When I took Maynard Brichford's archives classes at the
University of Illinois, the "standard" that I heard most frequently
was an archivist should be able to process one cubic foot of
records per day (e.g. 8 hours/cubic foot).

Now, granted, there are collections that I get with ten cubic
feet, the records are all in folders, carefully labelled--I only
need go through them and verify folder contents, labels,
perhaps add dates...and I could get through these ten cubic
feet boxes in a day, plus have the times to do all the other
paperwork (e.g. inventory, selection of subject/name terms,
box labels, etc.).

On the other hand, I've spent entire days processing just one
box of scrambled up, unsorted, folded, rusty stapled, etc.
messes ....    Also in a one or two person shop, the interruptions
can be frequent for reference, administration, phone calls, etc.

So I have used this standard "one day equals one cubic foot"
and I think it is fairly valid.

Dean

Dean DeBolt
University Librarian
Special Collections and West Florida Archives
John C. Pace Library
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL  32514-5750
Tele:  850-474-2213;   Fax:  850-474-3338

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