Archives for the Lay Person: A Guide to Managing Cultural Collections [Hardcover]

For volunteers or staff at small organizations, collections management can be a daunting task. Archives for the Lay Person is a guidebook for people who care for historical records, photographs, and collections but do not have the appropriate professional training. Lois Hamill provides practical, step-by-step guidance for managing all facets of archival collections, from acquisition, arrangement, and description to storage and security. The book also offers advice on how to utilize PastPerfect software for collections database management.Lois Hamill is university archivist and an assistant professor at Northern Kentucky University. She has previously worked with local historical society, church, and government records.

In this concise but extremely thorough book, Lois Hamill, University Archivist at Northern Kentucky University, bridges the gap for individuals and smaller institutions that need to organize what may often be long neglected collections. In this era of resource constraint, Lois takes a methodical approach to the description of these items, relying heavily on the affordable Past Perfect Software which can generate museum quality records for the beginner, with the informed narrative from Ms. Hamill to lead the way. . . . If there was one ready reference work I would recommend to someone commencing an archival collection it would be the Archives for the Lay Person. Ms. Hamill has given us a roadmap, folded neatly. We need only drive. The Southeastern Librarian

An authoritative but accessible guide to managing archival collections for those without formal training on the subject. . . . This text is an invaluable resource for dedicated but non-degreed staff and volunteers at local cultural and historical associations. Campbell County Historical Society

Throughout the text's 287 thoughtfully written pages, Ms. Hamill, a certified archivist with more than fourteen years of experience, delivers. The author delineates the nlC)