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Houghton Library creates finding aids to describe its manuscript collections using EAD, a standardized markup language. Finding aids created by Harvard libraries are displayed in OASIS (Online Archival Search Information System). Collections are described with the XML/EAD authoring tool currently in use by the section. The Houghton EAD Templateand and Houghton , Houghton EAD front matter guidelines should , and the Houghton EAD container listing guidelines should be consulted for general guidelines on how to proceed, noting, of course, that each collection is unique and may require varied approaches and/or modifications. The Senior Manuscript Cataloger may be consulted as necessary for advice on how to proceed in setting up the finding aid. There are also General notes on creating a finding aid that may be useful for learning variant practices.
Workflow:
- If your collection does not already have a call number assigned to it, assign a call number using the Excel spreadsheet H:\HOUGHTON\Technical Services\MS Section\MS Shelf-list\Manuscript shelf-list.xslx
- Utilizing the EAD template, establish the structure of the finding aid using series, sub-series, etc...
- Describe collection contents as determined and agreed upon in the Processing Plan.
- Following Houghton EAD front matter guidelines, fill in the front matter.
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- Submit finding aid and MARC record for review by Senior Manuscript Cataloger.
- When finding aid and MARC are returned to you, make corrections to your documents and store your final version of the finding aid in your inbox on the H: drive.