Archives for the Lay Person: A Guide to Managing Cultural Collections (American Association for State and Local History)

For volunteers or staff at small organizations, collections management can be a daunting task. Archives for the Lay Person is a guidebook for people who care for historical records, photographs, and collections but do not have the appropriate professional training. Lois Hamill provides practical, step-by-step guidance for managing all facets of archival collections, from acquisition, arrangement, and description to storage and security. The book also offers advice on how to utilize PastPerfect software for collections database management. Basic definitions and concepts -- Acquiring new materials -- Organizing the collection -- Describing the collection -- Photographs. Part 1, Handling, arranging, identifying, rehousing, and describing -- Photographs. Part 2, Management and use -- Reference and researchers -- Security -- Exhibits -- Your storage environment -- Other types of materials -- Outside specialists -- Additional manpower -- Disaster preparedness -- Appendixes. Collections management can be a daunting task for volunteers and employees alike. Archives for the Lay Person provides practical, step-by-step guidance for those managing all facets of archival collections at small organizations.