The Society applied for and was thrilled to receive a 2014 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) grant. This is Part III of a series of posts regarding the CAP assessment. (Here are Part I and Part II).
Here’s a look at a few of the initial recommendations made during the CAP site visit, and the actions taken thus far. These improvements were immediately implemented without the expenditure of any resources other than time and brute human strength (one project required the combined muscle of four Society staffers, one volunteer and one intern over the course of two days). All materials used were already on hand; CAP provided the motivation and triage!
- Rehousing of the single-folder manuscript collections (7.5 linear feet). These small collections had been housed in a vertical filing cabinet. Within two weeks of the site visit, the entire collection was rehoused and on archival shelving.
The collections went from a filing cabinet to an interim holding area as we assessed how large the collection would be. That determination helped decide how much shelf space was needed to be cleared and reallocated; now the single folder manuscript collections are rehoused in document boxes and stored on proper archival shelving.
- Preserving and rehousing a photo collage.
- Establishing a “self-service” area near the front library displays, including relocation of library materials that do not require advance pulling (e.g. real estate atlases, the Wymer Collection photograph copies) to accommodate casual walk-in visitors while supporting researchers and protecting archival collections. Next to be moved to this area: City directories from 1901-1934.
- Relocating two discrete collections processing stations, and a temporary reallocation of one researcher table to light processing.
- Ameliorating a difficult storage situation, where materials from an off-site location were brought back on-site (which is great) but, due to space, placed in a manner in which they made compact shelving immobile (not great). By moving non-collections material into another area, discarding an old pallet, and rotating several other large objects, a new space (with a new pallet) was created where the compact shelving would not be impeded by the weight of the heavy boxes. All we needed was the combined muscle of four Society staffers, one volunteer and one intern over the course of two days and voila – access to the mobile shelving was restored!
While still an interim solution, the objects’ current placement is much improved as it no longer makes the adjacent movable shelving immobile.
Additional improvements that were immediately implemented include:
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- Initial consolidation of archival supplies to support these processing spaces as well as increase efficiency of collections space.
- Initial consolidation of display and exhibit materials.
- Modification of reading room and exhibit open door policies in deference to temperature and relative humidity (RH) concerns.
- Relocation of a standalone art frame case to allow for more efficient use. (Following through on recommendations re: the mounted art racks requires funding. There will be an upcoming post on wishlist recommendations!).