Directory Evolution:
L.A. As Subject
Words by Stella Castillo
L.A. as Subject is a research alliance committed to promoting preservation and access of archival materials documenting Los Angeles history. L.A. as Subject began in 1995 as the L.A. as Subject Advisory Forum, which created a comprehensive print guidebook titled Cultural Inheritance/L.A.: A Directory of Less-Visible Archives and Collections in the Los Angeles Region, published by the Getty Research Institute. The Advisory Forum also released a companion online database to the guidebook in 1999. The publication and companion online directory were a huge leap forward in identifying and highlighting over 175 archival institutions throughout Los Angeles.
Flash forward to 2018 and the online directory at L.A. as Subject is still very active and has grown to over 230 members. The research alliance is now partnered with the University of Southern California who graciously hosts the well-known and oft-duplicated annual Archives Bazaar. The online directory needs an upgrade and now, thanks to the generosity of the California State Library under the Pitch-an-Idea grant program, the USC Libraries and L.A. as Subject will develop an online platform to replace this legacy directory!
The printed directory clocks in at 324 pages and is weighty!
Current iteration of the L.A. as Subject directory conveys basic information to the user, but it is time for the directory to move into the 21st Century and become more accessible!
The new directory will provide a user-friendly, intuitive way for the public to discover relevant materials and for archives to communicate and interact with the public. The new L.A. as Subject online portal will provide a free online platform for archives of all kinds to share their stories and connect with California students, teachers, activists, filmmakers, historians, preservationists, and other members of the California public. The new and improved directory will move L.A. as Subject into the future and enable smaller archives to post information about their collections, upcoming events, and social media feeds. The online platform will include a gallery for virtual exhibitions and a blog or wiki feature for discussions on topics in Southern California community histories.
A large part of this move is the recognition that community archives play essential roles in the preservation of California’s diverse cultural heritage. Smaller, volunteer-run archives include less visible but essential aspects of our historical record. L.A. as subject members are home to collections on African-American, Asian-American, Native American, and Latino experiences; arts, labor, and political organizations; industries from citrus to motion pictures. “These rich, diverse, ethnic collections are missing from U.S. and California digital libraries and online resources. L.A. as Subject has recognized this void and is looking to share them broadly.”As a result, holdings of smaller archives are often inaccessible to educators, researchers, students, and everyone who can benefit from greater engagement with Southern California histories.
LA as Subject constantly hears of the need to enhance and expand online resources that provide the diverse California public with access to the unique holdings of smaller archives with materials relevant to their communities, neighborhoods, and experiences. Smaller archives have limited IT infrastructures and online presences beyond free social media platforms. Their ability to connect with curators, researchers, K-12 students and teachers, and other members of the California public is therefore limited and with this platform L.A. as Subject aims to change that dynamic.
Archives Bazaar! So many people to talk to and, thankfully, many of them were willing to take the time to share their thoughts with us…
L.A. as Subject kicked off this process by hiring a Community Archives Specialist – me! – and by surveying its current members and the general public at this year’s Archives Bazaar in October. We received over 130 responses from both L.A. as Subject members and overall Archives Bazaar attendees. The members of the general public attending the Archives Bazaar who were kind enough to take the time to answer our survey questions proved to be a good cross-section of potential L.A. as Subject website users.
How members of the general public identified when answering our survey questions. “Other” types of respondent included volunteers, vendors, and “civilian.”
When talking with Archives Bazaar attendees, only 53% were even familiar with the L.A. as Subject website. Of those that were not familiar with the site, 87% stated that they simply did not know it existed. The remaining 13% either preferred alternative resources or said they did not need to use the L.A. as Subject website for any reason.
In the survey structure, members were asked about their usage of the L.A. as Subject website and were able to choose more than one possible use of the website. Learning about LA as Subject activities and events came in as the primary usage objective with outreach coming in a distant second. Only 18% of the L.A. as Subject membership came to the website to use the member Directory. We would like to change this and are working with our design and development partners to create more of an online community platform.
L.A. as Subject events and activities the clear reason for membership usage of the L.A. as Subject website.
Based on the survey results, it appears that the L.A. as Subject website is mainly accessed to find information about the Archives Bazaar, other events, and meetings. 25% of members of L.A. as Subject also stated that they use the website as an outreach tool with an additional 18% noting that they use the website for research purposes.
Both L.A. as Subject members and the public appreciated that the current website is a resource for materials related to Los Angeles history, but that it could be easier to use. Members overwhelmingly agreed that the ability to share information about their organizational activities and collections and seeing all L.A. as Subject members in one place is what they appreciated most about the current website. The public agreed that the addition of photographs, blogs, and additional visual content and resources is what they would like to see on the L.A. as Subject website.
We have taken this feedback to our design and development partners with the goal of transforming the current L.A. as Subject Directory into a platform where members will have the ability to use their Directory entry as a primary entryway to their collections. We are working to provide L.A. as Subject members space to discuss their Los Angeles based collections, photographs, blogs, event announcements and information, as well as updated contact and research information. We had a meeting with our design partners at the end of November and they are working with us to develop a more user-friendly public facing interface for members to populate with their information and collection materials. They are assisting us the overall design and look of the website, search-engine optimization, and overall accessibility.
Along with the development of this platform, it is my job to get in touch with current L.A. as Subject members and discuss more in depth what materials they hold in their collections. Through these conversations with our current members the plan is to create of a effective taxonomy to increase online findability through more specific collection descriptions and move more Los Angeles community collections into the forefront of Southern California research. Together we will move forward and evolve into a more dynamic and comprehensive archival community directory and research resource.
It is my goal to increase L.A. as Subject’s membership by reaching out and creating new connections with Los Angeles community archives in order to amplify stories of unique neighborhoods, identities, and communities. Please get in touch with me directly by email at stellaca@usc.edu to discuss community archives, local heritage institutions, or ways to increase online discoverability of archives of all kinds.
Stella Castillo is currently the LA as Subject Community Archives Specialist at USC. As the LA as Subject Community Archives Specialist, Stella is looking forward to connecting with LA as Subject Archive members and collaborating on increasing online discoverability and public engagement with Los Angeles archival collections. Prior to arriving at USC, Stella worked at Cal State Dominguez Hills on the CSU Japanese American Digitization Project and also served as an LA as Subject Resident Archivist.
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