[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Hospital librarian, archival responsibilities, need advise...



I'm the part-time archivist for Methodist Hospitals of Dallas.  I have
initiated the archival program here.  We formed committees to oversee
not just the archival program but a "history" program as we are
approaching our 75th anniversary.  I put forth the proposal to create an
archives and established a material budget to purchase made-to-order
shelving, acid-free boxes and file folders and Mylar sleeves.

I spend 10 hours a week evaluating and organizing materials according to
established archival standards.  The committees reviewed the archival
policy that I set forth.  The policy was adapted from information
derived from "Keeping Archives," which was used in my archival theory
and practice courses.  In addition to my coursework, I reviewed less
than a dozen journal articles on the efforts of others to create a
hospital archives.  (Our own medical librarian got me the journal
articles.)  Several articles note the types of items they have chosen to
preserve, one even provides a "master list."  The committee has also
helped determine what we are interested in, but my history background
helps me determine the worthiness of some materials for research
purposes that the committee may not consider.  We are also actively
conducting oral histories.

If your new archivist has the proper background, particularly archival
coursework and a degree in history, you will already have a good
resource in that individual.  They should already be aware of the basic
guidelines for determining whether materials should be kept.
Basically,  the value of an item is determined by 1) its age, 2) its
uniqueness, 3) its informational content, 4) its format (will it hold up
under long-term storage), 5) its volume (will storage cost outweigh its
value?), 6) its condition (we copy highly acidic newsclippings onto
acid-free paper and toss the originals, and dismantle most scrapbooks).
Beyond these guidelines, think of what materials users would want to
have available 25 or 50 years from now, and you will know what current
items to acquire and maintain.

First and foremost, our intention is that the archives will be used by
making it available not only to employees but to the community as well.
I am creating a computer database of as I organize the materials.  We
are also compiling a written history, and much of the material we have
acquired will help considerably in this.

Leslie Wagner
MHD Archivist

Linda Gorman wrote:
>
> I have been a hospital librarian for quite some time, but just recently, (last week) moved to Johns Hopkins Bayview Library where I have responsibility for an archival collection.
>
> Currently we have just hired a part time person for the position of archivist.  There is a small room filled with tons of things.  An area of the hospital has been designated as the archival area.
>
> I would appreciate any advise you can give, some of my most immediate questions are:
>
> What things does a hospital library typically archive?
> What policies and procedures do you have concerning collection o materials, usage, archiving of materials
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
>
> Linda Gorman
> Director, Library Services
> Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
> 410-550-0679
> lgorman@webmail.jhmi.edu
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
>       In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
>                     *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
> To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu
>
> Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
>      http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
>
> Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>