What's the Dif?

Kate Cerve's recent article highlighting the Treasures [Truly, folks, the copy editor meant to write "Treasures" not "Treasurers" -- that's a far different current local matter -- and one far outside the scope of the BDC!] within the BDC gives me an opportunity to pose and answer the following questions:

Q: What's the Difference among Libraries, Archives, and Museums?

It's a good question. It is true that all of these types of organizations are in the stewardship of cultural resources field. But there are unique functions and responsibilities in each type of cultural heritage resources organization that require different training, skills, and lexicons to do well. Here's a synopsis of the comparison of libraries, archives, and museums as given in the "Basics of Archives" workshop from the American Association for State and Local History that every BDC staff person has completed.

Library Collections usually consist of published materials, usually available elsewhere, as separate and individual items. Items are selected one at a time and received one at a time. Materials are arranged by a pre-determined subject classification system already established such as the Dewey Decimal System or the Library of Congress Subject Classification system, generally on open shelves. Customers can browse at will. Materials are organized and described as individual items. Usually there is a standardized descriptive information of the item available through a card or online public access catalog. Most items may leave the library's premises for a specified period of time after which they are returned. Libraries tend to have books, magazines, maps, audio and video tapes in their holdings. Library professionals are usually trained in ALA approved graduate level university based library schools and are called librarians.

Archive Collections consist of unpublished unique groups of related items, whose significance is directly related to other items within the group. Materials are selected as a group and treated as a group. Whenever possible the arrangement of items within the group are left as they were received from their creator. Materials are organized and described as a collection of records. A researcher uses guides, finding aids, inventories, indexes, and online systems to discover what is in the record group. These materials are customarily stored in restricted areas with strictly monitored access. Records do not leave the archives' premises. Oftentimes special procedures allow researchers access while ensuring safety of records. Items housed within an archives tend to be called archival records, archives, documents, manuscripts, or ephemera. Professionals who work with Archive Collections are usually university educated and trained archivists.

Museum Collections consist of unique artifacts or objects that support broad collection themes. Materials are considered and selected as both single items and as a group of items. Arrangement of museum materials is oftentimes decided upon by the curator. Materials are organized and described as individual items and as groups of items. Museums use inventories and catalog entries through a card catalog or online catalog to maintain intellectual and physical control over their holdings. There tends to be restricted access to the materials. Items usually can be seen through exhibits. Items do not leave the museum's premises except by special arrangement (for example, loans to other institutions). Items in a museum collection tend to be called artifacts or tangible objects. Professional workers in museums are called curators.

Q: Where does the Beaufort District Collection fit into these categories?

A: It is a hybrid organization consisting of both library and archival collections, most often as held within a special library.

I'll post an explanation about "Special Libraries and Special Librarians" in a few days.