Assessments can help you evaluate your collections and can be used to support budget discussions, preservation planning, fundraising activities, and grant applications. Assessments provide a detailed report with recommendations for long-term preservation of collections.
PRESERVATION NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
ARE YOU . . .
- Wondering where to begin on improving preservation practices?
- Looking for new solutions to persistent preservation problems?
- Trying to gain institutional support for preservation activities and goals?
A Preservation Needs Assessment will . . .
- Identify priorities for improvement by taking a holistic perspective to collections care.
- Provide practical recommendations to improve the storage of your materials.
- Assess the condition of a representative sample of your collection.
- Give you a road map to guide your preservation activities for the next five years.
- Make your organization more competitive when applying for grant funding.
DIGITAL PRESERVATION ASSESSMENTS
ARE YOU . . .
- Looking for steps a smaller institution can take to preserve its digital heritage?
- Wondering where to begin when planning for the preservation of your digital collections?
- Hoping to improve the sustainability of your program through policy and workflow documentation?
A Digital Preservation Assessment will . . .
- Help your organization fine-tune its collecting policies for digital materials.
- Introduce organizations to sustainable and scalable strategies for digital preservation.
- Evaluate the technological resources available to staff and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Identify priorities for improvement by taking a holistic perspective to collections care.
COLLECTION-LEVEL ASSESSMENTS
ARE YOU . . .
- Trying to gain institutional support for conservation activities and goals?
- Thinking about improving access and looking for guidance?
- Dealing with problematic objects such as film-based collections?
A Collection-level Assessment will . . .
- Focus on a specific subgroup of the collection and the material's current storage conditions.
- Provide a broad overview of the condition of your collection as a whole.
- Recommend next steps for the long-term care of your collection.
- Help with creating policies for access to the collection.
ITEM-LEVEL ASSESSMENTS
ARE YOU . . .
- Thinking of next steps after achieving important preservation goals?
- Planning to conserve high-value or at-risk collections?
- Seeking a better understanding of the condition of your items?
An Item-level Assessment will . . .
- Provide specific information about each object.
- Establish individual conservation priorities and condition levels.
- Recommend steps for the long-term care of a specific part of your collection.
- Assist with internal decisions about treatment of your materials.
QUESTIONS? Interested in learning more?
See: Assessments and Consultations
Or Contact:
Michael Lee, Director of Paper and Photograph Conservation
Bexx Caswell-Olson, Director of Book Conservation
Bryce Roe, Director of Audio Preservation Services
Ann Marie Willer, Director of Preservation Services