Basics of Providing Access to Archival Materials

ID: WMA2026_630

Track: Collections

This session examines practical steps for making your museusm’s archival collections into accessible research assets. We will focus on the development of finding aids and the logistics of physical research room management. Participants will discuss navigating applying intellectual controls, and establishing security protocols for physical handling. Join us to refine your institutional standards for balancing preservation requirements with robust public discoverability.

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: Many museums often treat their archival collections like artifact collections, which can result in limiting research access. This session will provide the audience with the tools to help the develop confidence providing access to their archival materials, which is often an under-developed skill.

Objectives: Audience members should leave the session with the ability to: -Create a simple finding aid -Set up a simple and secure records access space/research room -Confidence is being able to instruct researchers on how to properly handle archival collections

Engagement: This session will provide content in a lecture style format, but audience will be encourage to share experiences, and ample time will be provided for questions and answers, to guage the audience specific questions as it related to archival access roadblocks.

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Curators/Scientists/Historians Registrars, Collections Managers 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability: The concepts of this presentation on based on professional archival standards which can be scaled to meet the needs of any size institution.

Participants