The Impact of Community: AT Plug-in Development at BYU

Cory L. NimerBrigham Young University

Project Background

• BYU pursuing a workflow-based archival management system (AMS) solution since 2003

• Reviewed AT in 2006, but opted for local solution

Integrated Digital Special Collections (INDI)

AMS Review

• Review of project functional requirements• User testing of open source options– AT found to be most usable, and with best

documentation– Some divergences with the Utah Manuscripts

Association (UMA) EAD Best Practices Guidelines

• Recommended adoption of AT, but customizations would be needed

UMA EAD BPG

• Developed in LSTA grant in 2007

• Adapted from Northwest Digital Archives EAD BPG

• Allows:– Multiple date entries– Grouped physical

description entries

AT Release 1.5.9

Developing Specifications

• Separate specifications developed:– Expanded dates– Expanded physical

description• Included functionality,

linking, data models, importing, exporting, business rules, and task sequences

Community Response

• Generally positive about date specification changes

• Lack of consensus on physical description modifications– Mirrored lack of consensus in physdesc encoding

practices

National physdesc Encoding

NWDA/UMA physdesc Encoding

Development Process

• Functionality to be provided through plug-ins– Data model changes included in application core

• Development done in stages– Phase I: Data model additions– Phase II: Plug-in development

• Expected completion in September

Community Role

Community Feedback