Introduction to Archon for
CARLI Members
Jen Masciadrelli, Library Systems Coordinator, CARLI Office
Sarah Horowitz, Special Collections Librarian, Augustana College
January 18, 2013
Introduction to Archon Outline
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What is Archon?
Why would I want to implement Archon?
How can my institution participate in CARLI’s
implementation of Archon?
What should I consider before implementing Archon?
How do I get my data into Archon?
How can I change the look and feel of the public
interface?
Where do I go for more information?
Q&A
What is Archon?
Archon is an open source tool for managing
descriptive information about archival materials and
publishing that information on the web.
CARLI’s Archon instance:
http://archon.carli.illinois.edu/carli
http://archon.carli.illinois.edu/xxx
http://archon-test.carli.illinois.edu/xxx
List of Archon implementations:
http://archon.org/implementors.php
Why would I want to implement
Archon?
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Customizable, public interface for your collections
Finding Aid metadata exposed to search engines
Export records in MARC format to easily add
them to your local OPAC and OCLC
Manage your finding aids in a searchable
interface
How can my institution
participate in CARLI’s
implementation of Archon?
Send an email to support@carli.illinois.edu
indicating your interest.
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Include your institution’s name, the name and email
address of the primary contact as well as the name
and email addresses of anyone else who should have
an Admin login.
What should I consider before
using CARLI’s implementation
of Archon?
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Institutions will receive access to an instance on
both a production and a test server.
The CARLI implementation of Archon has a
shared repository for subjects and creators.
CARLI does not plan on offering the full range of
training and support for Archon as it does for
other products it provides.
What should I consider before
using CARLI’s implementation
of Archon?
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Is Archon right for your institution?
Will Archon do what you want?
What are you currently using to store your data?
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What will Archon provide that it doesn’t?
How easy will it be move your data over?
Is it worth it to move to a new system?
What should I consider before
using CARLI’s implementation
of Archon?
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Using Archon may lead to workflow and
procedure changes
The box list is a big deal for many people
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Some institutions have actually changed the way they
process because of this
What can you tweak if you don’t want to do
something the way Archon wants you to?
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Sometimes Archon won’t let you change things
Some changes are limited because of the shared
nature of CARLI’s implementation
How do I get my data into
Archon?
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Plan before you add any data
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Theoretical knowledge about Archon
Practical ideas about how to move data
There are a number of different hierarchies in
Archon, and you may want to take advantage of
these
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One is already taken up with your institution name
You can set up “filters” in your “classification schema”
How do I get my data into
Archon?
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First you have to get it out of where it was before
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Crosswalk! Not all systems use the same terms
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This may dictate how you want to put in the data
Archon’s administrative view and public view don’t
always use the same terms, either
Put in your creators, subject headings, and genre
terms first, then add collection information
How can I change the look and
feel of the public interface?
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CARLI can upload an image you provide.
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Must be .png format, transparent, and approximately
64 pixels by 64 pixels. Send to
support@carli.illinois.edu
If further customizations are desired CARLI will
provide you with the cascading style sheets and
php files
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Section 7.0 of the Archon User Manual
(http://archon.org/UserManualv2.21.pdf)
Once edited we will upload the files to the archon-test
server for review, then once approved to the archon
server.
Where can I go for more
information?
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Archon-ig@carli.illinois.edu email list
CARLI Archon FAQ
http://www.carli.illinois.edu/memserv/mem-train/121109annual/archonFAQ201211.pdf
Official Archon webpage http://www.archon.org
 http://forums.archon.org/
Luther College http://journeystoamerica.blogspot.com/
Archon sites of other institutions
http://archon.org/implementors.php
Q&A
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Please type questions into the Chat box.
Any questions we cannot answer or don’t get to
during the webinar we will answer via email
Thank you for attending!
As always, please contact support@carli.illinois.edu
with any questions!
Thank you!