Working groups
Building an archival database dedicated to XX Century papers, mostly comprising collections related to political and cultural history, creates a series of problems connected with the progressive growth of numbers and quality of data. Since the institutes involved in the project are many, the main issue is to establish shared search tools.

Over the years we felt it was necessary to make the resources more accessible not only by publishing the databases on the web, but also suggesting research avenues.
As a cultural project, Archivi del Novecento considers one of its main targets to discuss these subjects and eventually conceive some possible solutions. In order to achieve these goals some working groups were established, to which archivists and researchers from the network are welcomed. The subjects chosen for the discussion are the following:

1. Archival description

The experience gained through the years shows that coordinated work brings good results to the activities of description normalization and helps to better use the software. Sharing knowledge within a large and diversified community of archivists helps broaden individual knowledge and deepens the shared topics. It also helps to launch a gradual process of uniformity.

The idea of establishing the working groups was originated by the firm belief that working in an archival network means not only to share the records, but rather to act inside a scientific and cultural community. The cooperation of many people makes the community richer and, in turn, the community gives back to individuals the opportunity for discussion and to enrich their professional experience.

This working group meets to discuss key subjects like archival description, how to fill in the fields on electronic records and, in general, problems related to using the Gea software in order to obtain its best usability and to achieve the higher degree of sharing and uniformity in the archival descriptions offered in the network.
After two years of face to face meetings the discussion continues through a dedicated mailing list coordinated by Simona Luciani.

2. Indexing

The Archivi del Novecento databases can be accessed through many search modes: archival data can be retrieved either by exploring the archival structure or through indexes or full-text queries. To ensure the effectiveness of queries made through indexes of Names, Places and Corporate bodies these lists must be compiled following homogeneous and unambiguous criteria. The so-called process of “index normalizations” is one of the topics discussed for a long time by the Archivi del Novecento working groups. During the group meetings normalization criteria were eventually established, after debating some case studies, troubled experiences and exceptions, always keeping in mind the existing archival rules and referring to experiences on the authority check made in the librarian field.

3. Editing

The group is involved in:
- deepening the research subjects already presented on the website, to promote the virtual aggregation of data;
- designing strategies to promote the value of the project to the public, i.e. through the production of CD-Roms, teaching units or activating links to other similar databases;
- coordinating a discussion list and processing ideas and suggestions received through it.

Within the framework of the 2005 agreement between BAICR Sistema Cultura and the Ministry for Cultural Heritage, the Editing group participates in creating a cultural project that employs and promotes the sources described in the Archivi del Novecento database. This project is available in the "Itinerari turistico culturali" section on the websites www.internetculturale.it and www.novecentoitaliano.it