Guiding Principles - CSH digital archive

Records

1. Model the physical organization and format of the origianal (paper) records.
2. Capture relationships among the records. (for example, ordering among registers or front and back scan of a photograph)
3. Incorporate fine-grained access policies for different types as well as forms of records.

Process

1. Design using standards-based schemas and data models – adopt existing data models and properties and properties wherever possible. Only create new elements where none of the existing ones are suitable.  
2. Don't over-design – design for a well-defined set of use cases and to support specific features.
3. Design incrementally – following #2 above, design for the basic cases and extend the design to include additional use cases or features. 
4. Design at a low granularity and merge as necessary – using a bottom-up approach, create data models, access features, and user interfaces for different types of records and adapt these as appropriate for other types of records. The opposite will be a top-down approach, creating a set of common features, which can then be specialized for each kind of record. The bottom-up approach will allow for common features to bubble up to the top organically rather than enforcing unnecessary features on collections where these are not appropriate. The bottom-up approach aligns with the "don't over-design" principle, described above. 
5. Document the design process as well as the rationale behind the design decisions.
6. Design openly – seek feedback early and often. Don't expect to have a perfect design. Plan to have many eyes review and approve