7.3 Accessibility and discoverability of digital archives

Digital archives are treasure troves of information, but they're only valuable if people can find and use them. Making these archives accessible and discoverable is crucial for preserving and sharing rescued stories with a wider audience.

From user-friendly interfaces to search engine optimization, there are many ways to improve access to digital archives. Compliance with accessibility standards and strategic outreach efforts can help ensure these valuable resources reach their intended users and make a lasting impact.

User-friendly interface design

Organizing and structuring content

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• Information architecture involves arranging the parts of a digital archive to be understandable and sustainable
• Organize content in an effective way (by subject, format, date, etc.)
• Structure the information hierarchy logically with categories and subcategories
• Use clear and consistent labeling for sections and navigation elements
• Implement controlled vocabularies to improve searchability of content

Intuitive navigation and search

• Design navigation systems that allow users to easily move through the digital archive and find materials
  • Include global navigation menus that are accessible from every page
  • Provide local navigation options based on the current page or section
  • Use breadcrumbs to show the user's location within the site hierarchy
  • Offer related links to guide users to similar or complementary content
  • Incorporate on-page links to enable easy jumping between sections
• Implement faceted search and browsing functionality
  • Allow users to explore the collection by applying multiple filters (subject, date range, content type)
  • Provide a clear interface for selecting and deselecting facet values
  • Display search results with relevant metadata and thumbnails
  • Offer sorting and pagination options to help users navigate large result sets

Accessibility considerations

• Ensure that the digital archive interface is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with disabilities
  • Provide text alternatives for non-text content (images, videos, audio)
  • Use sufficient color contrast and allow for content resizing
  • Implement keyboard accessibility for all functionality
  • Write clear and concise text content at an appropriate reading level
  • Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies (screen readers, magnifiers)
• Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards and best practices
  • Conform to the latest WCAG version (currently 2.1)
  • Aim to meet Level AA success criteria at a minimum
  • Test interfaces with automated accessibility evaluation tools and manual checks
  • Provide an accessibility statement outlining the archive's conformance status

Search engine optimization for archives

On-page optimization techniques

• Optimize the content and HTML of archive pages to improve search engine visibility
  • Use relevant keywords in page titles, headings, and body text ("digital archive", "historical documents")
  • Write unique, compelling meta descriptions for each page
  • Implement structured data markup (Schema.org) to provide semantic context
  • Ensure that content is original, comprehensive, and high-quality
  • Follow SEO copywriting best practices (short paragraphs, bullet points, internal linking)
• Improve the technical aspects of archive pages to meet search engine requirements
  • Optimize page load speed by compressing images and minifying code
  • Implement a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes and devices
  • Use a secure HTTPS connection with a valid SSL certificate
  • Create an XML sitemap and submit it to search engine webmaster tools
  • Implement canonical tags for duplicate or similar content pages

Off-page optimization strategies

• Acquire high-quality, relevant inbound links from other reputable websites to improve link popularity and PageRank
  • Create valuable, informative, or entertaining content that naturally attracts links
  • Promote content on social media channels to drive shares and referral traffic
  • Conduct outreach to relevant publications, organizations, or influencers for link opportunities
  • Contribute guest blog posts or articles to aligned external websites
  • Participate in online communities and forums related to archives and history
• Monitor and analyze link profile using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or Moz
  • Identify and disavow any low-quality or spammy inbound links
  • Compare link metrics to top-ranking competitor archives for benchmarking
  • Aim for a diverse link profile with links from different domains and IP addresses

Web accessibility compliance

WCAG standards and principles

• Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) international standards
  • WCAG is developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in cooperation with accessibility experts worldwide
  • WCAG 2.1 is the latest version covering a wide range of recommendations
  • Conformance levels include A (lowest), AA (mid-range), and AAA (highest)
  • Aim to meet all Level A and AA success criteria for maximum conformance
• Understand and apply the four main principles of WCAG
  • Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
  • Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable
  • Understandable: Information and the operation of the user interface must be understandable
  • Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies

Accessibility laws and regulations

• Ensure compliance with relevant accessibility laws and regulations based on the archive's jurisdiction and audience
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires U.S. federal agencies to make electronic and information technology accessible
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life
  • The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services
  • The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets standards for accessibility in Ontario, Canada
• Develop an accessibility policy and statement for the digital archive
  • Create a policy that outlines the archive's commitment to providing an accessible web presence
  • Define roles and responsibilities for maintaining accessibility compliance over time
  • Publish an accessibility statement that describes the archive's conformance status and any known limitations
  • Provide contact information for users to report accessibility issues or request accommodations

Outreach strategies for digital archives

Audience research and segmentation

• Conduct research to identify and understand the target audiences for the digital archive
  • Collect demographic information (age, gender, location, education level)
  • Gather psychographic data (interests, attitudes, values)
  • Analyze user behaviors and interactions with the archive website
  • Identify key needs, goals, and challenges related to using the archive
• Develop audience personas and journey maps to inform outreach strategies
  • Create fictional characters that represent typical users in each audience segment
  • Write detailed profiles including demographics, goals, motivations, and pain points
  • Map out the steps and touchpoints in the user journey from awareness to advocacy
  • Use personas and journey maps to brainstorm targeted outreach tactics and messaging

Multichannel communications planning

• Develop a comprehensive communications plan to provide stakeholders with information through various channels
  • Identify key stakeholder groups (researchers, educators, students, genealogists)
  • Craft strategic messages that align with the needs and interests of each audience segment
  • Select appropriate communication channels for each message and audience (email, social media, press releases)
  • Define SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals and success metrics
  • Create an editorial calendar to plan and schedule content across channels
• Leverage social media platforms to increase awareness and engagement
  • Share collection highlights, "on this day in history" facts, and behind-the-scenes content
  • Participate in relevant hashtag campaigns (#ArchivesHashtagParty, #AskAnArchivist)
  • Host social media takeovers or AMAs (Ask Me Anything) with archivists and curators
  • Run paid social media ad campaigns to reach new audiences and drive website traffic
• Publish regular email newsletters to keep audiences informed and engaged
  • Feature new collection acquisitions, digitized materials, and blog posts
  • Highlight upcoming events, workshops, and exhibitions related to the archive
  • Offer tips and tutorials for using the archive website and conducting research
  • Include clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to visit the website, explore collections, or contact the archive

Strategic partnerships and collaborations

• Identify and pursue collaborative partnerships with aligned organizations to extend the archive's reach and impact
  • Seek out academic institutions, historical societies, museums, and libraries with complementary collections or audiences
  • Propose joint projects such as research initiatives, educational programs, or digital exhibitions
  • Collaborate on grant applications to secure funding for shared goals and activities
  • Engage in co-marketing campaigns to cross-promote each organization's resources and services
• Establish mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders and influencers
  • Partner with educators to develop primary source sets and lesson plans using archive materials
  • Collaborate with scholars and researchers on publications, presentations, and data visualizations
  • Work with genealogical societies and family history centers to provide access to relevant collections
  • Engage local community groups and cultural heritage organizations in outreach events and programs