© 2005 Heritage Preservation, Inc. Selected Data from A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health...

© 2005 Heritage Preservation, Inc.

Selected Data from A Public Trust at Risk:

The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections


The Heritage Health Index Surveyed

Archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, archaeological repositories, and scientific research organizations

Collecting institutions of all sizes and from every U.S. state and territory

The full range of collections from art to vertebrate paleontology


Heritage Health Index Background

The Heritage Health Index was developed with the input of 35 national associations and federal agencies that represent collecting institutions

The survey questionnaire was written in consultation with more than 100 leading collections and preservation professionals

Survey and analysis was conducted by RMC Research Corporation, a firm experienced in government and non-profit sector studies.


Heritage Health Index Background

In August 2004 the survey was sent to a sample group of 15,000 institutions representing all types and sizes of institutions in every U.S. state and territory

The data collection ended December 2004

Report released December 6, 2005. Final report at www.heritagehealthindex.org.


The Results of the Heritage Health Index Have Been Featured In

• The New York Times• San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer,

Columbus Dispatch through Associated Press story

• National Public Radio’s All Things Considered• Christian Science Monitor• Reader’s Digest• American Libraries• The Art Newspaper• KJO-ABC TV in San Francisco

…among other publications


Heritage Health Index Response Rate

Overall, 24% response rate with 3,370 surveys returned

90% response rate from 500 of the nation’s largest and most significant collections


Heritage Health Index Data Projections

Data has been projected to a study population of 30,827 collecting institutions and represents the condition and preservation needs of all U.S. collections held in the public trust


Representation by Specific Institutions

Academic Libraries

9%

Independent Research Libraries

<1%

Historical Societies

11%Art Museums 5%

Historic Houses/Sites, History Museums, General Museums,

Specialized Museums, Children's

Museums 30%

Natural History Museums, Science/

Technology Museums, Nature

Centers, Planetariums, Arboretums,

Botanical Gardens, Aquariums, Zoos 5%

Scientific Research Collections &

Archaeological Repositories 4%

Archives 3%

Special Libraries 7%

Public Libraries 27%


Representation by Size of Institution

Small74%

Medium 17%

Large9%


15% 16%24%

19%

17%

10%

Representation by Region


U.S. Institutions Have Taken Responsibility to Preserve 4.8 Billion Collections Items

Books/Bound Volumes 1.7 billion

Microfilm/Microfiche 1 billion

Natural Science Specimens 820.2 million

Photographic Collections 727.4 million

Archaeological Collections, individually cataloged 197.8 million

Unbound Sheets, cataloged in items 95.8 million

Online Files 54.6 million

Historic Objects 48.3 million

Recorded Sound 46.4 million

Unbound Sheets, cataloged in linear feet 43.6 million

Moving Images 40.2 million

Art Objects 21.2 million

Digital Materials 9 million

Archaeological Collections, bulk cataloged in cubic feet 2.6 million


4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions

- by type -

Archives 7%

Libraries 63%

Scientific Collections &

Archaeological Repositories

8%

Museums 20%


2%

Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility


Small15%

Large63%

Medium22%

4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions

- by size -

Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility


Condition of U.S. Collections

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Unknown Condition No Need Need Urgent Need


Most Institutions Care for More Than Six Types of Collections

8-10

4-5

2-3

6-7

1

Collections types:

•Books and bound volumes

•Unbound sheets

•Photographic collections

•Moving image collections

•Recorded sound collections

•Digital material collections

•Art objects

•Historic and ethnographic objects

•Archaeological collections

•Natural science specimens


Institutions’ Use of Environmental Controls for the Preservation of Collections

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

All areas

Some areas

None

Don't Know

Temperature Relative Humidity Light


Institutions Using No Environmental Controls* for the Preservation of Collections

- by type -

9%

40%

16%

14%

28%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Archives

Libraries


Museums

Scientific/ArchaeologicalCollections

*Including temperature, relative humidity, and light


Institutions Reporting Causes of Some and Significant Damage to Collections

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Handling

Water or moisture

Light

Airborne particulates or pollutants

Fire

Improper storage or enclosure

Pests

Vandalism

Obsolescence of equipment, hardware, orsoftware

Prior treatment(s) or restoration

Significant damage

Some damage


Institutions’ Collections Stored in Areas Large Enough to Accommodate Them Safely and

