3 research outputs found

    Single Search with SOLR or what to do when everything goes to &@#$

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    All libraries periodically debut new technologies: a website redesign, new content management systems, subscribing to new databases, etc. Often these new technologies are welcomed and work well, but sometimes they fail to meet expectations...and occasionally they fail in a spectacular manner. Many libraries offer web-based search interfaces to digital resources, and current trends in search technologies are to index multiple material types in one platform and to provide a simple search box and a way for users to filter the results. The Minnesota Historical Society combined the separate search interfaces for some of our most popular records into a single, SOLR-based search platform. In the summer of 2015, the new search debuted to uniformly poor reviews from our users, and in the fall MNHS held a series of focus groups to get input on designing a new search. In this session, we will be sharing our experiences in the aftermath of this launch, including: Crisis management systems and styles Creating and using tools to ameliorate searchers\u27 frustration and to make a bad system usable Moving out of crisis mode: going forward with thought-out solutions and creating positive incremental changes Setting up and gathering feedback to improve the system Focus groups: what we learned about how users really prefer to search for historical research materials and genealogical records Best practices: proposed data points for building web interfaces to search across data silos and heterogeneous material types. Learning objectives: 1. Recognize technology projects with a potential for a bad debut and pre-plan for mitigating fallout. 2. Identify a set of concrete tools for handling the public side of tech crises. 3. Understand how to incorporate user input into search design as well as metadata issues to consider when incorporating vital records into a single search

    Documenting Flyover Land

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    Fueled by images of flat plains, small towns, and harsh winters, the midwestern United States is often perceived as nothing more than “flyover land” by outsiders. Though the political climate of the last several years has brought increased attention to the region, it has also reinforced the notion that the Midwest’s small towns and industries have been forgotten. Featuring speakers from Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, this session will explore the relationship between archives and rural life in the Midwest. Together, the speakers will address how archivists can capture and share stories that challenge the notion that the Midwest is nothing more than “flyover land.” Mark Anderson will explore the connection between documenting rural life in the Midwest and digital collections curation. Jackie Beckey will talk about the availability of resources related to various aspects of rural life in the Midwest, including resources available at her institution that document radical rural midwestern politics, as well as the lack of available documentation for American Indian genealogy research. Volodymyr Chumachenko will present on the ways his institution has done outreach work around records documenting agricultural communities and ranching in Kansas. Roxanne Dunn will talk about overcoming challenges to acquire a collection about a farmer’s rights, which had a direct effect on federal bankruptcy code. Carissa Hansen will speak about her efforts to promote and work with members of a rural community in Minnesota to build awareness for literary manuscript collections that capture small-town life in ways that are often unexpected

    Documenting Flyover Land

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    Fueled by images of flat plains, small towns, and harsh winters, the midwestern United States is often perceived as nothing more than “flyover land” by outsiders. Though the political climate of the last several years has brought increased attention to the region, it has also reinforced the notion that the Midwest’s small towns and industries have been forgotten. Featuring speakers from Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri, this session will explore the relationship between archives and rural life in the Midwest. Together, the speakers will address how archivists can capture and share stories that challenge the notion that the Midwest is nothing more than “flyover land.” Mark Anderson will explore the connection between documenting rural life in the Midwest and digital collections curation. Jackie Beckey will talk about the availability of resources related to various aspects of rural life in the Midwest, including resources available at her institution that document radical rural midwestern politics, as well as the lack of available documentation for American Indian genealogy research. Volodymyr Chumachenko will present on the ways his institution has done outreach work around records documenting agricultural communities and ranching in Kansas. Roxanne Dunn will talk about overcoming challenges to acquire a collection about a farmer’s rights, which had a direct effect on federal bankruptcy code. Carissa Hansen will speak about her efforts to promote and work with members of a rural community in Minnesota to build awareness for literary manuscript collections that capture small-town life in ways that are often unexpected.</p
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