I would say your estimate should be a minimum of 10 hours per foot for
what we term "full" processing. For full processing, we arrange the
materials in the collection, re-box and re-folder everything using
lignin-free/acid-free archival supplies, remove all metal fasteners such
as staples and paperclips, remove rubber bands, photocopy all newsprint
and thermofaxes, etc., separate and encapsulate all photos, separate
audio-visual media, artifacts, and similar types of items, and re-label
all new folders and boxes. Then we do the finding aids. This is
extremely time consuming.
--Sammie Morris
Archivist/Assistant Professor of Library Science
Purdue University
-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Terry Abraham
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 10:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: cost to process a collection
Laurie,
Four hours per foot seems awfully low to me. I would estimate closer
to 20 per foot for the unprocessed group and ten per foot for the
reprocessing. You might look at our article in American Archivist:
"What is backlog is prologue: a measurement of archival processing," by
Terry Abraham, Stephen E. Balzarini, and Anne Frantilla. The American
Archivist, 48:1 (Winter 1985) 31-44.
There have been a few other articles since.
---Terry
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Terry Abraham Special Collections, University of Idaho
<http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/>
On Wed, 23 Feb 2005, Laurie Langland wrote:
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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>
> I've been asked to calculate some estimates to finish processing one
> of our collections (the non-political papers, photos, memorabilia,
> etc. of a former politician) and to re-process another collection
> (political papers and other material of a former politician). I'm to
> use my salary and benefits to calculate the labor. But we're unsure of
> the amount of time to use. One formula we've been told is 4 hours per
linear foot.
> Does that seem reasonable for processing additional boxes of papers
> and other material, as well as updating the current finding aid?=20
>
> =20
>
> As for supplies for both collections, I can estimate the number of
> record storage boxes we'd need - we use the legal by letter size
> archival boxes. But I'm unsure of how many folders to estimate as an
> average per box, as it can vary from 10 or 12 per box to 30 or 40. I
> also need to guesstimate supplies for other formats, such as photos,
> audio and visual material, and artwork. =20
>
> =20
>
> Re-processing may not be quite the right word for the one collection -
> it's approximately 250-300 linear feet of political papers plus family
> memorabilia, artwork, and other miscellaneous items. It was indexed
> quite extensively 40 years ago, but the collection has undergone many
> changes over the years. It needs to be re-housed in archival folders
> and boxes and other storage containers. Also, the massive index needs
> to be corrected and updated as the collection is worked through. Would
> the 4 hours per linear foot be a workable estimate for this type of
project?
> (In the handling of this collection, files have gotten out of order -
> some may have been misfiled, but we're afraid that others have
> disappeared forever.)
>
> =20
>
> Is there anything else we haven't thought of? Any suggestions and
> advice will be greatly appreciated!
>
> =20
>
> Laurie Langland
>
> University Archivist/Director of Service Learning
>
> Layne Library, Dakota Wesleyan University
>
> 1200 W. University Ave.
>
> Mitchell, SD 57301
>
> =20
>
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by
the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
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>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>I’ve been asked to
> calculate some estimates to = finish processing one of our collections
> (the non-political papers, photos, memorabilia, etc. of a former
> politician) and to re-process another = collection (political papers
> and other material of a former politician). I’m = to use my
> salary and benefits to calculate the labor. But we’re unsure of
> = the amount of time to use. One formula we’ve been told is 4
> hours per = linear foot. Does that seem reasonable for processing
> additional boxes of = papers and other material, as well as updating
> the current finding aid? = </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>As for supplies for both
> collections, I can estimate = the number of record storage boxes
> we’d need – we use the legal = by letter size archival
> boxes. But I’m unsure of how many folders to = estimate as an
> average per box, as it can vary from 10 or 12 per box to 30 or 40. = I
> also need to guesstimate supplies for other formats, such as photos,
> audio = and visual material, and artwork. </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>Re-processing may not be
> quite the right word for the = one collection – it’s
> approximately 250-300 linear feet of = political papers plus family
> memorabilia, artwork, and other miscellaneous items. = It was indexed
> quite extensively 40 years ago, but the collection has undergone =
> many changes over the years. It needs to be re-housed in archival
> folders and = boxes and other storage containers. Also, the massive
> index needs to be = corrected and updated as the collection is worked
> through. Would the 4 hours per = linear foot be a workable estimate
> for this type of project? (In the handling of this collection, files
> have gotten out of order – some may have been = misfiled, but
> we’re afraid that others have disappeared =
> forever.)</span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'>Is there anything else
> we haven’t thought of? = Any suggestions and advice will be
> greatly appreciated!</span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
> style=3D'font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Laurie Langland</span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>University Archivist/Director of Service =
> Learning</span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Layne Library, </span></font>Dakota Wesleyan University</p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>1200 </span></font>W. University Ave.</p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'>Mitchell, SD 57301</span></font></p>
>
> <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
> style=3D'font-size:
> 12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
>
> </div>
>
> </body>
>
> </html>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored
by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
> For the terms of participation, please refer to
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> <[log in to unmask]>
>
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A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the
Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
For the terms of participation, please refer to
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Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
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Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.
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In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
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