Appropriately

8%12% 10% 12%

17%

25%

11%6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

None 1-19% 20-39% 40-59% 60-79% 80-99% 100% Don'tknow

Percentage of collections stored in adequate areas

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

ins

titu

tio

ns

59%


Institutions’ Percentage of Collections Accessible Through a Catalog

- by type -0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

None

1-39%

40-79%

80-99%

100%

Don't knowPer

cen

tag

e o

f ca

talo

ged

co

llec

tio

ns

Archives Libraries Historical Societies Museums Scientific Collections & Archaeological Repositories


Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out

- by type -0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Archives

Public Libraries

Academic Libraries

Independent ResearchLibraries

Special Libraries


Art Museums

History Museums/Sites

Science Museums

Archaeological/ScientificCollections


Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out

- by size -

60%

66%

85%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Large

Medium

Small


Institutions with a Written, Long-range Plan for the Care of the Collection

9%

8%

11%

20%

50%

2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Have plan

Have plan, but it is not up-to-date

Don't have plan, but one is beingdeveloped

Don't have plan, but preservation isaddressed in overall long-range plan

Don't have plan

Don't know


Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation

20%30%

44%

15%22%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dedicatedpaid staff

Variousstaff asneeded

Volunteers Externalprovider

No staffperson

Multiple responses allowed



- by type -

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dedicatedpaid staff



No staffperson

Archives Libraries Historical Societies Museums Scientific/Archaeological Collections




- by size -

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Dedicatedpaid staff



No staffperson

Large Medium SmallMultiple responses allowed


Average Number of Internal Staff* Who Perform Conservation/Preservation Activities

More than 10 FTE

4%

None30%

1 FTE25%

2 FTE18%

3-5 FTE17%

>5-10 FTE7%

*Includes conservation/preservation professional and support staff and volunteers


What Institutions’ Conservation/Preservation Program Includes

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Done byinstitution

staff

Done byexternalprovider

Not donecurrently,

but planned

Not done Notapplicable

Preventiveconservation

Preservationmanagement

Conservationtreatment

Preservationreformatting

Preservation of A/Vmedia & playbackequipment

Preservation ofdigital materials



No allocated funds 40%

Have allocated

funds23%

Don't know2%

No specific line item but other

budgeted funds available

36%

Institutions with Funds Allocated for Conservation/ Preservation in Annual Budget


Institutions’ Annual Budget for Conservation/Preservation*

- most recently completed fiscal year -

<$3,000

$3,000-50,000

>$50,000

* Includes funds for staffing, supplies, equipment, surveys, treatment, preservation reformatting, commercial binding, consultants, contractors, and other preservation costs


Institutions that Used Income from Endowed Funds for Conservation/Preservation

- last three years -

Don't know 7%

Have used endowment

income13%

Have not used endowment

income/do not have

endowment income

80%


Institutions that Have Received External Conservation/ Preservation Funding


18%

12%

6%

27%

40%

7%

15%

12%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Federal

State

Municipal

Corporation/Company

Foundation

Individual/Private philanthropist (includesmembers, friends groups)

Have received no external funding

Don't know



Institutions that Have Appliedfor Conservation/Preservation Funding*


Don't know

6%

Have not applied

62%

Have applied

32%

* Includes from private or public funding sources


Institutions’ Reasons Why They Have Not Applied for Conservation/Preservation Funding*


50%

33%

30%

4%

9%

8%

36%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not aware of funding sources

Lack of time/expertise

Needed additional planning

Conservation not a priority

Have sufficient funding

Have been unsuccessful previously

Don't know


*Includes from private or public funding sources


Heritage Health Index Recommendations Every institution recommits to providing safe

conditions for the collections they hold in trust

Every collecting institution develops an emergency plan to protect its collections

Every single institution assigns responsibility for caring for collections to members of its staff

Individuals at all levels of government and in the private sector assume responsibility for providing the support that will allow these collections to survive


For more information, contact Heritage Preservation at 202-233-0800 [email protected]

Heritage Health Index report available at www.heritagehealthindex.org.

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