Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
1) Enhancements to the online community history platform and collection directory available via the L.A. as Subject website, including features that simplify maintenance of collection information by archives and discoverability of collections by researchers and the public. 2) Creation of the Collective Directory toolkit, a content management system for other archival organizations requiring only graphics and content (an open-source online platform packaged as a Drupal distribution that is now being implemented and adapted by other organizations. This toolkit saves organizations $100,000 to $175,000 in web development costs by providing a ready-to-implement and customizable online portal. 3) Contacts with approximately 285 archives on providing access to information about their collections as well as site visits to select organizations. 4) Updating 43 descriptions of collections held by Southern California community archives including additions of photographs, metadata, collections descriptions, news articles, and events by archives. 5) Education and training activities, including 21 virtual workshops or "talk shops," a virtual town hall, an ,in-person edit-a-than, and informal virtual discussions and networking sessions for community archives. 6) Conference presentations and public outreach including the October 2019 Los Angeles Archives Bazaar and preparations for the October 2020 Los Angeles Archives Bazaar following the conclusion of the grant period on Sept. 30, 2020.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The intensive contacts with Southern California community archives over two successive California State Library grants have given our project team, as well as the L.A. as Subject organization and the USC Libraries critical data about the needs of Southern California community archives and the challenges faced by these organizations throughout their lifecycles. This has helped us to identify needs for archival expertise to share with smaller archives via the L.A. as Subject organization as well as future directions for further research in areas such as sustainability for community archives,
business continuity for smaller organizations, and succession and other long-term planning for smaller archives. It will help to guide our future public programs and projects aimed at improving preservation of and access to historical materials held by smaller-and community-based archives. It will also help us develop educational programs, including training and residency programs, aimed at ensuring that smaller organizations have the expertise and resources they need, particularly during the challenging circumstances faced by organizations of all sizes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The online community histories portal will remain an important resource for Southern California archives, particularly those without a robust online presence outside of social media platforms such as Facebook and lnstagram. We will continue providing education and training in the use of the platform via L.A. as Subject and update and add collections information to the portal. This will provide archives with an enhanced web presence and facilitate the discoverability of their materials by researchers, educators, and the public. In addition, we have already learned of one organization that is employing the Collective Directory to organize and provide access to historical collections documenting community experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and expect to see other organizations and individuals utilize and adapt the Drupal distribution for historical collections.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Many of the most significant lessons learned via this project had to do with adapting to the radically changed environment for Southern California archives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stella Castillo proactively changed both the format and content for our planned education and outreach activities. In addition to delivering 21 virtual talk shops and a town hall, she tailored much of the content to the new conditions (e.g. facilities closures) impeding public access to the archives'
collections. These circumstances taught us that unforeseen changes like a natural disaster or a pandemic can substantially change the logistics and considerations for how archives address longstanding issues related to providing access to and public information about their holdings. As was to be expected, the circumstances also highlighted the need for long-term planning, including succession planning, for community archives and the development of business continuity plans to
address threats due to climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, and unforeseen events.
Another important insight gained through this project was that more research was needed to fully understand the needs of community archives through their lifecycles. The project team, particularly Co-Pl Liza Posas and Stella Castillo, started to gather data about the membership of the L.A. as Subject organization, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021. There has been turnover in the membership, as some organizations are now defunct or were subsumed by universities or other larger archives. One of our long-term hopes is to establish metrics or ways to measure the sustainability of archives and identify key issues impacting their survival earlier in their lifecycles and provide resources, education, and support via the L.A. as Subject research alliance.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
Yes
Explain:
L.A. as Subject website and assist community archives with adding and updating information. However, full-time work, including educational and training sessions, by project coordinator Stella Castillo will no longer be possible, since her salary and benefits were paid by California State Library support over two successive grants.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
Our focus will necessarily shift from the development of the portal, creation of a Drupal distribution, and intensive outreach and education activities to maintenance of the portal, as-needed training and assistance to archives in updating collection information, and sustaining the results of the project.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
