ArchivesSpace 0.5 Released

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May 012013
 

Software Development Update

This week, ArchivesSpace released version 0.5 of its software. Since the 0.4 release, ArchivesSpace developers have enhanced or added support for the following features:

  • Improvements to the staff user interface, based on community feedback, remote user testing, and in-person usability testing performed by the ArchivesSpace project team
  • Support for digital objects and advanced search in the public user interface
  • A basic reporting framework for the application with a small number of predefined reports
  • Relationships between Agents (e.g. associative, parent/child, earlier later)
  • Support for user-defined fields for Accessions, Resources, and Digital Objects
  • Transferring components between Resources
  • Support for “backups” of application data and configuration that can be easily redeployed
  • Assigning Instances and Locations to Accessions
  • Deployment documentation for large ArchivesSpace instances

A full list of all enhancements and bug fixes is available in the software change log. Please stay tuned for forthcoming information about testing the latest release.

ArchivesSpace 1.0 is scheduled for release in August 2013. Software development over the next few months will include:

  • Refinements to import and export mappings
  • The ArchivesSpace plugin architecture and associated documentation
  • Improved user interaction and responsiveness, based on additional feedback received from the user community
  • Improvements to the public discovery interface application
  • Additional report definition:

The software is still in its “alpha” phase, and its first stable release is targeted for August 2013. ArchivesSpace is using Pivotal Tracker to help manage development using the Scrum methodology. Community members interested in tracking the software development process may view the user stories and programming tasks prioritized for development and awaiting prioritization.  More information on Pivotal Tracker is available.

ArchivesSpace Seeking Stylesheet Development Contractor

Are you comfortable working with XML and XSLT and looking for a way to participate in the ArchivesSpace development? The project is looking for a contractor to develop XSLT and XSL:FO stylesheets to transform exported EAD records to HTML, exported EAD records to PDF, and exported EAC-CPF records to HTML. More information about the contract opportunity can be found on the ArchivesSpace website. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2013.

Bradley Westbrook Hired as ArchivesSpace Program Manager

LYRASIS, the organizational home of ArchivesSpace, has hired Bradley Westbrook as the ArchivesSpace Program Manager. As Program Manager, Mr. Westbrook will serve as the liaison between the ArchivesSpace developer and user communities and will assist in shaping a strategic vision for the ArchivesSpace program. Mr. Westbrook will work closely with advisory groups and the wider archives community to identify near-term and long-term user needs. He will also lead the day-to-day support, outreach, training and membership activities of the community in support of ArchivesSpace members.  Mr. Westbrook will begin his new role as ArchivesSpace Program Manager on June 1, 2013. Prior to joining ArchivesSpace, Mr. Westbrook was the Archivists’ Toolkit project manager and lead designer and the head of the Metadata Analysis and Specification Unit in the University of California, San Diego Library. He previously served as lead designer for the Mellon-sponsored Union Catalog of Art Images project, as the Manuscripts Librarian and University Archivist at the University of California San Diego, and as the exhibits curator at Columbia University’s Rare Book and Manuscripts Library. He has an MLS from UCLA and an MA in English from SUNY-Albany.

About ArchivesSpace

ArchivesSpace is open source software, and its source code is available on Github. For the technically inclined, build instructions and technical documentation are available. As a disclaimer, no technical support is currently available to software testers, but the developers are eager for early feedback.  If you have trouble getting a test server running, feel free to ask for help or report problems to the ArchivesSpace Google Group email list.

ArchivesSpace is being developed by Hudson Molonglo in partnership with the New York University Libraries, UC San Diego Libraries, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and organizational support from LYRASIS.

Questions about ArchivesSpace development should be directed to the ArchivesSpace Google Group. Questions regarding membership should be directed to <ArchivesSpaceHome@lyrasis.org>.

ArchivesSpace Seeks Stylesheet Development Contractor

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Apr 102013
 

Contractor Position Description
ArchivesSpace Stylesheet Development

The ArchivesSpace Team seeks a stylesheet developer to develop Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) stylesheets to be used with the ArchivesSpace software.

Application Deadline

May 31, 2013, 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Background

ArchivesSpace (http://archivesspace.org/) is an open source software application under development that combines the functional strengths of two leading North American archival management systems: Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon. The project is a partnership between New York University, University of California San Diego, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, generously funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Statement of Needs

The selected contractor will provide development resources as needed to create XSLT and XSL:FO stylesheets used to transform exported records from the application. These resources will be under the direction of Katherine Kott, the ArchivesSpace Development Manager. The ArchivesSpace project is geographically distributed, and as such there is no location requirement for the selected contractor.

