Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives, SPEC Kit 314 (November 2009)

Hackbart-Dean, Pam; Slomba, Elizabeth

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 35
Please describe the other position or entity that has this responsibility. N=17
Developing processing policies N=14
Accessioning and Processing Archivist assists with establishing policies.
Assistant Archivist
Assistant Head, Preparation Section, who, like the Head of the section, reports to the Assistant Chief and Chief of the
division.
Assistant University Archivist and other professional archival staff
Curator of Manuscript &Assistant Curator of Manuscripts
Curator of Manuscripts processing archivists
Director of Archives and Research Collections and Archivist Librarian
Division Head
Library Director
Manuscripts Librarian
Media &Oral History Archivist and Electronic Records Archivist have responsibility for respective formats.
Policies related to manuscript processing are developed by the Assistant Department Chair, Manuscripts and are then
ratified by the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators before being implemented.
This is collaborative to a high degree — but “responsibility” resides largely with Head and Assistant Head.
Typically, this is the head curator or archivist.
Setting processing priorities N=15
Accessioning and Processing Archivist assists with setting processing priorities.
Assistant Head, Preparation Section, who, like the Head of the section, reports to the Assistant Chief and Chief of the
division.
Curator of Manuscripts Department Head
Curator of Manuscripts
Director of Archives and Research Collections and Archivist Librarian
Director of Libraries
Assistant University Archivist and other professional archival staff
Division Head and Technical Services Archivist
Manuscripts Librarian
Media &Oral History Archivist and Electronic Records Archivist have responsibility for respective formats.
Priorities are set by Department/Unit Head for manuscript collections and University Archivist for university records.

Previous Page Next Page

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives (November 2009) resources

Extracted Text (may have errors)

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 35
Please describe the other position or entity that has this responsibility. N=17
Developing processing policies N=14
Accessioning and Processing Archivist assists with establishing policies.
Assistant Archivist
Assistant Head, Preparation Section, who, like the Head of the section, reports to the Assistant Chief and Chief of the
division.
Assistant University Archivist and other professional archival staff
Curator of Manuscript &Assistant Curator of Manuscripts
Curator of Manuscripts processing archivists
Director of Archives and Research Collections and Archivist Librarian
Division Head
Library Director
Manuscripts Librarian
Media &Oral History Archivist and Electronic Records Archivist have responsibility for respective formats.
Policies related to manuscript processing are developed by the Assistant Department Chair, Manuscripts and are then
ratified by the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators before being implemented.
This is collaborative to a high degree — but “responsibility” resides largely with Head and Assistant Head.
Typically, this is the head curator or archivist.
Setting processing priorities N=15
Accessioning and Processing Archivist assists with setting processing priorities.
Assistant Head, Preparation Section, who, like the Head of the section, reports to the Assistant Chief and Chief of the
division.
Curator of Manuscripts Department Head
Curator of Manuscripts
Director of Archives and Research Collections and Archivist Librarian
Director of Libraries
Assistant University Archivist and other professional archival staff
Division Head and Technical Services Archivist
Manuscripts Librarian
Media &Oral History Archivist and Electronic Records Archivist have responsibility for respective formats.
Priorities are set by Department/Unit Head for manuscript collections and University Archivist for university records.

Help

34 · Survey Results: Survey Questions And Responses
This is generally true, but there are occasional exceptions, particularly if the accession is recent and we have reason to
believe that there may be privacy/confidentiality issues in the materials.
We don’t “advertise” unprocessed or minimally processed collections, but if a research question/inquiry leads to the
location of such materials, we do not, generally, restrict access unless there is some legal reason to do so.
We restrict access only when absolutely necessary either due to donor wishes or HIPAA privacy concerns or fragility.
We try to provide as much access as we can to all our collections.
While not an ideal situation, access is sometimes permitted to facilitate research that would otherwise be prevented
or significantly delayed. Access is granted after a review of the relevant fonds/collection to identify particular concerns
regarding access/privacy or conservation. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, with access sometimes provided
only if the researcher enters into a specific agreement.
With caveats.
Yes, to minimally processed collections. (2 responses)
Yes, to minimally processed archives. Only occasionally for unprocessed collections.
No
Generally not, however university departments have access to their own material.
Only exception would be in the case of a donor wanting to review their collection.
Security concerns dictate that only processed material is available for use.
We make occasional exceptions for researchers, but generally try to avoid doing so.
Decision Makers
5. Please indicate which positions in your unit/department/library have responsibility for developing
processing policies, setting processing priorities, and managing processing activities for manuscript
and archival materials. Check all that apply. N=75
N Developing Policies
N=75
Setting Priorities
N=75
Managing Activities
N=75
Archivist 65 58 60 63
Department/Unit Head 64 59 58 44
Support staff 35 8 10 33
Librarian 30 21 25 25
Team 18 12 15 9
Other professional 17 12 12 17
Committee 7 4 3 2
Other position or entity 17 14 15 13

Previous Page Next Page

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives (November 2009) resources

36 · Survey Results: Survey Questions And Responses
Processing priorities are set by the curator responsible for the collecting area that the materials fit in.
Professional archivist staffer
Typically, this is the head curator or archivist.
This is more broadly collaborative, with active participation by professional and support staff again final decisions rest
with administrative staff.
Managing processing activities N=13
Accessioning and Processing Archivist supervises student assistants in processing projects.
Active management of a specific project is assigned to a specific individual, who may coordinate the work of student
assistants or volunteers.
Assistant Head, Preparation Section, who, like the Head of the section, reports to the Assistant Chief and Chief of the
division.
Assistant University Archivist and other professional archival staff
Curator of Manuscripts &Assistant Curator of Manuscripts
Curator of Manuscripts processing archivists
Curators manage the paraprofessionals, students and volunteers who do the processing.
Director of Archives and Research Collections and Archivist Librarian
Manuscripts Librarian
Media &Oral History Archivist and Electronic Records Archivist have responsibility for respective formats.
Professional archivist staffer
Support staff or an associate curator
Technical Services Archivist
6. Please list the title(s) of up to three staff (or team or committee) in this unit/department/library
who have responsibility for developing processing policies, setting processing priorities, and/or
managing processing activities for manuscript and archival materials. Briefly describe this position’s
primary area of decision-making responsibility. Then enter an estimate of the percentage of time
the individual or group spends on each type of activity. N=73
Position Title and Primary Decision-making Responsibility
Position 1: Archivist Responsible for creating, implementing, reporting on, and participating in all of the above, about 30%
of time. Approximately 5% of time within that 30% is given to developing policies and setting priorities.
Position 1: Assistant Archivist for Records and Collections Management Arrangement and Description and
Collections Management.

Previous Page Next Page

Page 7Survey Results click to expand contents

Page 123Representative Documents click to expand contents

Page 125Job Description of Processing Decision Maker click to expand contents

Page 129Job Descriptions of Processing Staff click to expand contents

Page 133Processing Policy click to expand contents

Page 137Processing Procedures Manuals click to expand contents

Page 143Processing Worksheets click to expand contents

Page 151Procedures for Prioritizing Processing click to expand contents

Page 155Collecting Processing Statistics click to expand contents

Page 159Sample Statistics Reports click to expand contents

Page 163Selected Resources click to expand contents

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives (November 2009) resources

All section downloads (PDF) click to expand contents

Extracted Text (may have errors)

Help

loading

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives (November 2009) resources

SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts & Archives (November 2009) resources