State

Training for Grassroots Organizations

Alaska

Not doing any extensive activity at this time.

Colorado

Yes

Connecticut

SHRAB has a grant from NHPRC for a ten month (Jan. 1-Oct. 31, 2001) grant to work with the State Library's Division of Library Development to: survey the critical needs of public librarians, develop curriculum based on best practices, and hold a one-day pilot archival training workshop.  The Division will use this project to establish an archival training module to educate librarians administering local history collections.

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Presenting  a preservation workshop on "Managing Historical Reocrds" for the Florida Trust (March 21,2001).

Georgia

One of the SHRABs priorities is to expand education and training opportunities on archives and records management for government officials, historical repositories, and the general public.  The board periodically sponsors basic and advanced workshops on the preservation and management of archival records as well as how to develop grant projects and apply for Board grants.

The reference staff periodically gives lectures on various topics relating to research at the Archives to various genealogy and historical groups.

The Georgia Archives also supports the participation of several staff who take part in providing archival training for historically black colleges and universities through funding provided in part by NEH.

The Hawaii State Archives provides orientations to government records and search strategies. Automated catalog is available on the Web.

Illinois

Such training in this state is provided through the Illinois Heritage Association and the Illinois Association of Museums, the latter an arm (of a sort) of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, not the State Archives.  ISHRAB will, as a result of the terms of the NHPRC-supported historical records strategic plan it just completed, begin to use the IRAD depositories as centers for delivery of records-related support services, as distinct from the historic site/artifact emphases that the IHA and IAM have offered.

Kansas

Each year our "Community History Institute" provides five days of training on a theme of interest to local groups (may or may not be related to archival issues).

The SHRAB is beginning an experimental mentoring program.

Louisiana

Conduct records management and conservation workshops and seminars.

Maine

This has been through regrants, some of which involve consultant visits. Our first regrant funded several "basic archival training" workshops.  Recently, the Archives (supporting the SHRAB) arranged "basic archival training" workshops by seeking free space, arranging times, and recruiting presenters and participants.  The participants paid the presenters directly, $30 per participant.  Our contribution was staff time, not money.  Even with the fee, they have been heavily subscribed and successful.

The Archives conducts a Photo Preservation Workshop several time a year, using the facilities and staff from our photopreservation lab and our professional archivists.

We have developed a Collections Management System for small repositories in MS-Access and have conducted several workshops on using it.  The database itself is a teaching opportunity as people are reminded to record titles, creators, creation and inclusive dates, related standard subjects, etc.  While not perfect nor complete, it is an inexpensive, structured tool that limits the tendency to create many different quickie databases just to "get our collection on computer."  Freely downloadable at http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/files/dbinfo.htm

Over the years, the Michigan Archival Association (MAA) has offered workshops on a variety of archival topics. At the upcoming MAA annual meeting, they are presenting a Midwest Archives Conference (MAC) pre-conference workshop entitled Fundamentals of Archival Acquisition & Appraisal. It will be directed towards "grassroots organizations."

Missouri

The Missouri Historical Records Grant Program (MHRGP), newly created with funding from the state of Missouri and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, will provide several training opportunities for staff and volunteers in “grassroots” organizations.  A total of twenty-six archival workshops will be presented in various locations around the state during the next 18 months: Introduction to Archives, Arrangement and Description, Appraisal, and Preservation.   Attendance at the workshops is required for grant recipients but the workshops will be open to the general public as well.  Also, the MHRGP will award professional development grants to cover the cost of tuition, travel and lodging at national or regional education conferences; and consultant grants will be given to specifically address the training needs of records keepers in Missouri’s smaller, private repositories.

Montana

A basic workshop is given twice a year; "Starting An Archives," workshop for Montana Heritage Project Teachers was presented Feb. 5, 2001; currently in the middle of an NHPRC re-grant that includes on-site training at each regrant institution.

Nebraska

Consultations with such groups as requested, e.g., working with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to start/plan an archival program.

Nevada

The SHRAB funded a project for the Nevada Museum Association to hold six workshops for librarians, archivists and museum curators.  NMA contracted with Amigos Preservation and Imaging Services to conduct the workshops.  Three workshops were selected and held twice (once in Las Vegas and once in Carson City).

