SPEC Kit 307: Manuscript Collections on the Web · 107
the export of valid EADs for each collection. We consider all staff who are working on the description project to
be involved in ‘putting manuscript description online.’”
“Indiana University Archives also holds manuscript collections. At the Lilly Library, we do not keep statistics on
several of the questions you asked and I have left those questions blank.”
“It’s difficult to parse the work on university records separately from manuscript collections. None of our staff is
dedicated to arrangement and description, we all have broader responsibility.”
“Mainly I’m concerned that you realize that there are manuscript collections in the University of Oregon Archives
collections. The finding aids to these collections are processed and finding aids encoded and collections cataloged
just like the manuscript collections.”
“MIT has approximately 600 manuscript collections, ranging from a few or single items to over 200 cubic feet of
material. Most of the collections are those of former or current MIT professors.”
“Our collections are very large—typically 100 linear feet or more. This makes providing access to the container
lists a challenge and a goal.”
“Our institution is currently in the process of redesigning the portion of our Web site that provides access to
manuscript collections. Each collection will receive its own dedicated page which lists collection title, collection
number, extent, description, date, subject, and access notes. There will also be links present on this page directing
users to additional information including finding aids, catalog records, or item listings. Finding aids will be hosted
locally using an XSLT style sheet and MARC records will be created for all manuscript collections.”
“Rare Books: The manuscript collections are still generally under-organized and under-described. Despite regular
accession, there has never been the staff to undertake organization except at a very minimum level. Furthermore,
the whole question of Web access is one that has not been addressed. Osler: We find that the RAD entries on our
Web page are generating a lot of interest &use.”
“These answers apply to the manuscripts held by the U-M University Library. We report ARL statistics for the
University Library together with several independent libraries on the U-M campus, including the Bentley Historical
Library, which holds over 40,000 additional linear feet of manuscripts.”
“Two separate units are represented in the answers above: University Archives Rare Books &Special Collections
(Manuscripts Collections).”
“We are continually providing greater access to manuscript collections. Our next areas of work concern thematic
access and digital collections.”
“We currently have three vacant positions in our technical processing area—Acquisitions Specialist, Technical
Services (processing) Archivist, and Head, Special Collections Technical Services. Some of the statistics are based
on 2006–early 2007 figures, which are the latest I have.”
“We make an effort to create many levels of access to our collections. This survey touched upon EAD finding
aids and collection-level descriptions. We also create access to collections through online exhibits: http://
ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/archives/exhibit.html. Two other areas of the University Libraries have small
collections of manuscripts: the Law Library (http://law.lib.buffalo.edu/departments/info-services/collections/
Finding-Aids/index.asp) and the Music Library. The Music Library has a sort of middle online category: older forms
of inventories that would not now be considered finding aids, that have been put into HTML format for online
the export of valid EADs for each collection. We consider all staff who are working on the description project to
be involved in ‘putting manuscript description online.’”
“Indiana University Archives also holds manuscript collections. At the Lilly Library, we do not keep statistics on
several of the questions you asked and I have left those questions blank.”
“It’s difficult to parse the work on university records separately from manuscript collections. None of our staff is
dedicated to arrangement and description, we all have broader responsibility.”
“Mainly I’m concerned that you realize that there are manuscript collections in the University of Oregon Archives
collections. The finding aids to these collections are processed and finding aids encoded and collections cataloged
just like the manuscript collections.”
“MIT has approximately 600 manuscript collections, ranging from a few or single items to over 200 cubic feet of
material. Most of the collections are those of former or current MIT professors.”
“Our collections are very large—typically 100 linear feet or more. This makes providing access to the container
lists a challenge and a goal.”
“Our institution is currently in the process of redesigning the portion of our Web site that provides access to
manuscript collections. Each collection will receive its own dedicated page which lists collection title, collection
number, extent, description, date, subject, and access notes. There will also be links present on this page directing
users to additional information including finding aids, catalog records, or item listings. Finding aids will be hosted
locally using an XSLT style sheet and MARC records will be created for all manuscript collections.”
“Rare Books: The manuscript collections are still generally under-organized and under-described. Despite regular
accession, there has never been the staff to undertake organization except at a very minimum level. Furthermore,
the whole question of Web access is one that has not been addressed. Osler: We find that the RAD entries on our
Web page are generating a lot of interest &use.”
“These answers apply to the manuscripts held by the U-M University Library. We report ARL statistics for the
University Library together with several independent libraries on the U-M campus, including the Bentley Historical
Library, which holds over 40,000 additional linear feet of manuscripts.”
“Two separate units are represented in the answers above: University Archives Rare Books &Special Collections
(Manuscripts Collections).”
“We are continually providing greater access to manuscript collections. Our next areas of work concern thematic
access and digital collections.”
“We currently have three vacant positions in our technical processing area—Acquisitions Specialist, Technical
Services (processing) Archivist, and Head, Special Collections Technical Services. Some of the statistics are based
on 2006–early 2007 figures, which are the latest I have.”
“We make an effort to create many levels of access to our collections. This survey touched upon EAD finding
aids and collection-level descriptions. We also create access to collections through online exhibits: http://
ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/archives/exhibit.html. Two other areas of the University Libraries have small
collections of manuscripts: the Law Library (http://law.lib.buffalo.edu/departments/info-services/collections/
Finding-Aids/index.asp) and the Music Library. The Music Library has a sort of middle online category: older forms
of inventories that would not now be considered finding aids, that have been put into HTML format for online
