The Lone Arranger: Succeeding in a Small Repository

A significant portion of U.S. institutions charged with the preservation of our cultural heritage are small repositories and one-person shops. Rapid advances in technology, increasing regulation on institutional records, and exponential growth in the volume and variety of cultural resources being collected put added pressure on these lone arrangers to find efficient and effective ways to manage their archives.

The Lone Arranger: Succeeding in a Small Repository offers guidance on how to handle common work demands while promoting archives best practice. Author and lone arranger Christina Zamon of Emerson College in Boston uses a deft touch to address a comprehensive range of topics, including administration and budget, fundraising and donor relations, information technology, collections management, records management, preservation, reference and outreach, facility management, disaster preparedness, and internship and volunteer programs.

In addition, case studies by a dozen practitioners representing diverse backgrounds, institutional settings, and geographic locations discuss the challenges they faced when they found themselves responsible for the full spectrum of archives work with limited or no paid staff to assist. Case study contributors include Barbara Austen, Terry Baxter, Michelle Ganz, Russ Gasero, Tamara Gaydos, Jeremy Linden, Meg Miner, Christina Prucha, Peg Siciliano, John Slate, Alison Stankrauff, and Nicole Thaxton.

Seasoned archivists and newcomers to the profession will benefit from the practical tips, sound advice, and resources shared throughout the volume, as well as the opportunity to connect to the broader community of professional archivists.

If you’re a lone arranger, with this book you’ll find yourself less alone!

Society of American Archivists (2012)
8½ x 11 / 157 pp. / Soft cover

ISBN 1-931666-41-5

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• CHAPTER 1 "What Am I Doing Here?" Administration and Management
• Getting Started
• Evaluating the Situation
• Managing Your Staff-You!
• Creating Policies
• Case Study: The Lone Arranger in a Local Government Archives Setting By John H. Slate
• CHAPTER 2 "What Is This Stuff?" Collections Management
• Acquisitions
• Appraisal
• Processing Collections
• Case Study: The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum By Michelle Ganz
• Working with Other Institutions
• CHAPTER 3 "How Do I Survive in the Digital Age?"
• Information Technology Issues
• Archival Collections Management Systems
• Encoded Archival Description (EAD)
• Digital Assets Management Systems (DAMS)
• Case Study; Getting Finding Aids Online By Tamara Gaydos
• Institutional Repositories (IRs)
• Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS)
• Metadata
• Digitizing Collections
• CHAPTER 4 "How Am I Going to Get My Work Done?" Fundamental Archival Programs
• Preservation Planning
• Internship and Volunteer Programs
• Case Study: Preservation Planning for Lone Arrangers By Jeremy Linden
• Case Study: Volunteers in the Small Nonprofit Institution By Peg Poeschl Siciliano
• Records Management
• Case Study; An Archivist Does What? By Russell L. Gasero
• Case Study: Creating a Records Management Program at Illinois Wesleyan University By Meg Miner
• Case Study: It's Who and What You Know in Managing Electronic Records By Terry Baxter
• CHAPTER 5 ''Where Do I Put All of This Stuff and Keep It Safe?"
• Facilities Management and Disaster Planning
• Space Planning and Management
• Planning a New Facility
• Disaster Planning
• Case Study: The Caterpillar Inc. Corporate Archives By Nicole L. Thaxton
• CHAPTER 6 ''You Want What?" Reference Outreach 96 Managing Reference Requests
• Case Study: Reference and Outreach By Alison Stankralq{
• Internal Advocacy and Outreach
• Case Study: Chorally Invited! A Case Study in Outreach By Christina Prucha
• Using Social Media
• CHAPTER 7 "How Am I Going to Pay for This?"
• Budgeting and Financing Your Archives
• Creating and Setting Up Your Budget
• Fundraising
• Grant Writing
• Development
• Donor Relations
• Case Study: Managing a Grant Project with Minimal Staff By Barbara Austen
• Conclusion
• Appendices
• A: Selected Readings
• B: Resources Guide
• About the Author and Case Study Contributors
• Index

Library of Congress Catalog Listing