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- Alex, age 19, Junior
- Lives on campus
- Computer savvy
- A light library user; has never done research in special collections before and has made little to no use of databases or finding aids
- Unfamiliar with institution’s holdings, but looking for an interesting senior essay topic that will make heavy use of primary sources at institution
Local Researcher
- Morgan, age 70
- Drives 45 minutes to visit library, and wants to maximize time on campus
- Unaffiliated with institution, so access is limited to some collections, databases, and holdings
- Does not like using computers
- Does not use e-mailEasily confused by jargon. Expects that searching ArchivesSpace will be intuitive (requiring no prior training) and immediately produce relevant results
- Will be frustrated if it isn't immediately obvious whether or not materials have been digitized. If materials have been digitized, this user wants to be able to access them instantly.
- Would like to be able to save and share links to finding aids that are of interest.
Local Researcher
- Chris, age 70
- Drives 45 minutes to visit library, and wants to maximize time on campus
- Unaffiliated with institution, so access is limited to some collections, databases, and holdings
- Does not like using computers and does not use e-mail.
- Primarily communicates with library staff in person or via telephone
- Would like to do genealogical research, but does not have any idea where to start.
- Prefers using physical, original materials over digital objects
Administrative Staff
- Jaime, age 45, administrative assistant in the institution's President's Office
- Works on campus, half a mile away from library
- Windows user, comfortable using MS Office Suite
- Has been granted access to restricted institutional records, the specific contents of which are not published in public finding aids
- Needs to track down specific, restricted files for use by the President
- Always working on tight deadlines
- Prefers to visit repository only to pick up pertinent filesand microfilm. Chris will be frustrated to learn upon arrival at the repository that the originals cannot be accessed (due to their having been digitized or microfilmed).
- Is not cognizant of restrictions surrounding the institution's student records and alumni files, and needs to be clearly informed of any such restrictions up-front.
- Will be confused if opening several different tabs and/or windows is necessary to request one item. Would have an easier time with a simple, fluid experience that encompasses searching for collections, identifying specific folders of interest, and requesting materials.
Administrative Staff
- Jaime, age 45, administrative assistant in the institution's President's Office
- Works on campus, half a mile away from library
- Windows user, comfortable using MS Office Suite
- Always working on a tight deadline, and prefers to visit repository only to pick up specific pertinent folders
- As Jaime is not a library employee, Jaime has not been granted access to the ArchivesSpace back end, but has been granted access to the finding aids for some restricted institutional records (the specific contents of which are not published in public finding aids). Needs to be able to easily search these semi-public finding aids and instantly request specific, restricted files at the folder level.
- Regularly deals with accessions that contain many thousands of folders, and does not want to hunt around, scrolling endlessly, to identify the accession and box numbers that correspond to a chosen folder.
Academic Publisher
- Morgan, age 35, photo editor for an academic publisher
- On a tight deadline
- Looking for appropriate photographs to publish in a professor's latest book
- Has no familiarity with ArchivesSpace and expects that searching will be confined to photographic materials only, and wants to be able to instantly peruse any digitized images and their relevant metadata (including citation line)
- Needs to know any relevant information about copyright upfront in order to know what images to pursue, and how to go about obtaining the necessary permissions.
- Would like to order copies of interesting images, and will be frustrated if the steps toward doing so are not immediately apparent.
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Academic Library/Special Collections Personas (added by Matt).
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