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