Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) to the 21st Century Implementation Initiative

FAIN: PW-264144-19

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX 78712-0100)
T. Aaron Choate (Project Director: July 2018 to present)

Upgrades to the Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) database, which contains approximately 13,000 finding aids from cultural heritage institutions large and small across the state.  Improvements to the TARO portal include updating the web site interface, upgrading the underlying infrastructure, and working towards standardizing descriptive metadata such as geographic names and subject headings.

The Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) consortium, based at The University of Texas at Austin Libraries, seeks $348,359 in funding (with matching funds of $317,457) to address our researchers’ need for improved access to TARO’s holdings. TARO is a free platform for searching finding aids for primary source documents preserved by repositories across Texas. While the site is widely known by researchers and receives millions of page views per year, its appearance and underlying infrastructure have remained static since its debut. The three-year collaborative project will implement improvements to the site’s appearance and functionality; test encoding standards updated to next-generation EAD3; work towards standardizing existing geographic names and subject headings; and provide training to TARO members. NEH grant funds will support salaries and benefits for an applications developer and metadata librarian, as well as improvements to the site’s design.

Associated Products

TARO Brown Bag meeting (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: TARO Brown Bag meeting
Author: Rebecca Romanchuk
Abstract: A one-hour virtual TARO Brown Bag meeting was held on June 23, 2020, attended by over 100 people, mainly staff at TARO member repositories, with audience polls and Q&A participation
Date Range: June 23, 2020
Location: Virtual

August 2020 TARO Update (Article)
Title: August 2020 TARO Update
Author: Rebecca Romanchuk
Abstract: Update from the Texas Archival Resources Online consortium
Year: 2020
Access Model: Subscription for current issues, open for back issues
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: The Southwestern Archivist
Publisher: Society of Southwest Archivists

TARO 2.0 Kickoff (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: TARO 2.0 Kickoff
Abstract: A kickoff event for the TARO 2.0 remediation project - attended by over 60 people, mainly staff at TARO member repositories, with audience polls and Q&A participation
Date Range: March 12, 2021

Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) Winter/Spring 2021 Updates (Article)
Title: Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO) Winter/Spring 2021 Updates
Author: Rebecca Romanchuk
Abstract: Updates from the Texas Archival Resources Online consortium
Year: 2020
Access Model: Subscription
Format: Journal
Periodical Title: The Southwest Archivist
Publisher: Society of Southwest Archivists

TARO 2.0 beta site testing concluded! (Blog Post)
Title: TARO 2.0 beta site testing concluded!
Author: Carla Alvarez
Abstract: Thank you to everyone who participated and provided feedback during the testing phase (May 18 to August 16) for the new TARO website. This post includes important date information that was previously sent to the taro-list and information about next steps.
Date: 08/18/2021
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2021/08/18/taro-2-0-beta-site-testing-concluded/
Primary URL Description: TARO 2.0 beta site testing concluded!
Blog Title: TARO 2.0 beta site testing concluded!
Website: TARO Today Blog

Control Access Terms/Browse List release! (Blog Post)
Title: Control Access Terms/Browse List release!
Author: Carla Alvarez
Abstract: We are excited to release the TARO Control Access List created by Devon Murphy, former TARO Metadata Analyst. This list will be used by repositories to update and create search terms for their finding aids within TARO. The Control Access Master List is in two parts.
Date: 07/08/2021
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2021/07/08/control-access-browse-list-release/
Blog Title: Control Access Terms/Browse List release!
Website: TARO Today Blog

Introducing…The New TARO Logo! (Blog Post)
Title: Introducing…The New TARO Logo!
Author: Robert Weaver
Abstract: For the last several months, Rebecca Romanchuk (TARO’s Immediate Past Chair) led a group of archivists from the TARO Steering Committee, various TARO subcommittees, and members of UT Libraries through a maze of almost a dozen concepts and color palettes. Ideas varied wildly, ranging from off-beat, mid-century-modern circles and diamonds framing the TARO acronym to a magnifying glass replacing the ‘O’ in TARO. But at last, the group’s hard work paid off. Without further ado, here it is!
Date: 03/26/2021
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2021/03/26/introducingthe-new-taro-logo/
Primary URL Description: Introducing…The New TARO Logo!
Blog Title: Introducing…The New TARO Logo!
Website: TARO Today Blog

TARO 2020 Report (Blog Post)
Title: TARO 2020 Report
Author: Rebecca Romanachuk
Abstract: This year has been a momentous one, especially due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and all the ways we have had to adapt to public health safety precautions while continuing the important work we do at our institutions to the greatest extent possible. Despite these trying circumstances, archives professionals have risen to the challenge and optimized productivity through new ways of working remotely and forging online connections that are anything but “virtual,” with fellow staff, volunteers, and our audiences. TARO is no different—our Steering Committee and subcommittees have moved to holding Zoom meetings this year rather than conference phone calls, and we believe these face-to-face interactions (even though through a screen) are building stronger collegial relationships that benefit TARO as well as reinforcing the many connections among our member repositories.
Date: 12/21/2020
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2020/12/21/taro-2020-report/
Blog Title: TARO Today
Website: TARO Today

TARO 2021 Report (Blog Post)
Title: TARO 2021 Report
Author: Samantha Dodd
Abstract: What an amazing year 2021 was for TARO. Never before have so many of our repositories, volunteers, and others from around the state come together to do so much for this consortium. From the massive data remediation efforts early in the year, to the diligent testing of the constantly evolving txarchives.org (or “TARO 2.0”) website, we somehow accomplished everything we had hoped. And we did it all despite continuing to negotiate COVID, winter storms, and other challenges. We on the TARO Steering Committee cannot thank every single one of you enough for all your hard work.
Date: 1/4/2022
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2022/01/04/taro-2021-report/
Blog Title: TARO Today
Website: TARO Today

Tell us what you think! (Blog Post)
Title: Tell us what you think!
Author: Samantha Dodd
Abstract: Blog post to remind participants to submit their observations re: the new site in the Web Tech committees survey of users.
Date: 11/2/2021
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2021/11/02/tell-us-what-you-think/
Blog Title: TARO Today
Website: TARO Today

TARO February News, Updates, and Coming Attractions (Blog Post)
Title: TARO February News, Updates, and Coming Attractions
Author: Samantha Dodd
Abstract: Hard to believe that we are already 2 months into 2022; time seems to fly by and yet, pandemically stand still. I hope this update finds you, your staff, your repositories, family and friends all well. I wanted to take a moment to give you a TARO update, and share some exciting coming events and news with you.
Date: 2/15/2022
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2022/01/12/new-member-initiative-year-3-report/
Blog Title: TARO Today
Website: TARO Today

TARO March news and updates (Blog Post)
Title: TARO March news and updates
Author: Samantha Dodd
Abstract: News and Updates project wide - for March 2022
Date: 3/15/2022
Primary URL: https://sites.utexas.edu/taro/2022/03/15/taro-march-news-and-updates/
Blog Title: TARO Today
Website: TARO Today

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