Introduction to Archon for CARLI Members

Jen Masciadrelli, Library Systems Coordinator, CARLI Office

Sarah Horowitz, Special Collections Librarian, Augustana College

January 18, 2013

Introduction to Archon Outline

What is Archon? Why would I want to implement Archon? How can my institution participate in CARLI’s

implementation of Archon? What should I consider before implementing Archon? How do I get my data into Archon? How can I change the look and feel of the public

interface? Where do I go for more information? Q & A

What is Archon?

Archon is an open source tool for managing descriptive information about archival materials and publishing that information on the web.

CARLI’s Archon instance:

http://archon.carli.illinois.edu/carli

http://archon.carli.illinois.edu/xxx

http://archon-test.carli.illinois.edu/xxx

List of Archon implementations:

http://archon.org/implementors.php

Why would I want to implement Archon?

Customizable, public interface for your collections Finding Aid metadata exposed to search engines Export records in MARC format to easily add

them to your local OPAC and OCLC Manage your finding aids in a searchable

interface

How can my institution participate in CARLI’s implementation of Archon?

Send an email to support@carli.illinois.edu indicating your interest.

Include your institution’s name, the name and email address of the primary contact as well as the name and email addresses of anyone else who should have an Admin login.

What should I consider before using CARLI’s implementation of Archon?

Institutions will receive access to an instance on both a production and a test server.

The CARLI implementation of Archon has a shared repository for subjects and creators.

CARLI does not plan on offering the full range of training and support for Archon as it does for other products it provides.

What should I consider before using CARLI’s implementation of Archon?

Is Archon right for your institution? Will Archon do what you want? What are you currently using to store your data?

What will Archon provide that it doesn’t? How easy will it be move your data over? Is it worth it to move to a new system?

What should I consider before using CARLI’s implementation of Archon? Using Archon may lead to workflow and

procedure changes The box list is a big deal for many people

Some institutions have actually changed the way they process because of this

What can you tweak if you don’t want to do something the way Archon wants you to? Sometimes Archon won’t let you change things Some changes are limited because of the shared

nature of CARLI’s implementation

How do I get my data into Archon?

Plan before you add any data Theoretical knowledge about Archon Practical ideas about how to move data

There are a number of different hierarchies in Archon, and you may want to take advantage of these One is already taken up with your institution name You can set up “filters” in your “classification schema”

How do I get my data into Archon?

First you have to get it out of where it was before This may dictate how you want to put in the data

Crosswalk! Not all systems use the same terms Archon’s administrative view and public view don’t

always use the same terms, either Put in your creators, subject headings, and genre

terms first, then add collection information

How can I change the look and feel of the public interface?

CARLI can upload an image you provide. Must be .png format, transparent, and approximately

64 pixels by 64 pixels. Send to support@carli.illinois.edu

If further customizations are desired CARLI will provide you with the cascading style sheets and php files Section 7.0 of the Archon User Manual

(http://archon.org/UserManualv2.21.pdf) Once edited we will upload the files to the archon-test

server for review, then once approved to the archon server.

Where can I go for more information?

Archon-ig@carli.illinois.edu email list CARLI Archon FAQ http

://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-serv/mem-train/121109annual/archonFAQ201211.pdf

Official Archon webpage http://www.archon.org http://forums.archon.org/

Luther College http://journeystoamerica.blogspot.com/ Archon sites of other institutions

http://archon.org/implementors.php

Q&A

Please type questions into the Chat box. Any questions we cannot answer or don’t get to

during the webinar we will answer via email

Thank you for attending!

As always, please contact support@carli.illinois.edu with any questions!

Thank you!