Exhibitionism: Improving Access to Oral Histories through Online Exhibits

This study provides an in-depth examination of digital components used in the Web presence of university collections of oral histories. The researcher examines ways in which twenty-two universities are using the World Wide Web to supplement access to their oral history collections and provide value-added content for these unique resources. Descriptions of patterns and inconsistencies are provided to highlight ways in which repositories of oral histories can incorporate digital components to improve future collection website and online exhibit design projects. The primary purpose of this study is to address whether online exhibits used on repository websites are more effective environments than the websites themselves for supplementing access to oral histories and providing value-added content to these resources. The study suggests that universities that include online exhibits within their Web presence are overwhelmingly more likely to provide online patrons with supplemented access to their oral history collections and enhance these resources with value-added content