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There was some discussion about ArchivesSpace being mature as a tool but less mature in its use of digital objects, making it a good time to dig in and focus on some of these more areas.
Many attendees expressed an interest in expand the current spreadsheet functionality to allow for more robust bulk ingest of Digital Objects, including an expansion of fields included in the spreadsheet and the ability to include multiple file versions (links).
There was also interest in resources that would help people learn and improve their API (and specifically Python) skills. Recommendations for learning included a DPC Python Study group hopefully coming in summer 2023: https://www.dpconline.org/blog/wdpd/python-groups-update and a Coursera class https://www.coursera.org/specializations/python; , with a free version by the same professor: https://www.py4e.com/ as well as ArchivesSpace API-specific instruction. A recording of training related to using the ArchivesSpace API and an introduction to ArchivesSnake are available on the ArchivesSpace YouTube. ArchivesSpace API documentation can be found at https://archivesspace.org/application/technical-documentation. The community generated ArchivesSnake API client library is available at https://github.com/archivesspace-labs/ArchivesSnake
Members of the Metadata Standards Sub-team requested feedback on the types of metadata support users would like to expand or include. Attendees expressed interest in expanded metadata import and export support including the ability to export data for both digital objects and their affiliated archival objects.
While many users expressed frustration with the complexity of digital object records and the ability to create standalone digital object records, over 20% of survey respondents and some in attendance indicated a simplified digital objects module or removal of standalone digital objects would negatively impact their workflow.
The Usability sub-team is currently reviewing the New School Bulk Edit plugin for addition to core code. Many users expressed their support of this.
Many users expressed interest in training opportunities related to digital objects. The ArchivesSpace Trainers Corps recently offered a training on Digital Objects. The recording of this ArchivesSpace digital objects training is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDRzNOr1G-U&list=PL3cxupmXL7WiHyMc0uFmsCEIVOQmrI7FL&index=6 and Digital Object tutorial videos are available in the Help Center (ArchivesSpace members only) at /wiki/spaces/ArchivesSpaceUserManual/pages/915341360.
Improvements or Feature Requests
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Mentioned
The ability to do more importing, editing and exporting in bulk (including expanded spreadsheet functionality).
The ability to bulk import Digital Objects in the staff user interface (and avoid using the API for batch work)
Digital objects lite mode (like the full vs. lite mode functionality in the agents module) to allow for minimizing the number of fields or hiding standalone digital objects for those looking to simplify the interface.
Better standards mapping for digital objects within the module.
Expanded requesting functionality for digital objects.
The ability to spawn digital objects from archival objects and in general repurpose description when creating digital objects within the system.
The creation of an Ad Hoc ArchivesSpace Advisory Council team to review standards support and functionality of the digital objects module.
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