Projects and
Professional Services
Science, the Scientific Community, and Industry
Information Services
In 1996 ASAP continued to offer high quality professional advice
and project management services in archives, records management
and information services to science, technology, and medicine-based
organisations and institutions. ASAP's services have been specifically
developed with the needs of the scientific community in mind.
Our work incorporates projects in a variety of areas: from the
records of individual scientists; advice and support to scientific
societies; the provision of archival tools to scientific and medical
institutions; and the planning and management of large-scale archival
projects for our clients in industry. This year, ASAP completed
successful projects for archival repositories, scientific institutions,
a variety of heritage organisations, and the power and pharmaceutical
industries.
ASAP's original brief concentrated on the documentation and preservation
of the records of Australian scientists and scientific institutions.
Our work in the industrial sphere has not led to neglect in these
areas; rather, it has been used to increase our activities in
these areas by providing avenues to access the records of significant
individuals within organisations. ASAP has also endeavoured to
increase the time and resources we are able to offer to scientific
societies that hold records of value but may not have the resources
to deal with them themselves. As always, we also attempt to educate
those working within science, technology and medicine about the
importance of their records and the need for preservation strategies.
ASAP's professional advice and project management in archives,
records management and information services generally take the
form of projects involving program planning, provision of software,
and advice and support for clients. Our clients may require advice
on many scales; from the fate of the few boxes that may be the
only records documenting a lifetime of scientific work, to dealing
with the classification and processing of many kilometres of records.
In 1996, we provided our clients with project planning and implementation,
provision of software, and advice and support on a range of archival,
project management and technological issues. Every project is
different and poses particular problems, so ASAP has concentrated
on developing flexible processes that can handle the records of
both large-scale and complex organisations, or small sets of personal
records.
Scoping projects have been undertaken for numerous clients, allowing
ASAP to establish the amount and type of records involved in a
potential archival project. ASAP has developed a means of gaining
control of records in situ, using archival methodology and ASAP ADS
tools, which provide organisations with overall control of their
records and a clear work plan for future work.
ASAP's contracted work incorporates project planning, management
and implementation. Contracts are normally undertaken by ASAP
in order to provide clients with methods of management for large
backlogs of uncontrolled records, but may also include the construction
of on-going records systems. ASAP also provides on-going archival
and records management services to a variety of organisations
- in particular scientific, technical and medical institutions.
The need to work on a variety of scales, and to varying levels
of details has been one of the influences in developing our Archival
Data-management System (ASAP ADS). In the ASAP ADS,
we believe our archival practice and research has resulted in
the development of a groundbreaking tool for archival management.
We are continuing to extend the capabilities of ASAP ADS
to include the use of the WWW; the integration of documentation
of records, artifacts and related materials to provide multiple
access points for current and future use; and the capture of images,
sound and text in electronic databases. We aim to offer services
at the cutting edge of the profession, which provide our clients
with the best possible products and allow us to fulfil our heritage
commitments while contributing to the archival community.
Complementing ASAP's efforts to preserve the records of science
is our commitment to making them accessible - to communicating
something of the richness and depth of Australia's scientific
heritage. Over the years, ASAP has broadened its activities in
this area, undertaking a series of important and on-going tasks
such as: the development of the Register of Archives of Science
in Australia (RASA); the publication of detailed guides to archival
collections; and the publication of the History of Australian
Science Newsletter. More recently, efforts have focused on
the development of resources for the World Wide Web (WWW). Through
our WWW site - ASAPWeb (http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/)
- we reach a national and international audience. ASAPWeb
has become one of the principal sites in the world for information
on the history of science, technology and medicine.
ASAP's central WWW resource is Bright Sparcs, a detailed
and innovative online facility providing information on the history
of Australian science, technology and medicine. While it has
grown out of RASA, Bright Sparcs is more than just a database.
Taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the WWW, Bright
Sparcs provides access to a range of biographical, bibliographical
and archival data sources, to create a rich research environment.
Over the past year, there have been substantial changes to the
design and content of Bright Sparcs. A grant under the
Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee's Improved Information
Infrastructure program has enabled much needed consolidation and
maintenance work to take place. In addition, funding provided
by the Australia Foundation for Culture and the Humanities has
made it possible for us to further our outreach efforts, developing
exhibitions and guides that will encourage exploration and use
of Bright Sparcs, particularly in schools.
As an early leader in the use of the WWW, ASAP has sought to provide
advice and encouragement to archival, scientific and heritage
groups seeking to develop their own Internet presence. ASAP has
established WWW sites for the Australian Academy of Science and
the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and has worked with
the Australian Society of Archivists to create an online version
of its Directory of Archives in Australia. ASAP also hosts
WWW sites and email discussion lists for a number of like-minded
organisations.
ASAP continues to explore new avenues for the promotion of Australia's
scientific heritage. The Cabinet of Curiosities, a project
developed under the NewIMAGES program, is a good example
of ASAP's commitment, flexibility and imagination. The Cabinet
will provide many opportunities for ASAP to further its aims
- opening Australia's scientific past for exploration by a much
wider audience.
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