• Introduction to Preservation Issues and Practices
• Introduction to Preservation: Holdings Maintenance
• Introduction to Imaging and Imaging Technology for Libraries and Archives

NSLA provided archival preservation workshops at the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada Annual Meeting in Reno in October, 2000 and the Nevada Convocation of the Five State Library Leadership Project, Jan. 24-25, 2001.  The Convocation also addressed electronic and photo archives, museum programs, repatriation, oral histories, language retention and model education programs.

New Hampshire

Dartmouth College and the New Hampshire SHRAB have a proposal before the NHPRC asking for funding for a major archival education program in the state.  This resulted largely from NFACE.

New Mexico

The Commission of Public Records is continuing a program of Archives and Records Management Training started under an NHPRC grant to the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board that concluded last November.  The courses are offered to government and private repositories at costs of $25 to $50.

Archival Management 2001 workshops scheduled include:  Implementing an Archival Preservation Program; Collection Survey and Development; Arrangement and Description; Digitizing Photo Collections; and Disaster Preparedness.  Records Management 2001 Workshops include:  Basic Records Management; New Mexico Microphotography Project Planning; Appraisal of Records; and Basic Electronic Records Management.

New York

Many resources are available through New York's Documentary Heritage Program http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/nysaservices/ns_mhr_dhp.shtml

Initiatives include such workshops as "Care and Preservation of Church Records." A previous SHRAB grant included day-long training seminars held in five cities across the state.

As part of its current NHPRC grant, the NC SHRAB currently is producing and broadcasting a series of 8 cablevision programs on archival/records topics. Broadcasts are aired over the statewide "Open Public Events Network" cable system. It is capable of reaching 96% of the state's population and through satellite availability has reached viewers in other states. The SHRAB hopes to continue this very successful initiative. In addition, a statewide records conference is planned for November 2001 with a pre-conference session planned utilizing fiber optic hook-ups in order to reach a broader audience.

North Dakota

In the current year the SHRAB plans a workshop which will be repeated in two parts of the state. The State Historical Society, the parent agency of the State Archives, works with a Local History Council to provide workshops at about 3 meeting per year. Usually one of these relates to archives. Other workshops are held on an irregular basis.

Oklahoma

Although staff of the Office of Government Information provide records management training to state agencies and various staff members address professional meetings, most training for public libraries is provided by the agency is done by its Office of Library Development.

With respect to the State Archives and the Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board, the Head of the State Archives and Records Management divisions is an active member of the Oklahoma Conservation Congress and presents training sessions at annual meetings and other programs offered by OCC.  In addition, he provides hands on training to librarians, colleges, classes, and other groups at professional meetings or as a guest lecturer.  For example, following his presentation of "Preservation on a Limited Budget," at the October 17, 2000 Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board public forum, he was invited by the Board of Directors of the Kiowa Tribe to address preservation and conservation issues at the tribal headquarters in Carnegie.  He spoke to the tribe on December 21, focusing on such issues as building and document assessments, basic preservation and conservation techniques, and availability of training. 

The State Coordinator recently served as guest speaker at a monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators [ARMA].  His topic was an overview of the state government records management program.

Pennsylvania

As part of our agency’s grants program, we do offer a number of annual grants workshops around the state.  As part of these workshops, we hold special  sessions on our Archives and Records Management grants category.  These workshops are open to local governments and historical records repositories.

In conjunction with our new SHRAB Strategic Plan and recently awarded NHPRC grant, the Federation we will be offering nine workshops around the state between May and September 2001.  Topics will include Building Blocks of a Historical Records Program, Arrangement and Description, and Archives and Cyberspace.  The intended audience includes local historical societies, libraries with local history programs, colleges and universities, and other historical records repositories.  One of the main objectives of the training is to promote more and better grant applications for our Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission grants program.

South Carolina

The State Archives staff will provide advice as requested to these organizations, though their primary responsibility is to state and local government.

The IMLS recently funded a project in preservation training for small libraries and museums.  It’s just getting off the ground and is being conducted by the University of South Carolina.

