The WAAND directory employs an event-based data model in which events provide the context for information use. It documents the lifecycle of information through the intersection of objects in the data model at a specific date, time and place.

The WAAND directory is designed as three related MySQL databases that provide authoritative information about:

• Repositories holding artists' archives
• Collections of artists' primary source materials within repositories
• Artists represented in the archival collections

WAAND exports artist information in both ULAN and LCNAF schema with the intent to share authoritative information about contemporary women artists that may not be present in either database.

WAAND has been designed for interoperability.

WAAND is developing and promoting an XML schema for directory information that can be used by other organizations that are documenting archival collections and owning organizations.