[Archivesspace_Users_Group] Tufts University subsidizing development of assessment module for ArchivesSpace

Fri May 5 09:37:05 EDT 2017

Hi Mike,

One of the considerations when community members have code that they're interested in contributing to ArchivesSpace is whether it is appropriate for the core, as a supported plugin, or as a plugin that should remain outside of what is supported by the program. We also consider how the desired functionality works within an archival workflow, whether it is a universal need or one that is specific to a particular institution or type of institution, as well as how it works from a technology standpoint. We've been piloting a process for how these decisions get made with a few of the community contributions that have been offered to the program lately and we'll be making more information about that available soon. The intent is for decisions to be made based on data and discussion provided by our appointed groups as well as individual members, depending on what makes most sense; the extent to which a particular contribution needs to be distributed for wide comment will depend on various factors, including the extent to which the need was identified by the community vs. the contributing institution.

In this case, given the demonstrated community interest in this kind of functionality being available within ArchivesSpace, that the specification being used draws almost entirely on a previous community-developed model, and its minimal impact on the data model (fields will be added, not changed or deleted from the existing data model), the assessment module will be built into the core code and supported by the ArchivesSpace program once it's in. This assessment module will provide for a baseline of assessment functionality. For individual institutions or user communities that have additional needs, the functionality could be extended through the creation of plugins or additional development work - efforts that would be very much welcome, either concurrent with or after this first phase. If people wanted to contribute that work, the same kinds of considerations would apply in determining whether those additional contributions should be core code, supported plugins, or plugins outside of what is supported by the program.

Thanks for asking, and for engaging with us in this process. And I'll just give another plug to say that Laney and I are interested in hearing from any institutions that are interested in getting more involved in development for ArchivesSpace, whether you have projects in mind or want to know about projects already prioritized by the community. Yale has been so generous in this regard and we are thankful for the increasing number of other institutions that are considering this as well!

Christine

From: archivesspace_users_group-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org [mailto:archivesspace_users_group-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org] On Behalf Of Rush, Michael
Sent: Friday, May 5, 2017 8:14 AM
To: Archivesspace Users Group <archivesspace_users_group at lyralists.lyrasis.org>
Subject: Re: [Archivesspace_Users_Group] Tufts University subsidizing development of assessment module for ArchivesSpace

Christine,

This is excellent news! And thanks to all at Tufts for their support for adding this important functionality to ArchivesSpace.

I have one question: the JIRA issue specifically mentions a plugin for assessments. Will Tufts and HM be developing a plugin or will the assessments module be part of the core application? If it is a plugin that will be developed, will it be considered one of the ArchivesSpace plugins officially maintained by the program team?

Best,

Mike

From: archivesspace_users_group-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org<mailto:archivesspace_users_group-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org> [mailto:archivesspace_users_group-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org] On Behalf Of Christine Di Bella
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2017 12:57 PM
To: Archivesspace Users Group <archivesspace_users_group at lyralists.lyrasis.org<mailto:archivesspace_users_group at lyralists.lyrasis.org>>; Archivesspace Member Reps <archivesspace_member_reps at lyralists.lyrasis.org<mailto:archivesspace_member_reps at lyralists.lyrasis.org>>; archivesspace_tac_uac at lyralists.lyrasis.org<mailto:archivesspace_tac_uac at lyralists.lyrasis.org>
Subject: [Archivesspace_Users_Group] Tufts University subsidizing development of assessment module for ArchivesSpace

Hello ArchivesSpace members,

Over the years, a number of community members, both inside and outside the ArchivesSpace membership community, have participated in efforts to develop a specification for assessment functionality in ArchivesSpace. Thanks to archivists and other staff at New York University, the Smithsonian, the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Yale University, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Tufts University, and others for their efforts toward this goal. (And apologies to anyone I've left out or who has since moved on to a different institution - this has been quite a broad-based effort, years in the making.)

I am really pleased to announce that Tufts University's Digital Collections and Archives has decided to subsidize the development of the assessment functionality and contracted with Hudson Molonglo to work on it over the summer. The aim is for the module to be available beginning in the fall.

As work proceeds, you will be able to comment on and track progress in the JIRA issue https://archivesspace.atlassian.net/browse/AR-819<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__archivesspace.atlassian.net_browse_AR-2D819&d=DwMFAg&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=MyZybLJYUei3q4E58sH_ylxWQEY3mGFWApn_UqslyRU&m=wVdTfJXcU8DbTlWF4sFKFEcJgdf-S6xO8EsRowtZw6w&s=msFtEzZiaFqBN7WxVWbcU2zcBueGNJX3k8c0e8ZZxOE&e=>. The specifications being used for the project, which reflect much of the previous collaborative work of the community, are attached to the issue.

Tufts has reviewed the previously developed specification drafts for an assessment module and intends to closely mirror functionality that was available in the Archivists' Toolkit assessment module, with additional reporting and importing capabilities.  Their primary aim at this time is to have the functionality that they need to do their work built into the application, and they are using the community-developed model that most meets that need. Because they are contributing the result back to the community, this will assure that a baseline of assessment functionality will soon be available in the application for everyone. For individual institutions or user communities that have additional needs, this functionality could be extended through the creation of plugins or additional development work - efforts that would very much welcome, either concurrent with or after this first phase.

For questions about the Assessment module project, please contact Dan Santamaria, Director of Tufts Digital Collections and Archives, at Daniel.Santamaria at tufts.edu<mailto:Daniel.Santamaria at tufts.edu>.

Thanks to Tufts for their generosity in taking on this project. If your institution is interested in getting more involved in development for ArchivesSpace, and either has projects in mind or wants to know about projects already prioritized by the community, please get in touch with Laney or me. We'd love to hear from you!

Christine

Christine Di Bella
ArchivesSpace Program Manager
christine.dibella at lyrasis.org<mailto:christine.dibella at lyrasis.org>
800.999.8558 x2905
678-235-2905
cdibella13 (Skype)

[ASpaceOrgHomeMedium]

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