Attention: archivists
Cuadra Associates has unveiled a new version of STAR/Archives, its archives collections management system. The company reports Version 2.0 features both browser-based retrieval across collections and allows for dynamic generation of “finding aids” (hierarchically structured descriptions of collections or records groups) from within the public access catalog. Cuadra explains many archives have not yet automated and some of the archives that have automated are still creating only static finding aids, such as XML documents, outside of the process of accessioning and cataloging their collections.
Cuadra reports it used the built-in features of the firm's STAR software to create a solution that preserves the archival tradition of creating levels of description, top-down, while providing for the dynamic generation of finding aids that include the most up-to-date information about the collection and its scope, history, creators and inventory. The archive staff can enhance the levels of description or incorporate new research into their descriptions at any time and the finding aid is automatically regenerated.