We expect the development to produce three specific deliverables:

  1. An XSLT stylesheet to transform EAD 2002 (Encoded Archival Description version 2002) finding aids to HTML;
  2. An XSLT stylesheet to transform EAC-CPF (Encoded Archival Context – Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families) records to HTML; and
  3. An XSL:FO stylesheet to transform EAD 2002 finding aids to PDF.

Each deliverable may be assigned a milestone date in consultation with the ArchivesSpace Development Manager.

The selected contractor will be expected to participate in weekly or bi-weekly check-in meetings with the Development Manager and/or Mark Matienzo, the ArchivesSpace Technical Architect.

To remain consistent with the software license for the ArchivesSpace software, all stylesheets must be licensed under the Educational Community License (ECL) version 2.0. The selected contractor, at their discretion, may adapt the EAD-related stylesheets packaged with Archivists’ Toolkit to be used with ArchivesSpace.

Application Format

Applications should be submitted in PDF format and should include the following information along with a resume/CV and cover letter:

  • Experience in working with XSLT and XSL:FO, as well as other relevant XML-based technologies
  • Experience in working with EAD Version 2002 and EAC-CPF
  • Experience or familiarity with other archival description standards
  • Experience or familiarity with open source archives management systems
  • Experience or familiarity with open source software development

Upon request, applicants may be asked to provide samples of XSLT and/or XSL:FO stylesheets and relevant source documents to be transformed. Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to include these as separate attachments when submitting their proposal.

Timeframe

Applications are due by 5:00PM EDT, May 31, 2013. Applications should be sent via email to Mark Matienzo, ArchivesSpace Technical Architect (mark.matienzo@nyu.edu), and Katherine Kott, ArchivesSpace Development Manager (katherine.kott@gmail.com). Please format the subject line with the phrase “ArchivesSpace XSLT Application – [Name of respondent]”.

Work is to be performed no sooner than June 1, 2013.
Work is to be completed no later than August 31, 2013.

Conditions

Work is to be performed at contractor’s address.
Contractor must be a US citizen.
Contractor is not related to, and has no past/current affiliation with, any University of California employee.

Contract

  1. Applications must be submitted by the due date.
  2. The contractor will enter into a contract with University of California San Diego on behalf of ArchivesSpace that is consistent with UCSD’s standard contracting policies and procedures.
  3. The University reserves the right to negotiate with each contractor.
  4. This will be a fixed price contract, not to exceed $3,000.00. There is no allowance for project expenses, travel, or ancillary expenses that the contractor may incur.
  5. Funds will be released per work Track upon acceptance of that Track. The University reserves the right to cancel the contract with no further payment if the work on any Track is past due by more than 20% of the scheduled period for that Track.
  6. Acceptance will include code review by ArchivesSpace project staff.

Join your Colleagues: Become an ArchivesSpace Charter Member!

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Mar 222013
 

Last week we rolled out the ArchivesSpace membership model so that organizations considering ArchivesSpace adoption have more information about membership, governance, community engagement, long-term sustainability plans for the software, and other important issues. ArchivesSpace membership not only helps support the long-term usability and development of the software but comes with tangible benefits such as HelpDesk support, advanced documentation options and most importantly, the ability to be a part of the ArchivesSpace community and shape its direction.

Charter Membership
Currently, ArchivesSpace is seeking Charter Members. All individual organizations who will use ArchivesSpace to manage their archival collections are eligible to become charter members and we are excited to announce that the following organizations have already agreed to become charter members:

  • Arizona State University
  • Claremont Colleges Library
  • Columbia University
  • Duke University
  • Getty Research Institute
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Massachusetts Institute for Technology
  • New York Public Library
  • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
  • Rockefeller Archive Center
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Virginia
  • Yale University

Charter membership has additional benefits over the regular memberships, which will begin on September 1, 2013. These include:

  • The opportunity to participate in and shape the initial Board, User Advisory Council, and Technical Advisory Council, including exclusive eligibility for election or appointment to these initial governance bodies (general members will not be eligible for election to the governing groups before 2014).
  • An extended, initial membership period lasting through December 31, 2014 (more than a year of paid membership).
  • Participation in the development of the initial ArchivesSpace user, technical, and services roadmaps, including beta releases of the product.
  • Access to early releases of migration tools to move data from Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon to ArchivesSpace.
  • Preferred access to news and updates.
  • Recognition through the placement of your institution name, logo and link on the ArchivesSpace website.
  • Use of the “ArchivesSpace Charter Member” icon.

