From Basement to Born-Digital: Approaches to Physical and Digital Resource Management

This presentation illustrated how external and self-imposed limitations – from physical infrastructure to collecting within a web archiving data budget – shape our decision-making in regard to appraisal, acquisition, processing, and preservation, and to show how we collaborate and communicate. While acknowledging that we are well-resourced in many ways, we sought to show that constraints can lead to creativity, closer attention to archival best practices, team building, and deeper consideration of our department’s role within the university.

Rebecca Hastings, “Selective Web Harvesting with a Limited Archive-It Data Budget.” Rebecca discussed the Library’s contract with Archive-It and the web material that Spec has captured with Archive-It so far. This presentation laid out a case for selective web archiving over comprehensive web archiving.

Zoe Stave, “Physical Limitations at the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives.” Zoe began by recounting the spatial history of the Library and Special Collections and Archives since the university’s early years, then described Spec’s current space and storage (the good, the bad, and the quirky). Zoe noted that while Spec is fortunate to have space, resources, and institutional support, the department faces physical space constraints that encourage creativity, sharing, and collaboration within Spec and with other Library units.

Ari Burns, “Physical and Digital Resource Management Workflow.” In her presentation, Ari focused on how Spec’s employees and student workers approach processing projects. Using anecdotes and data, Ari showed that Spec has handled large, complex acquisitions and processed backlog by thoughtful coordination and consistent communication.

Kelley Moulton, “Future Anticipations.” Capping off our session on a more future-oriented note, Kelley explained our use of selective appraisal and proactive curation to exert control over the materials that Spec agrees to take in. Kelley highlighted our development of more formal control mechanisms (forms and policies) as well as communication within Spec and with potential donors.