The SC SHRAB provided support to the SC Archival Association for its fall 2000 and spring 2001 meetings and to the SC Public Records Association to co-sponsor a fall 2000 speaker on electronic records. Each of these co-sponsorsed meetings attracted over one hundred participants.Next fall the State Archives will begin an NHPRC-supported electronic records awareness and training project, which will include six workshops (basic and advanced) open to archivists and records managers in the non-government sector. The grant project also calls for providing a plenary session speaker at the fall 2002 meeting of the SC Archival Association.

South Dakota

Workshops offered on preservation of documents/photos, brought in consultants on photo preservation and disaster recovery.  Open to the public.

Tennessee

Hosting an annual Tennessee Archives Institute, consisting of topical training workshops for local archivists and records keepers.

Expanding our informal educational outreach by holding (on request) county training workshops for archival volunteers on processing and conservation techniques.

Texas

No such training offered at present by SHRAB or State Library and Archives Commission.

Utah

Sponsored a "records conference" (including workshops) for small organizations which was very successful.

Vermont

Training for grassroots organizations is the specific goal of the current SHRAB re-grant.  Three workshops (on basic archival care; disaster response; and care of photograph collections) were designed for a broad audience, with the two day workshops on basic archival care specifically designed for individuals and organizations with responsibility for records but limited or no exposure to standard archival principles or practices.

Beyond the workshops, the re-grant also tries to work with the hundreds of small municipal clerks offices, local historical societies, etc. by providing on-site, hands on training experiences built into actual work on local holdings.  For example, assessment/survey grants provide an archivist consultant who visits the grant recipient and, working with local staff, conducts a needs assessment survey.  The recipients receive some training as part of the assessment (for example learning about environmental standards, security, etc.) and then have to use the assessment report to develop an active management plan for addressing the identified needs in a priority order.

Arrangement and description grants provide local institutions with an archival consultant for up to five days who will work with local staff in processing a collection of their choice.  The ideal model is having the consultant work with the staff to begin the project, then step away for an agreed period of time to allow the staff to apply the practices learned during the first session.  The consultant then returns to answer questions that arose during the unsupervised period and to help bring the processing to completion.

The Vermont SHRAB's experience suggests that workshops are important for presenting basic principles and practice, but to move toward actual implementation on-site, hands-on work is key (even the workshops, when possible, involve hands-on work; the disaster response workshops begin with participants responding to a staged "disaster" setting including water soaked paper, film, and disks in a room without lights).

The SHRAB also recognizes in our environment of hundreds of independent and under-resourced institutions developing local networks for collaborative efforts and mutual support is important.  Therefore both the needs assessment and arrangement and description grants have parallel programs which encourage collaborative projects.  There are two such projects currently underway; one involves the local municipal office, historical society, natural history museum, academic academy, and library; the other the municipal office, local library, local historical society, and local newspaper.

An idea being explored for the summer of 2001 is a joint project involving the SHRAB and a statewide museum organization to hold a disaster response "camp" at which participants will be trained in disaster response and then form the core of regional disaster response programs (partnership is also being pursued with the state and federal emergency response programs).

Virginia

The Archives Research Services staff produces a series of publications that are sent to the state’s public libraries and posted on the Library of Virginia’s Web site http://coshrc.org/arc/education/edprogs-k12.htm.  Research notes examine in detail a particular collection (such as tax records) or a group of records (such as women’s history sources).  Topical bibliographies highlight archival holdings on a particular individual or topic, including John Brown, Patrick Henry, and Native Americans.  These publications are useful in mapping research strategies and describing the Library’s holdings.  The Library offers some training (as described above) and plans to provide more in the future in cooperation with the State Historical Records Advisory Board.  In addition, a publication on starting an archives and a handbook of best practices are planned.

Washington

Not offering any at this time.

Wisconsin

SHRAB's assessment is available,  Wisconsin is involved in a mentoring project funded by a grant from the NHPRC, and occasional workshops are offered.

Wyoming

When requested, by mainly county historical organizations and genealogy groups, most of our outreach programs have focused on methods involving the preservation and management of photographs, and how to apply conservation measures to paper documents.  Other workshops have concentrated on providing information about all of the services and resources available from the State Archives, including how records retention schedules are established, and the distribution of schedules that identify what records must be retained permanently.