Consider joining now as a Charter Member! Charter Membership is a one-time membership option, available only through May 31, 2013. The Charter Membership fee includes the first year of general membership and is based on the type and size of your institution. Additional information on Charter Membership can be found in our Charter Membership Flyer.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be a part of the initial launch of ArchivesSpace as a Charter Member and lead the way in online archives management software. To join us as a Charter Member, please contact the ArchivesSpace Program Office at ArchivesSpaceHome@lyrasis.org.

Institutions interested in supporting ArchivesSpace in consortial hosting or hosted settings should also please contact the ArchivesSpace Program Office at ArchivesSpaceHome@lyrasis.org.

For more information about ArchivesSpace general membership, please visit the Membership page.

ArchivesSpace: update on testing version 0.4 (and ongoing) releases

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Mar 192013
 

The ArchivesSpace technical team has simplified the software testing process to encourage user feedback. In anticipation of the August release of ArchivesSpace 1.0, we are seeking your assistance in confirming that existing and newly available feature sets function correctly. We also welcome any feedback you have on general usability or other aspects of the software. You can now test and explore the latest release of ArchivesSpace, using one of two options below.

1) Utilize our hosted instance of the software.

We are now providing a “Sandbox” hosted instance of ArchivesSpace, so you don’t need to install anything to explore and test its features. This openly available instance will be upgraded every two weeks to reflect the latest release of the software. Please note that any data entered into this test instance will be deleted with every upgrade. Consult our Software Testing Help  guide for instructions on accessing the administrative and public interfaces, to test and to provide feedback on the software. Report problems or issues you encountered, note suggestions, or send any other comments using the feedback form linked from the footer of all pages of the administrative and public interfaces.

2) Install the software, and run a locally hosted instance.

ArchivesSpace is open source software, and its source code is available on Github. If you’d like to test out the installation of the software (in lieu of using our hosted instance), build instructions and technical documentation are available. As a disclaimer, no technical support is currently available for test installations. However, the ArchivesSpace developers welcome feedback pertaining to the installation process. If you have trouble getting a test server running, feel free to ask for help or report problems to the ArchivesSpace Google Group email list.

 Posted by at 6:01 pm

ArchivesSpace 0.4 Released

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Mar 042013
 

Software Development Update

This week, ArchivesSpace released version 0.4 of its software. Since the 0.3 release, ArchivesSpace developers have enhanced or added support for the following features:

  • A basic public discovery interface application, with templating and style customization
  • Import of Resources, Subjects, and Agents from MARCXML
  • Export of Resources to MARCXML
  • Import of Digital Objects and Accessions from CSV
  • Export of Digital Objects to Dublin Core, MODS and METS
  • Import and export of Agents from/to EAC-CPF
  • Enumerations (configurable lookup lists) for semi-controlled information such as extent types, container types, and more
  • User Groups for Project Managers, Advanced Data Entry users, and Basic Data Entry users
  • Configurable help tooltips and configurable links to external help documentation
  • Improved workflow for Rights records and spawning Resources from Accessions
  • Automatic generation of Resource Component titles from Date statements

A full list of all enhancements and bug fixes is available in the software change log. Please stay tuned for forthcoming information about testing the latest release.

ArchivesSpace 0.5 is scheduled for release in May 2013. Software development in March and April will focus on:

  • Predefined reporting options and supporting components to generate formatted reports
  • Improved interaction and workflow based on feedback from user testing of the 0.2 and 0.3 releases of ArchivesSpace
  • Refinements to import and export mappings
  • Improved deployment and application administration

The software is still in its “alpha” phase, and its first stable release is targeted for August 2013. ArchivesSpace is using Pivotal Tracker to help manage development using the Scrum methodology. Community members interested in tracking the software development process may view the user stories and programming tasks prioritized for development and awaiting prioritization.  More information on Pivotal Tracker is available.

About ArchivesSpace

ArchivesSpace is open source software, and its source code is available on Github. For the technically inclined, build instructions and technical documentation are available. As a disclaimer, no technical support is currently available to software testers, but the developers are eager for early feedback.  If you have trouble getting a test server running, feel free to ask for help or report problems to the ArchivesSpace Google Group email list.

