Describing Anything That Walks: The Problem Behind the Problem of EAD.

Abstract

Is EAD dead? The validity of this question has increased considerably over the past decade, but is it a legitimate question to ask when so many archives have had success with EAD? This examination seeks to shed new light on the problem behind the design of EAD. It questions the use and character of the traditional finding aid as an appropriate tool for archives. There are three major categories of disadvantages that should be considered before EAD advances: the absence of users in the initial design of EAD and descriptive standards, the absence of appraisal as a guiding function in archives, and major technical obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]