Tutorial: Many Ways to Search: Finding Aids

Finding Aids
Archivists create finding aids to help researchers find materials in larger collections, which may require more detailed information than a catalog record can provide.

Finding aids are fairly standardized in format, and provide:

Descriptive information, such as the language and size of the collection;
Administrative information, such as any restrictions on use;
Historical context for the collection's creator;
An overview of formats and subjects;
An explanation of how the collection is arranged; and, finally,
An inventory of the collection.

Not all of our collections have finding aids yet, but you can search all the finding aids we do have by clicking on the “Search Collections” link in the left hand navigation bar.

1. Introduction
2. Primary sources
3. Materials don't circulate
4. Collections vary widely
5. Many ways to search
   -The Cat
   -Finding aids
   -Other sources
6. Plan ahead
   -Subject experts
   -Offsite materials
   -Time-consuming retrieval
7. Visit us in person
8. Tour