Public expectations of swift, convenient access to information have grown over the last decade in conjunction with the increasing costs of maintaining manual information delivery systems. The resulting demands on resources have led many government agencies to review existing manual systems and to seek alternate solutions to established service delivery processes.
Within the heritage and cultural communities, this public demand is even higher as people begin to search out family and community histories. Concurrently, massive growth in the Information Highway in terms of access, capability, and data has promoted increased discussion regarding its usage, content and educational potential. Archival institutions are repositories of high quality information content, and therefore uniquely positioned to contribute in this area.
In the spring of 1993, the British Columbia Archives started the implementation of an imaging system that would facilitate greater public access to its holdings. The system developed by the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Victoria, provides rapid full text retrieval of information from a database containing over 100,000 textual descriptions of historical photographs, paintings, drawings and prints.
Beginning January 1995, the B.C. Archives initiated remote electronic access to this on-line information system via the Internet, for users of both Gopher and World Wide Web. By providing regional and world wide access to its historical visual records database, the B.C. Archives anticipated an increase in public awareness of community archives in general and the B.C. Archives specifically, attracting a broader range of people to Archives. The service would provide a timely and effective way to conduct advance research preparation prior to arriving at the reference room.
Subsequently, the range and extent of on-line information has continued to grow as the system has expanded to include finding aids and catalogues (Textual Records), resources for genealogical research featuring the Vital Event Indexes, and exhibitions such as the BC Archives Amazing Time Machine, an on-line historical wonderland for children of all ages.
This service may be accessed via the Internet: at http://www.bcarchives.bc.ca
Remote clients wishing to connect this service may do so via modem to their local Freenets, through Institutions offering access to the Internet, or through a local Internet service provider.
Clients are able to directly search and access information related to many areas of interest instantly, and without requiring the direct intervention of archival personnel. Clients have embraced this electronic method of service delivery. Usage of the system (see Access Statistics - BC Archives Public Access System) has almost doubled every year since its inception. Concurrently, the BC Archives also accepts Access and Research Inquiries related to its holdings through electronic means, including email and on-line electronic forms.