Community-based Collections, SPEC Kit 347

Santamaría-Wheeler, Lourdes; Belcoure Marcetti, Jessica; Fitzsimmons, Rebecca; Vargas-Betancourt, Margarita; Krzys Acord, Sophia

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SPEC Kit 347: Community-based Collections · 17
SURVEY QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES
The SPEC Survey on Community-based Collections was designed by Lourdes Santamaría-Wheeler,
Exhibits Coordinator, Jessica Belcoure Marcetti, Volunteer Coordinator for the Panama Canal Museum
Collection, Rebecca Fitzsimmons, Intake Coordinator for the Panama Canal Museum Collection, Margarita
Vargas-Betancourt, Caribbean Basin Librarian, and Sophia Krzys Acord, Associate Director of the
Center for the Humanities and the Public Sphere, at the University of Florida. These results are based on
55 responses from 48 of the 125 ARL member libraries (38%) by the deadline of April 6, 2015. The survey’s
introductory text and questions are reproduced below, followed by the response data and selected comments
from the respondents.
Many libraries today are actively acquiring much more than individual papers and institutional record collections—they are also
acquiring community-based collections. Community-based collections are those that have been amassed not by one individual
but by a collective, which may take the form of a museum, ethnic or cultural organization, or other diaspora group active in the
documentation of its past. Often these collections are emotional in that they speak to the community’s heritage and identity. As
such, these broad archives are often extremely personal to those who collected, and sometimes created, the materials. In addition to
more traditional roles such as caring for the physical collection, in working with community-based collections libraries are navigating
new territory with the integration and stewardship of these active and directly connected communities. An ongoing commitment
to community engagement, with some level of shared governance or other collaborative activity to build, process, or publicize the
collection, is often a key part of acquiring community-based collections.
The purpose of this survey is two-fold: to assess the breadth of practice taking place at the intersection of academic research libraries
and cultural communities, and to discover what activities are being conducted by these libraries to support community groups in the
collection, documentation, and stewardship of their shared heritage, including public outreach and educational initiatives relating the
collection. This type of work enhances and may potentially transform the traditional service role of libraries by suggesting a greater
continuity between the repository and the originator(s) of a collection.
The survey results will help academic libraries evaluate the potential impacts of acquiring community-based collections. The results
will also be evaluated to answer the following questions: By preserving and making accessible archival materials, how do research
libraries assist partner communities in achieving their outreach and stewardship goals? How do these projects draw on new
competencies and expertise for library professionals, and what strategies have libraries developed to support and evaluate this work?
What models have libraries developed to collaborate in new ways with the donors and creators of archival materials, while keeping
shared missions moving forward productively?
Some libraries have multiple, distinct community-based collections that may be organized and/or managed differently. In order to
more broadly understand the current landscape of community-based collections within ARL member libraries, we welcome separate
responses from the curators or managers of as many distinct collections within an institution as wish to complete the survey. Please
submit separate surveys for each community-based collection.

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SPEC Kit 347: Community-based Collections (July 2015) resources

SPEC Kit 347: Community-based Collections · 15
description of collections, as traditionally practiced
by archives and repositories, to a multifocal process
that includes the voices of the community. This takes
a variety of collection management forms the majority
of community-based collections are treated similarly
to other library acquisitions, while a smaller number
of libraries (~20%) are experimenting with innovative
peer-to-peer forms of engagement.
The low survey response rate coupled with the
relatively recent acquisition of the reported collec-
tions suggests that this is new territory for ARL mem-
ber institutions. The generosity and intensity of the
responses received on this survey point to this as
an important, growing area for research libraries to
watch in the near future. One can also infer from
the responses that the libraries’ traditional strengths
of service, preservation, and access are assets in the
acquisition of community-based collections. Yet, aca-
demic research libraries seem to lack widespread ex-
pertise and resources in community stewardship and
could benefit from looking toward similar cultural
stewards outside of peer institutions. This SPEC Kit
aims to provide important documentation and sup-
port for conversations between libraries, archives,
and other cultural entities about developing sustain-
able models to preserve and support community and
cultural heritage.

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Page 9Survey Results click to expand contents

Page 69Respresentative Documents click to expand contents

Page 71Collection Descriptions and Policies click to expand contents

Page 107Finding Aids and Guides click to expand contents

Page 157Advisory Boards click to expand contents

Page 163Donor Support click to expand contents

Page 169Job Descriptions click to expand contents

Page 179Selected Resources click to expand contents

SPEC Kit 347: Community-based Collections (July 2015) resources

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