ArchivesSpace is being developed by Hudson Molonglo in partnership with the New York University Libraries, UC San Diego Libraries, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and organizational support from LYRASIS.

Questions about ArchivesSpace development should be directed to the ArchivesSpace Google Group. Questions regarding membership should be directed to <ArchivesSpaceHome@lyrasis.org>.

ArchivesSpace 0.3 Released

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Jan 072013
 

Software Development Update

This week, ArchivesSpace released version 0.3 of its software. Since the 0.2 release, ArchivesSpace developers have enhanced or added support for the following features:

  • Spawning Resource records from Accession records
  • Manipulating Resource and Digital Object hierarchies by drag and drop and keyboard navigation
  • Linking Accessions to Resources
  • Linking Agents to Accessions, Resources, Digital Objects, and their components such as Creators, Sources, or Subjects
  • Managing User accounts by application administrators
  • Editing Rights records and adding rights statements to Accessions, Resources, Digital Objects, and their components
  • Improving import of Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon EAD, and EAD export
  • LDAP Authentication
  • Basic search support for Resource, Accession, and Digital Object records
  • Support for mixed content in note fields

A full list of all enhancements and bug fixes is available in the software change log.

ArchivesSpace 0.4 is scheduled for release in March 2013.  Software development in January and February will focus on:

  • Import of CSV Accessions data and creation of Accessions records
  • MARC XML import
  • Digital Object CSV import
  • MARC-based Subject and Name import
  • MARC export of Resource records
  • Dublin Core, MODS, and METS export of Digital Object records
  • EAC export of Name records
  • Export Resource container labels
  • Export Folder labels
  • Templating system, style customization for UI application, plus documentation

The software is still in its “alpha” phase, and its first stable release is targeted for August 2013.

Help Us Test the Software!

We are seeking Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon users to test the current version of ArchivesSpace and provide us with feedback on our progress.  You do not need to install the software to take part in testing.

For more information,  see this PDF document outlining the testing process with details on accessing a hosted test instance of ArchivesSpace, suggested tasks, and a reference to an online reporting form.  If you wish to participate, we ask that you commit to completing the software testing by 5 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Tracking ArchivesSpace Progress

The ArchivesSpace development team has enabled “read only” access to its Pivotal Tracker project management platform. ArchivesSpace is using Pivotal Tracker to help manage development using the Scrum methodology.  Community members interested in tracking the software development process may view the user stories and programming tasks prioritized for development and awaiting prioritization.  More information on Pivotal Tracker is available.

About ArchiveSpace

ArchivesSpace is open source software, and its source code is available on Github.  For the technically inclined, build instructions and technical documentation are available.  As a disclaimer, no technical support is currently available to software testers, but the developers are eager for early feedback.  If you have trouble getting a test server running, feel free to ask for help or report problems to the ArchivesSpace Google Group email list.

ArchivesSpace is being developed by Hudson Molonglo in partnership with the New York University Libraries, UC San Diego Libraries, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Libraries with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and organizational support from LYRASIS. Questions about ArchivesSpace development should be directed to the ArchivesSpace Google Group or Mark A. Matienzo, ArchivesSpace Technical Architect <mark.matienzo@nyu.edu>.

 

 Posted by at 9:45 pm

ArchivesSpace 0.2 Released

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Oct 292012
 

My name is Kyle Rimkus, Preservation Librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Steering Committee member for the Archivists’ Toolkit/Archon Roundtable of the Society of American Archivists.  At last year’s Annual Meeting, there was some discussion of using the Roundtable to facilitate communication between the ArchivesSpace team and their user community.  I’ve agreed to help with this, and am sending this message as an update on current activities.  This week, ArchivesSpace is releasing version 0.2 of its software, which includes support for the following:

  • Archival Description — the ability to create and edit records for
    • Accessions
    • Resources (including instance, container, and location)
    • Subjects
    • Agents (Persons, Families, Corporate Bodies, Software)
    • Digital objects (basic implementation)
    • Events (to track donor communications or management and preservation actions)
    • Rights management
    • Extent statements, notes, and date statements
  • User Roles — creating user accounts with permissions to:
    • change groups and other settings for a repository
    • create, modify, and delete records in a repository
    • view the records in a repository
  • EAD import and export (basic implementation)
  • Multiple repositories
  • A REST-based API for interaction with the backend data store

A video walkthrough of these features can be found here.

