I recomend reading the following book - it covers all variety of issues in case studies with thoughtful answers. I don't have it at hand but believe there is a case study or two that would be helpful in your situation. Best wishes. Main Author: Benedict, Karen M. Title: Ethics and the archival profession : introduction and case studies / Karen Benedict. Publisher: Chicago : Society of American Archivists, c2003. Description: 91 p. ; 23 cm. Subject(s): Archivists Professional ethics Case studies. Appraisal of archival materials Case studies. Archives Access control Case studies. Archives Administration Standards. Archives Law and legislation. |((| Ellen Chapman, MLS, MA, CA |))| Archives & Manuscripts Department |((| University of Hawaii at Manoa Library |))| (808) 944-7656 On Sun, 9 Jul 2006, Anne Slater wrote: > Let me preface this by saying that I am a retired circulation > librarian who has taken on her church's partially catalogued > archives... > > In mid June a prof (hereinafter #1) contacted my church regarding > access to the archives on a very specific topic, for a book (if that > matters). > > I spent half a day looking through stuff in the archives with and for > #1, and have subsequently begun work on updating and arranging the > archives initially because of this quest, although I had been asked to > take this on before the request came in.. > > A week later, I got another request from another academic (hereinafter #2), > different university, for access to the archives, same topic, for a > paper (if that matters). > > In passing, in a letter to #1, I mentioned that another person was > interested in the topic. > #1 sends me a letter that betrays total panic, and asking if the > other person is #2. > > It is. > > What is MY responsibility to either of these researchers? Of course I > would not mention names to either of them, but does #1's "seniority" > in the search in some way preclude my giving access to #2? > > #1 cannot come to do research until December, while #2 is coming some > time in July.... > > Anne Slater, > (Canaday Library,Bryn Mawr College 1973-2005) > Ardmore, PA > > 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. > > To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] > In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname > *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES > To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] > > Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html > > 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. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>