Reference and Access for Archives and Manuscripts
Reference and Access for Archives and Manuscripts by Cheryl Oestreicher, published by the American Library Association on March 4, 2024, spans 195 pages and is presented in English. This book addresses the importance of access and reference services in engaging with historical resources, particularly as more individuals seek to utilize archives for various purposes, including scholarly research and creative endeavors. Oestreicher emphasizes the need for archivists to understand their users and the motivations behind their engagement with archival collections, highlighting the evolving nature of these interactions.
Readers will discover a comprehensive overview of essential components for providing access, including physical, intellectual, and virtual methods. The book covers acquiring reference knowledge, navigating legal regulations, and designing effective outreach strategies. Oestreicher contextualizes these elements within broader archival functions, offering practical strategies for developing reference programs suitable for diverse institutions. Both new and experienced archivists will find valuable insights that encourage collaboration and discussion on advancing reference and access in the field.
Official synopsis Publisher
Access and reference services are central to engaging with historical resources. As more people encounter archives for scholarly and avocational research, as part of creative pursuits, or to exercise their rights as citizens to access records, the possibilities for how collections are used will continue to evolve. Archivists need to be familiar with who their users are, understand why they’re using archival collections, and engage in outreach so that they can provide excellent reference services.
Reference and Access for Archives and Manuscripts outlines the various components of:
- providing physical, intellectual, and virtual access,
- acquiring reference knowledge and skills,
- navigating legal regulations and ethics, and
- designing use policies and effective outreach.
Cheryl Oestreicher contextualizes how all of these components fit within other archival functions and offers strategies and detailed practices for creating comprehensive reference programs that archivists can adapt for any type of institution.
Both new and experienced archivists will find Reference and Access for Archives and Manuscripts a solid foundation on which to add their own ideas for how to bring people into the archives as well as bring archives to the people. Readers are encouraged to examine these concepts and practices in conversation with others and to consider how archivists can continue to advance reference and access.
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