DHPSNY Statewide Survey Deadline Extended!

The deadline to complete DHPSNY's annual Statewide Survey has been extended to Friday, November 30! This important survey was developed to help identify urgent collections care needs in New York State, and your responses will directly shape the scope and content of DHPSNY's programs and services. To participate, write info@dhpsny.org to receive a personalized link to complete the survey.

DHPSNY launched the first of five annual Statewide Surveys in January 2017, sending a list of questions to a database of libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, historical societies, and local government archives. Every effort was made to target the list to the appropriate contact person, whether it be a Board President at an all-volunteer historical society or a Special Collections Librarian at a major university. By the close of the survey in late February, 378 institutions had responded, providing the raw data for an in-depth look at the state of collections care in New York in 2017. These responses offer a snapshot of that state, answering such questions as:

• What percentage of items have been fully accessioned?

• How are the collection storage and exhibition environments?

• Do staff follow Board-approved collections management policies?

• Are collection items digitized?

• Is there an emergency plan in place that addresses the collections?

The analysis of this data will be used in a variety of ways. DHPSNY can benefit from the analysis in determining those subject areas where collecting institutions might benefit most from our technical support or educational programming. We will use information gathered to decide future workshop topics and Planning & Assessment Services. Additionally, DHPSNY’s partners at the New York State Archives Documentary Heritage Program and the New York State Library Conservation/Preservation Program will use the data for insight into existing or emerging collections care needs. In the third year, DHPSNY will convene a series of regional focus groups to gain important first-person insights from collecting institutions. With the final surveys, the full value of the longitudinal approach should become apparent, as a picture emerges of New York’s collecting institutions changing over time.