ArchivesSpace 0.3 is scheduled for release in January, 2013.  Software development in November and December will focus on:

  • User interface and record enhancements, including support for adding, rearranging (drag and drop), and deleting resource and digital object component records
  • Search functionality
  • Authentication enhancements
  • Tools to migrate instances of the Archivists’ Toolkit and Archon to ArchivesSpace
ArchivesSpace is open source software, and is available for download from its home repository on Github.  For the intrepid and technically inclined, see these instructions for installing the most recent version, or the simplified Quick Start.  As a disclaimer, no technical support is currently available to software testers, but its developers are eager for early feedback.  If you have trouble getting a test server running, feel free to ask for help or report problems to the ArchivesSpace Google Group email list.  ArchivesSpace is still in its “alpha” phase, and its first stable release is targeted for August, 2013.



Stay Tuned For…

  • The California Digital Library will coordinate beta testing of the ArchivesSpace user interface in early 2013.  Expect calls for participation soon.
  • ArchivesSpace partners are collaborating with LYRASIS on a plan that will detail how institutions may participate in ArchivesSpace governance. Details will be made available in the coming months.
  • If you are attending the DLF Forum in Denver, don’t miss Sustaining ArchivesSpace on Sunday, November 4th at 2:00 PM.

ArchivesSpace is being developed by Hudson Molonglo in partnership with the New York University Libraries, UC San Diego Libraries, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Libraries with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and organizational support from LYRASIS. Questions about ArchivesSpace development should be directed to the ArchivesSpace Google Group or Mark A. Matienzo, ArchivesSpace Technical Architect <mark.matienzo@nyu.edu>.

Kyle Rimkus
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
 Posted by at 6:43 pm

ArchivesSpace selects Hudson Molonglo as development partner

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Jul 092012
 

The ArchivesSpace Team is pleased to announce the selection of Hudson Molonglo Pty Ltd as the development partner for ArchivesSpace, an open source software application that combines the functional strengths of the two leading American archival collection management systems: Archon and the Archivists’ Toolkit.

Hudson Molonglo is an IT consulting firm for higher education, libraries, and archives with staff located both in the US and Australia. The selection of Hudson Molonglo was conducted through a formal Request For Proposal and rigorous evaluation process. The ArchivesSpace Team is excited to have reached this milestone and looks forward to working with Hudson Molonglo over the next 12 months.

Luc Declerck, University of California, San Diego
David Millman, New York University
Beth Sandore, University of Illinois

Katherine Kott, ArchivesSpace Development Manager
Mark Matienzo, ArchivesSpace Technical Architect

LYRASIS Identified as Organizational Home for ArchivesSpace

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Apr 202012
 

On behalf of the ArchivesSpace team, I am pleased to announce that LYRASIS will become the organizational home for the ArchivesSpace project.

The identification of LYRASIS as the organizational home for ArchivesSpace is an important step toward ensuring a sustainable future for the financial, technical, and governance life of the ArchivesSpace system. In turn, it ensures continuity for the hundreds of archives that now depend on the Archivists Toolkit (AT) or the Archon systems to support the management of and access to archives. Engaging the ArchivesSpace user community in a new membership and governance structure will be the central factor in sustaining a vibrant software tool. LYRASIS’ demonstrated ability to foster collaboration among its member libraries and other archival institutions positions it well to support this activity. Development of the ArchivesSpace software system is slated to commence in summer 2012, with release by the end of 2013.

About LYRASIS: Created in April 2009 by the merger of the PALINET and SOLINET library services consortia, and joined shortly thereafter by NELINET, LYRASIS is the largest regional membership organization serving libraries and information professionals in the United States. LYRASIS includes more than 1700 member institutions across the US and internationally. Though large in scale, LYRASIS is known for its local touch – fostering collaboration and cooperation among members and facilitating their success through networking and programming, innovative solutions, and significant cost savings through group purchasing for products and services. For more information, please visit http://www.lyrasis.org.

For the full press release, visit http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2012/04/18/lyrasis-to-serve-as-base-for-archivesspace.html.

New and updated specifications available

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Mar 232012
 

The ArchivesSpace team has uploaded updated drafts of existing and new documentation to the project website, available on the Specifications section of the website. Drafts of specifications are indicated by revision date. The new and revised specifications are listed and linked below:

As always, we welcome feedback on the specifications via the ArchivesSpace Google Group or via e-mail to Mark A. Matienzo, Technical Architect, at mark.matienzo@nyu.edu.

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