Getting Started. 1
Starting your Research. 1
Description of Research Tools. 1
PROV Research Tools. 1
Research Pathways. 1
PROVguides. 2
Downloading a Research Tool 2
Where to Find Online Indexes/Records. 2
PROV’s Archival Control Model 2
Physical and Digital Records. 2
Why/When to Register 3
Training. 3
Accessibility. 3
Access Services Charter 3
To start your research, search or browse the online catalogue
to find records of interest. PROV’s online catalogue is arranged
according to the Archival Control Model. From a Search
Results or Browse Results page, you can navigate to Details pages about components of
the Archival Control Model.
Alternatively, visit one of our reading rooms and discuss your
research with PROV Reference staff.
Once you have located the records you are interested in you
can order them to view in one of
PROV”s reading rooms.
For more detailed information about finding records in the
PROV collection, read the Getting
Started research pathway.
PROV produces Research Pathways and PROVguides to assist users
with their research, and these are grouped under the ‘Research
Tools’ menu. All research tools can be viewed online or downloaded
as PDF files.
PROV produces research pathways to provide assistance on
common research areas or paths. Research pathways can be accessed by
selecting a link from the ‘Research Pathways’ drop-down list
located in the ‘Research Tools’ menu. The research pathways
currently available at PROV are listed below:
Getting
Started
Family and Local History
Koorie
People and Places
Finding
Records at PROV
Further Research Resources
Exhibitions
and Online Learning
PROVguides provide information about specific areas of the
collection and details about the services PROV offers.
To view a list
of PROVguides, select an option from the ‘Research
Tools’ > ‘PROVguides’ menu. Selecting the
‘Subject List’ option will display the list of PROVguides sorted
by the Subject column. Selecting the ‘Numerical List’ option
will display the list of PROVguides sorted by the PROVguide
number column. Clicking on the hyperlinked number will navigate to the
PROVguide.
PROVguides can be returned in the list of search results for
a Simple Search and
an Advanced Search
where the ‘All’ check box is selected. Clicking on the
hyperlinked number will navigate to the PROVguide.
Links to PROVguides may also appear on the Details pages for Groups,
Functions, Agencies and Series.
To download a research tool as a PDF file, navigate to the
research pathway or PROVguide and click on the PDF icon. The File
Download dialogue will be displayed.
To view the research tool without saving it, click on the
‘Open’ button.
To save the research tool for later use, click on the
‘Save’ button and select a location to save it to.
To open and view a PDF file, you will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader software, available free from Adobe. The Adobe website
provides links to download the software.
PROV’s list of online indexes, databases and records
can be found in PROVguide
23 PROV’s Digitised Records and Online Indexes.
PROV’s
Archival Control Model
Public Record Office Victoria’s Archival Control Model
consists of hierarchically related components of information: Functions,
Groups, Agencies, Series, Consignments, Units and Items. Items and Units
can be ordered for viewing in one of our reading rooms. The other
components help you with your research by putting the records in context.
For more information on PROV’s Archival Control Model, read PROVguide 66
PROV’s Archival Control Model.
PROV’s collection contains physical and digital
records: physical records are “hard copy” records, typically
paper files, volumes, photographs etc. To view physical records researchers
have to log in to the catalogue, order records and visit a PROV reading room. Digital
records are any records that are stored electronically. Digital records
can be viewed online at any time.
PROV has two types of digital records; digitised records and
electronic records. Digitised records are digital records that are
digital copies of physical records, such as digital copies of paper files,
photographs etc. Electronic records are digital records that were
originally created electronically and are stored electronically.
For more information about PROV’s digital records,
including online indexes and databases, read PROVguide 23
PROV’s Digitised Records and Online Indexes
Digital records are VEOs. A VEO (VERS Encapsulated
Object) is a single electronic object that represents an Item or Sub-Item. It
consists of four components:
· Documents (including possibly multiple
representations of content in long-term preservation format)
· Recordkeeping Metadata
· An XML wrapper
· Digital signatures
For more information on VEOs, visit the VERS website.
All public and government users must register as a User to
be able to order physical records for viewing. Other actions, such as
searching, browsing the catalogue or viewing digital records online, do not
require a user to be registered.
Staff from Government Agencies must register as a government
user. This will enable them to use the online catalogue to search for and
order records, including closed records for which the Agency is responsible.
If you already have an active Archives@Victoria user
account, you do not need to re-register, but you will need to log in before
placing an order.
Public users can register online using the Public
User Registration form.
Government users can register online using the Government
User Registration form.
PROV provides training on how to use the online
catalogue. Visit the PROV training web
page to see what training is available.
Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) is committed to
ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs.
For more information, read PROV’s Accessibility
Statement.
PROV is committed to providing a quality service to all its
clients. Read PROVguide
22 PROV Records Access Service Charter for information about the service
that can be expected from PROV.