This guide to online archival work was assembled as part of an English MA applied thesis project based around exploring online archival practices through the Decker Press collection at WIU’s Malpass library. The readings, resources, and other information listed here includes the items that were most helpful in working on the Decker Press project; however, this guide itself could always be expanded by others who wish to contribute their own experiences working with any form of online archives!
The resources are divided into two main sections:
1) Books, articles, and other readings on archival concepts, best practices, and emerging issues of online collections
2) Links to useful websites and other tools related to digital preservation and public access
As technology evolves and communication becomes increasingly digital, the storage and distribution of historical information is also able to take new forms. In addition to being a physical place filled with boxes of papers, an archive can be a digital space that allows wider audiences to view information. Online archival processes might include uploading scans of documents, which serves dual purposes of preservation and distribution, or contributing information to virtual spaces that connect to larger institutional or educational systems.
Archives are important for a variety of audiences, and considering the different purposes that each demographic might have is something to keep in mind while assembling an online resource. A key function of an online archive is providing the information that could be the raw material for any number of projects: a student writing a paper for a class, a researcher tracing genealogical histories, a literary scholar analyzing a certain poet’s work in the cultural context of the time, or even a computer engineer who wishes to work with the site itself to enhance digital storage or search possibilities. Increased accessibility through internet archives benefits audiences who may not be able to visit the archive in person for any number of reasons. Increased accessibility also benefits the institution and the collection itself, as more people can discover a previously unfamiliar topic and use it in their own projects.