View Project

G2S Project Code: 2016-MA-77507
State: Massachusetts
Fiscal Year: 2016
Grantee
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Project Director
Director Name: Gregor Trinkaus-Randall
Director Phone: 617-725-1860 x236
Director Email: gregor.trinkaus-randall@state.ma.us
General Information
Title: Preservation Assessment
State Project Code: 17.08.01-04
Start Date: 10/01/2016
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: The Memorial Hall Library in Andover, the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, the Tyngsborough Public Library, and the Worcester Public Library contracted with the Northeast Document Conservation Center to undertake a Preservation Assessment of their collections and facility. Prior to the actual assessment, each library's staff was provided with a pre-assessment questionnaire to enable the consultant to understand the specifics of each library prior to arriving on scene. Following the site visit, the consultant produced a report that included specific recommendations as to priorities that needed to be addressed as well as short, medium, and long-range steps that can be taken to ameliorate the conditions and prolong the life of the collections. The report furnished by the NEDCC served as the basis for their Preservation Long-Range Plan. The libraries have subsequently been prioritizing their short-term priorities and considering budgeting implications for the long-term priorities. The former include creating and updating preservation-related policies, increased physical and intellectual control of the collections, and updated environmental monitoring of the collection storage areas.

State Goal: Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$46,700.00
$0.00
$31,447.00
$78,147.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Environment
Disaster Preparedness
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Assessment
Narrative: In each instance, the librarians completed a pre-assessment questionnaire that provided the consultant with information about the library, its policies and procedures, and physical layout. They then met with the consultant for a full day assessment of the facility. Finally, the librarians, their staff, and potentially the trustees developed a preservation long-range plan.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Planning & Evaluation
Mode: Prospective
Format: In-house


Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded: 0
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY
Address: 2 NORTH MAIN STREET
City: ANDOVER
State: MA
Zip: 01810
Name: THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 40 WASHINGTON STREET
City: QUINCY
State: MA
Zip: 02269
Name: TYNGSBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 25 BRYANT LANE
City: TYNGSBOROUGH
State: MA
Zip: 01879
Name: WORCESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 3 SALEM SQUARE
City: WORCESTER
State: MA
Zip: 01608
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
They received a detailed report from the preservation consultant and produced a preservation long-range plan for their institution.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The Memorial Hall Library in Andover, the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, the Tyngsborough Public Library, and the Worcester Public Library were interested in developing a plan to assist in preserving their collections, especially their local history ones. However, standing alone the institutions were not able to develop a systematic plan on how to proceed to address the identified concerns. This grant allowed them to incorporate the findings and recommendations from the preservation assessment into a long-range plan that will enable them to begin to address its preservation needs in a proactive, logical, and systematic manner.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Working with an outside consultant to conduct a preservation assessment provides a fresh set of eyes and expertise to concerns and issues that may or may not have been identified by the institution. This generally means that the recommendations have a greater possibility of being enacted wherever possible.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: preservation, conservation, environment