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Re: what do you call your archival storage?



Speaking of morgue -- I may actually end up there (ah - not THAT way, at least not yet, I hope!!).

Let me explain:  our university is actually the site of an old psychiatric institution -- the largest this side of the Mississippi, in fact -- and the new library (to be built in approx. 4 years) will be in and among the old medical hospital -- which is, of course, complete with morgue!!  When I first took this job, I used to joke about putting the archives in the morgue -- but now, it may NOT be a joke!!

Yikes!!


Evelyn Taylor
Cal. State Univ., Channel Islands


Max Evans <mevans@UTAH.GOV> wrote:

>Good question. Although not a pet name, it is really an important public relations question. It may seem trivial to us ("call me anything but late for dinner"), but how we refer to our spaces affect public opinion.
>
>In trying to get support for a new building, I have tried to avoid using the word "storage." It is too easy for people to think of a warehouse, or, worse, one of those mini self-store units found throughout the country, where security concerns are superficial and environmental controls non-existent.
>
>I hate morgue. Don't even go there.
>
>I like stacks, but it does not quite convey the sense we want.
>
>Repository or depository are both stuffy and easily confused with a treatment for certain unmentionable medical conditions.
>
>I kind of like Maryland's "Hall of Records", but I'm trying to build space for library and museum materials, also.
>
>What's wrong with "The Vaults" instead of the stacks (note the use of caps to give weight to the phrase).
>
>What about "Hall of Treasures" or "Treasure House" or "Storehouse"?
>
>I look forward to seeing what others think about this.
>
>Max J. Evans
>Director, Utah State Historical Society
>(801) 533-3551
>mevans@utah.gov
>http://history.utah.gov
>
>>>> Michael Rhode <RHODE@AFIP.OSD.MIL> 3/26/02 10:09:13 AM >>>
>A writer friend of mine asked:
>
>"Is there a pet name for the file storage room, some jokey monicker that's
>not to obscure for the outside world to comprehend? Y'know, like "morgue"
>in
>the newspapers?"
>
>Unfortunately, I just use 'the stacks'  which isn't very interesting.
>Anyone else have something good for him?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike
>
>Michael Rhode, Archivist
>Otis Historical Archives
>National Museum of Health and Medicine
>Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
>Washington, DC 20306-6000
>202-782-2212; FAX 202-782-3573
>http://natmedmuse.afip.org/
>http://natmedmuse.afip.org/collections/archives/archives.html
>PLEASE NOTE: The archives is closed for renovation effective January 21,
>2002.
>
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>
>Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>
>
--




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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>