Several folks have commented that the course is moving by so quickly. We aren’t quite half-way through, but already I see you developing the ability to think like a digital archivist and come to terms with all the ambiguity that accompanies working in this field. As you are beginning to realize, what initially appears to be black and white (think the hard-to-understand definitions for the Dublin Core elements), quickly becomes fuzzy around the edges as you try to apply them when adding metadata to your items. At first glance, DC seems to be a prescriptive language; but in the end it needs to be applied carefully and thoughtfully. Sometimes there are no hard and fast rules, and as Chrisie and Cathy mentioned in their posts, you are probably finding yourself making many small decisions before you even begin to add metadata to an item.
There are many layers of complexity to digital archiving and not many simple answers. We struggle to find the ‘just right’ title, as Miguel noted in his latest blog post, or to add a description that says neither too much nor too little, or to make decisions such as should we complete the coverage field or will the date suffice, all the while honoring the victims and their families. Yet all these little decisions that we are forced to make present us with wonderful opportunities for growth and learning.
Right now, you are in the midst of the initial stages of a project where everything, while moving a bit slowly, is starting to come together. I see all of you beginning to ask the questions that need to be asked, and grapple with the issues that need to be resolved in order to move forward with an item. You are developing a relationship with the process of archiving, with the knowledge itself, and ultimately with the material, not to mention getting used to working collaboratively with your partner and the other members of the class.
As many of you are discovering, there are inherent difficulties with designing a digital archive for an actual organization. There are boundaries and limitations that require you to think in realistic terms. This is a good thing as it grounds you in reality and helps you develop the ability to apply your knowledge, problem solve, and often think ‘outside the box’.
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