Exposing Hidden Collections in Libraries and Archives
to which is addedEmerging Trends in Library Digital
Collections
Trevor James Bond, Interim HeadManuscripts, Archives, and Special
Collections
What are Hidden Collections?
• 1998 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) survey of 99 Special Collections Departments– 15% of printed volumes– 27% of manuscripts– 35% of video– 37% of audio
Hidden Collections
• These numbers paint a picture, but departments and their ratios of processed to unprocessed collections vary dramatically
• Sometimes collections are “hidden” by very minimal descriptions
What are processed collections?
• For books, item-level cataloging• This cataloging can very greatly in detail• WorldCat local
What are processed collections?
• For manuscripts, University Archives, some collections of ephemera, audio and video collections, processing involves:– Appraising– Accessioning– Processing (organizing, repacking, describing,
finding aids, MARC records, HTML/EAD encoding, digitizing)
– Collection-level vs. item-level
The Glories of Special Collections
• Unique collections that distinguish libraries from one another
• Collections are often ripe for innovative digital projects, exhibit, tours, etc.
• In a digital world artifacts become more important
New Developments at the NWDA
NWDA RSS feeds
Use data from the NWDA
User Driven Digital Collections
Institutional Repositories
NWDA meta search
Beyond CONTENTdm
Protocols for Native American Archives
Plateau Peoples’ Portal
Commentary
Commentary
Video
Links• NWDA: http://nwda.wsulibs.wsu.edu/• Best of OSU Archives:
http://digitalcollections.library.oregonstate.edu/cdm4/client/archives/index.html
• Plateau Peoples’ Web Portal : http://libarts.wsu.edu/plateaucenter/portal/html/ppp/index.php
• MASC Conservation: http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/video/preservation_grant.html