09 July 2009

The UK National Archives new animated guides

TNA have taken the KISS idea to heart with a new series of animated guides designed "to help you get the most out of your research and The National Archives' website."

They're short, just a couple of minutes and presented in Adobe Flash 8.0 - you can download a viewer at the site if needed.

There are six segments, the first four specific to TNA: how the records are arranged; the life of a document; using the catalogue; and ordering documents. The final two offer more general advice: preparing to research; and recording research results.

I can see scope for more of these, in particular for new visitors to TNA's building at Kew, although it may be that's not something they're looking to encourage.

These are certainly models for other organizations, like Library and Archives Canada, to consider when they look at how to help their clients with their research.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

All is not well in the UK as it relates to TNA [LAC take note]. Here is the link to Nick Barrett's comments [he of Who Do You Think You Are? (BBC)]in The Times as well as related commentary http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article6632538.ece