Instructions for Creating a Video for the ArchivesSpace User Screencast Series

Owned by Christine Di Bella
Last updated: Feb 25, 2022
3 min read

The ArchivesSpace User Screencast Series is designed to help ArchivesSpace users benefit from each other’s expertise in using the application for common tasks. It’s a fun way to supplement and extend the user manual provided to ArchivesSpace members. (And as we are offering a $100 honorarium per video accepted for the series, it can be a little bit lucrative too!)

If you would like to record a screencast for the series, please follow these basic steps. If you have any questions along the way, please contact Christine Di Bella (christine.dibella@lyrasis.org) for help.

 

1. Reserve a topic

A list of past and future topics for the series is online. Contact Christine to reserve an available topic. While the available topics on the list are the highest current priorities, you are welcome to suggest topics that are not on the list. In that case, please verify with Christine that your suggestion is appropriate for the series before proceeding.

 

2. Select your video creation software

You are welcome to use any video creation software you like as long as it can create an MP4 file. The ArchivesSpace team uses Camtasia, which is available as a free trial if you do not have a paid license. We like Camtasia because it’s easy to use, has many useful features, and works well on a PC, but there are many other options. Other options include Jing, iMovie, and Windows Movie Maker. If you need help selecting from these options, please contact Christine.

If you're unfamiliar with Camtasia and would like to try it out, Chad Conrady created this handy tutorial: Making a MP4 Screen Capture Video with Camtasia.pdf

3. Record your screencast

See https://docs.archivesspace.org/screencasts/index.html for examples of screencasts already recorded for this series. When you’re recording your own, please keep the following in mind:

  • Record in a room with no background noise or distractions.
  • Speak clearly and at a natural conversational pace (not too fast, not too slow).
  • Videos should be no more than 10 minutes long; most should be between 3 and 7 minutes. If you find yourself going longer than this, it’s better to simplify your script than to speed up your speaking pace.
  • Remember that these screencasts are for a wide audience, so limit your use of terminology specific to your institution or showing off local practices that differ significantly from wider professional practice.  Your basic objective is to illustrate how the ArchivesSpace application works generally.
  • Check our technical specifications document for suggestions on screen resolution, audio settings, etc.
  • If the software you’re using enables you to easily add captions, consider doing so. (If not, the ArchivesSpace team can do that after the video file has been submitted to us.)

4. Send the raw file and signed release to ArchivesSpace

Once you’ve finished your video, contact Christine, who will send you information on where to send the project file from your video software. Provide the following metadata for the video at the time of submission:

  • Name of narrator(s)
  • Date recorded
  • ArchivesSpace version used
  • Browser and operating system used

Please submit a signed release for the screencast. Screencasts will be posted in a members-only area to start, but we anticipate that over time they may be shared more widely. We ask that you sign our release so that your work can be widely shared and repurposed by ArchivesSpace and by members of the user community.

ArchivesSpace program staff will verify that the video is ready for the series. We will add an introductory slide that identifies it as part of the series and also add captioning if you haven’t already. For captioning purposes, if you created a script while preparing the video, please also send the Word file for the script.

Once the video is ready to go, the program staff will post it to the members area at https://docs.archivesspace.org/screencasts/index.html.

For the purposes of paying you the honorarium, please also submit a completed W-9 form. You will usually receive your honorarium within 6 weeks. If you prefer to forego the honorarium, or would like to donate it to someone else, please let us know.


5. Enjoy your newfound fame and fortune as an ArchivesSpace screencaster!

Thank you for your participation!