SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 51
1st most important factor: 2nd most important factor: 3rd most important factor:
Other factor above. Funding is the most
important factor.
Patron demand. We make every effort
to focus on collections that faculty or
students express need to use.
Consortial/collaborative activities. These
projects benefit more than one group
(i.e., our library and the collaborator)
they also are high profile and generate
good outreach.
Other factors: donors expect tax receipt
in time to file privacy legislation has
legislated time limits for approving or
denying access.
Response to patron demand: special
research projects (such as departmental
or corporate histories may demand
improved access.
Institutional priorities: special media
like photographs and film are in high
demand and are considered priority for
digitization.
Other—topic of collection. See above Anticipated high use—collections that
I expect to receive little use, either
because of the topics covered or quality
of documentation of that topic—are
given a lower priority. Many collections in
the backlog seem to have little research
value, in my opinion.
Preservation—endangered collections
require more immediate steps to ensure
their long term viability.
Other: donor agreements — must
prioritize according to time frame
communicated in writing in the donor
agreement.
Preservation: prioritize objects that
must be stabilized and/or reformatted
to address any immediate risks to the
collection, staff or potential users.
Anticipated use: prioritize on perceived
demand.
Patron demand indicates processing the
collection will have immediate results for
access.
High use collections that are ready to
be used will fulfill patron demand more
quickly.
Some collections are processed due to a
high-profile/or university-related creator
or donor.
Patron demand is probably the most
important factor in moving a collection
out of the backlog and to the front of the
queue for processing.
Anticipated high use is a major factor
with newly-acquired collections.
Resources permitting, we often process
these immediately rather than adding
them to the backlog.
“Institutional priorities” can mean many
things—as I use it here, it is related
to anticipated use. We try to identify
collections in the backlog that relate
directly to curriculum and programming.
Patron demand—records are deemed
important to current researchers,
including administratively within the
organization.
Anticipated high-use—research value for
historical, educational or use in outreach.
Preservation risks—the physical
condition including the amount of
damage or deterioration and amount of
unstable materials.
Patron demand: most important a
known constituency for a collection puts
it to the top of the queue.
Institutional priorities: collections that
support the strengths of the extant
collection as well as the goals of the
institutions receive high priority.
Anticipated high-use: no point in
processing if there’s no demand.
Patron demand: If we know someone’s
waiting for the collection, we try to
accommodate.
Anticipated high use: We work with
public services and curatorial staff
members on determining this.
Grant funding available: Dollars can’t be
ignored, and there are usually time limits
attached.
Patron demand: we choose collections for
which patrons have been waiting.
High use: we choose collections that we
know will be used frequently.
Institutional priorities: we choose
collections needed to supplement
cataloging or aid in exhibits.
1st most important factor: 2nd most important factor: 3rd most important factor:
Other factor above. Funding is the most
important factor.
Patron demand. We make every effort
to focus on collections that faculty or
students express need to use.
Consortial/collaborative activities. These
projects benefit more than one group
(i.e., our library and the collaborator)
they also are high profile and generate
good outreach.
Other factors: donors expect tax receipt
in time to file privacy legislation has
legislated time limits for approving or
denying access.
Response to patron demand: special
research projects (such as departmental
or corporate histories may demand
improved access.
Institutional priorities: special media
like photographs and film are in high
demand and are considered priority for
digitization.
Other—topic of collection. See above Anticipated high use—collections that
I expect to receive little use, either
because of the topics covered or quality
of documentation of that topic—are
given a lower priority. Many collections in
the backlog seem to have little research
value, in my opinion.
Preservation—endangered collections
require more immediate steps to ensure
their long term viability.
Other: donor agreements — must
prioritize according to time frame
communicated in writing in the donor
agreement.
Preservation: prioritize objects that
must be stabilized and/or reformatted
to address any immediate risks to the
collection, staff or potential users.
Anticipated use: prioritize on perceived
demand.
Patron demand indicates processing the
collection will have immediate results for
access.
High use collections that are ready to
be used will fulfill patron demand more
quickly.
Some collections are processed due to a
high-profile/or university-related creator
or donor.
Patron demand is probably the most
important factor in moving a collection
out of the backlog and to the front of the
queue for processing.
Anticipated high use is a major factor
with newly-acquired collections.
Resources permitting, we often process
these immediately rather than adding
them to the backlog.
“Institutional priorities” can mean many
things—as I use it here, it is related
to anticipated use. We try to identify
collections in the backlog that relate
directly to curriculum and programming.
Patron demand—records are deemed
important to current researchers,
including administratively within the
organization.
Anticipated high-use—research value for
historical, educational or use in outreach.
Preservation risks—the physical
condition including the amount of
damage or deterioration and amount of
unstable materials.
Patron demand: most important a
known constituency for a collection puts
it to the top of the queue.
Institutional priorities: collections that
support the strengths of the extant
collection as well as the goals of the
institutions receive high priority.
Anticipated high-use: no point in
processing if there’s no demand.
Patron demand: If we know someone’s
waiting for the collection, we try to
accommodate.
Anticipated high use: We work with
public services and curatorial staff
members on determining this.
Grant funding available: Dollars can’t be
ignored, and there are usually time limits
attached.
Patron demand: we choose collections for
which patrons have been waiting.
High use: we choose collections that we
know will be used frequently.
Institutional priorities: we choose
collections needed to supplement
cataloging or aid in exhibits.
