SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 45
Setting Processing Priorities
7. What factors are considered in setting priorities for the order in which to process manuscript and
archival collections? Check all factors that are considered. Check up to three of those factors that
are the most important in setting processing priorities. N=75
Factor Considered
N=75
3 Most Important Factors
N=75
Anticipated high-use 73 60
Response to patron demand 72 44
Size of collection 68 16
Institutional priorities 67 34
Time commitment 65 15
Preservation risks 60 12
Backlog 53 4
Availability of grant funding 46 17
Processing policy 42 6
Consortial/collaborative activities 29 3
Digital format shelf life 20 —
Other factor(s) 33 16
Please describe the other factor(s) and how much weight it has in setting processing priorities.
N=32
1. Staff processing assignments to match experience and independent decision-making skills. 4 FTE processors balance
work with other assignments 3 FTE Graduate Assistant processors begin anew each year and need to be trained.
2. Privacy and access issues access limitations agreed upon with donor. 3. Anticipated accruals, ongoing accession.
4. Reformatting issues for A/V content. 5. “High profile” gifts or purchases, especially those that affect donor or
community relations. 6. Monetary value of the item or collection. 7. Significance of the collection in overall collection
development profile. 8. Existence of original or meaningful order. 9. Complexity of appraisal decisions.
1) Whether we have endowments (gift funds) or one-time gifts to process collections these funds will pay for archival
supplies and student wages. 2) Donor demand for processing. These two factors have the heaviest weight.
Availability of donor funding.
Availability of non-grant resources, funding from donors and availability of interns, also appropriateness for
undergraduate student workers.
Availability of staff and assistants donor related issues (contract stipulations, donor relations) difficulty of use of
collections (unprocessed or minimally processed and described).
Collection identified for offsite storage (Annex) to free up shelf space —One of the 3 most important factors.
Condition of the materials: If a collection is in extreme disarray, we may not process it as quickly because it requires
more resources and more experienced staff. Availability and experience level of staff: It takes 6 months to 1 year to
Setting Processing Priorities
7. What factors are considered in setting priorities for the order in which to process manuscript and
archival collections? Check all factors that are considered. Check up to three of those factors that
are the most important in setting processing priorities. N=75
Factor Considered
N=75
3 Most Important Factors
N=75
Anticipated high-use 73 60
Response to patron demand 72 44
Size of collection 68 16
Institutional priorities 67 34
Time commitment 65 15
Preservation risks 60 12
Backlog 53 4
Availability of grant funding 46 17
Processing policy 42 6
Consortial/collaborative activities 29 3
Digital format shelf life 20 —
Other factor(s) 33 16
Please describe the other factor(s) and how much weight it has in setting processing priorities.
N=32
1. Staff processing assignments to match experience and independent decision-making skills. 4 FTE processors balance
work with other assignments 3 FTE Graduate Assistant processors begin anew each year and need to be trained.
2. Privacy and access issues access limitations agreed upon with donor. 3. Anticipated accruals, ongoing accession.
4. Reformatting issues for A/V content. 5. “High profile” gifts or purchases, especially those that affect donor or
community relations. 6. Monetary value of the item or collection. 7. Significance of the collection in overall collection
development profile. 8. Existence of original or meaningful order. 9. Complexity of appraisal decisions.
1) Whether we have endowments (gift funds) or one-time gifts to process collections these funds will pay for archival
supplies and student wages. 2) Donor demand for processing. These two factors have the heaviest weight.
Availability of donor funding.
Availability of non-grant resources, funding from donors and availability of interns, also appropriateness for
undergraduate student workers.
Availability of staff and assistants donor related issues (contract stipulations, donor relations) difficulty of use of
collections (unprocessed or minimally processed and described).
Collection identified for offsite storage (Annex) to free up shelf space —One of the 3 most important factors.
Condition of the materials: If a collection is in extreme disarray, we may not process it as quickly because it requires
more resources and more experienced staff. Availability and experience level of staff: It takes 6 months to 1 year to
