Archives Resources

• DHYSNY workshop, Understanding Archives

General and policy information

• Glossary of Archival Terms - defines common archival terms
• Society of American Archivists Core Values Statement and Code of Ethics - describes the core values held by archivists
• Reading and Viewing Rooms Regulations - example of policies governing public access to an archive
• Appraisal Checklist - questions to ask when determining the type of records, and if they should be in your collection
• Checklist for Writing a Collection Policy - questions to consider when writing a development policy for your archival collection
• A Guide to Deeds Of Gift - explains the elements of a Deed of Gift for accepting donated archival materials, with example
• Reference Services and Public Relations Activities - recommendations for providing access to and use of your archival collection

Care of the Collection

• Agents of Collection Deterioration - chart of factors causing damage to collections, the type of damage caused, and mitigation methods
• Solutions to Deterioration - basic steps to reduce environmental threats to your collection

Collection organization and description

• Levels of Arrangement - defines the types of arrangements used for archival collections
• Components of a Finding Aid - list of elements found in an archival finding aid, with examples
• Sample Annotated Finding Aid - example of a finding aid with explanations of the elements included
• Finding Aid Template - finding aid format for download and customization

New York Heritage Resources

• New York Heritage Metadata Dictionary and Usage Guide (Version 4) - detailed guide to the NHY metadata schema and how to apply it