Reference and Access: Innovative Practices for Archives and Special
Collections explores how archives of different sizes and types are
increasing their effectiveness in serving the public and meeting
internal needs. The book features twelve case studies that demonstrate
new ways to interact with users to answer their questions, provide
access to materials, support patrons in the research room, and manage
reference and access processes. The featured case studies are 1.Building
Bridges: Closing the Divide between Minimally Processed Collections and
Researchers 2.Managing Risk with a Virtual Reading Room: Two
Born-Digital Projects 3.Improvements on a Shoestring: Changing Reference
Systems and Processes 4.Twenty-First Century Security in a
Twentieth-Century Space: Reviewing, Revising and Implementing New
Security Practices in the Reading Room 5.Talking in the Night: Exploring
Webchats to Serve New Audiences 6.A Small Shop Meets a Big Challenge:
Finding Creative Ways to Assist the Researchers of the Breath of Life
Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages 7.The Right Tool at the
Right Time: Implementing Responsive Reproduction Policies and Procedures
8.Going Mobile: Using iPads to Improve the Reading Room Experience
9.Beyond "Trial by Fire" Towards A More Active Approach to Training New
Reference Staff 10.Access for All: Making Your Archives Website
Accessible for People with Disabilities 11.No Ship of Fools: A Digital
Humanities Collaboration to Enhance Access to Special Collections
12.Websites as a Digital Extension of Reference: Creating a Reference
and IT Partnership for Web Usability Studies Each of these case studies
deconstructs reference and access services into their essential
elements: interacting with people who have questions, providing access
to materials that meet researcher needs, assisting researchers as they
use materials, and managing the processes needed to support reference
and access. The volume will be useful to those working in archives and
special collections as well as other cultural heritage organizations,
and provides ideas ranging from the aspirational to the immediately
implementable. It also provides students and educators in archives,
library, and public history graduate programs a resource for
understanding the issues driving change in the field today and the kinds
of strategies archivists are using to meet these new challenges.
