How to Join the OAC as a Contributing Member

Steps to Take

Procedures

1. Complete the OAC Application Form.
2. Upon notification of application approval by the OAC:
   • Review OAC Contributing Members Benefits & Obligations Statement
   • Review OAC Collection Development Policy for Finding Aids and Digital Content
3. All contributing members become part of the OAC. Museums and other institutions with museum-type collections may also participate in Museums and Online Archives Collaboration (MOAC; see Website for more information).

   Consult with the OAC Manager who will pair the new contributing member with an OAC Working Group member as part of the OAC Mentoring Program to discuss participation in either OAC or MOAC, as appropriate for your institution.

   Review the following best practice guidelines and standards, as directed by mentor:

   • OAC Best Practice Guidelines for Encoded Archival Description (OAC BPG EAD)
   • Minimal Level OAC MARC Records for CDL, Version 1.1
   • OAC Best Practice Guidelines for Digital Objects, Version 1.1

   OAC contributing members identified as MOAC participants should also review general and technical documentation found on the MOAC Website, including the following:

   • Rinehart, Richard. Musems and Online Archives Collaboration.
4. Review OAC EAD support documents:
   • Doing EAD Locally
   • Submitting and Editing Finding Aids

Once You Are a Member

• Your name will be added to the OAC Listserv for communication updates.
• An OAC BPG EAD-compliant OAC EAD Web Template will be created for your institution, if requested.

OAC Mentoring Program

All new OAC contributing members are paired with an OAC Working Group member, who will serve as a "mentor." Mentors are volunteers who are experienced with implementing and using EAD according to OAC best practice guidelines.

In order to assist new contributing members in becoming fully functioning participants within the OAC, the mentor will explain the importance of observing best practices, provide general recommendations for sustainable encoding practices, walk through data submission and publication procedures, troubleshoot encoding, and provide general advice about participating in the OAC.

Mentors should consult the OAC Mentoring Information document for a summary of responsibilities. If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please contact the OAC.