a huge amount of relevant knowledge which needs to be more accessible. There have been some concerns raised on the forum that information is increasingly hard to find there because there’s so much of it. Your Archives could help to improve this situation, at least for the information which is within its remit, as a wiki based site would make the content much more accessible than a forum. It remains to be seen how many people will actually get involved. And if you’re reading this post and have any knowledge about TNA/PRO documents or other UK archives, go and sign up! Now!
Comment by Ross Mahoney — 6:31 pm, 28 October 2007 [permanent link to this comment]
Gavin - It is good to see this progressing a bit and I have to admit it seems to be useful. I searched for Dieppe, for anything to help with my MPhil research, and it came up with a Source Sheet, No. 24, which had been produced as a signpost for research. This is very good.
I suppose the only real issue with it is that it seems to be driven by the public, much like Wiki, to contribute to it. As one person alluded to on your post on the GWForum we have to pay, or take the time to photograph or transcribe the file, and then have to pay for it. It would be better if the TNA was emplying people to start working through th files and at least give people the headstart on it. I also suppose time does not help. Most of us have full time jobs as well as performing the research we do. To do this too may seem like to much for some people.
Comment by Gavin Robinson — 9:39 pm, 28 October 2007 [permanent link to this comment]
I think there are some NA staff working on it. If you look at the change logs (which are admittedly not showing much activity yet) you’ll see staff activity. Although a lot of it is deleting inappropriate content they’ve also been adding memoranda which were previously only available on paper in the reading rooms. And they’ve put on at least some of the official research guides which users can edit just like any page.
I don’t think it’s the NA’s fault that they charge so much for downloads. I suspect the treasury makes them do it. If their object was just to screw money out of people then they wouldn’t encourage us to put up transcripts of documents which could potentially save lots of people £3.50 for a download.
Time is another big consideration along with finding people who have both the knowledge of the archives and the IT skills to use a wiki. (Although I thought using a wiki would be no more difficult than using a web forum, feedback from the GWF suggests otherwise!) But it is possible to combine updating YA with doing your actual research - they can complement each other quite well. For example I’m putting up transcripts of 17th century wills which I need to transcribe for my research anyway, so I might as well make them available to the public.
Comment by Ross Mahoney — 9:42 pm, 28 October 2007 [permanent link to this comment]
Gavin - I have no problem with the download cost but obviously from your post on GWForum some do. Actually they do from time to time they do relaese documents for free. I have just downloaded a whole file relating to Hess’ imprisonment at Spandau. I have to admit I have not looked to deeply at it, time again, so it is good to knwo that there are some staff working on it. Just wish their were more.