Putting the User First: The Importance of the Reference Archivist in Online Projects

Abstract

This article examines the role of the reference archivist in the development of online tools through usability studies. Combining examples from the University of Illinois Archives with insights from literature on the impact of technology on reference, it explores the value added by reference archivists in developing new access tools through their experience and diverse knowledge of archival theory, collections, access systems, and user interactions. It also considers the role of the reference archivist in standardized implementation of access tools in university archives to encourage successful discovery and usage of historical materials and to promote collections beyond the reading room.