Prerequisites before AI
Know what is digitised, what rights allow, who may access which fonds, and how descriptions are maintained. AI cannot fix a chaotic archive; it can amplify confusion if metadata is weak. Start with a well-described subset, not the entire ungoverned backlog on day one.
Implementation notes that prevent elegant failures
- Preserve citations to shelfmarks or digital object IDs
- Separate public finding aids from restricted collections
- Log access appropriately for sensitive material
- Return documents and context—not only chatbot prose
- Keep experts in the loop; they still need to read sources
Researcher experience
Offer search that surfaces passages and provenance. Resist the temptation to let the interface answer as if it were the archivist. A model that invents a citation is not “helpful”; it is a professional hazard.
Sustainability
Budget for ongoing description and rights review. Models will be replaced; your catalogue should not need to be rebuilt from scratch each time a vendor rebrands. Pair digitisation work with records digitisation guidance.