Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-3-2024

Abstract

A building renovation in many ways is comparable to that of sowing and harvesting a garden. It requires a favorable environment, great planning, patience, and fortitude. Both the process and outcome can be wildly unpredictable, so archivists and any other parties involved must be prepared to respond with flexibility, adaptability, and, at times, compromise.

When we think about renovations, how do we as practitioners and leaders advocate for the specialized requirements that suit the needs of our evolving collections? How do we balance asking for what we want versus what is minimally required? What sacrifices may be needed to satisfy external administrators whose priorities differ from those of us practicing in the profession? Decisions made—and perhaps not made—have lasting effects on our ability to care for and stewardour collections.

Four archivists from various institutions will discuss, compare, and contrast their renovation experiences from initial designs and proposals to completion. They will detail steps that were required to prepare for their projects, how they adapted to challenging circumstances along the way, and the desired versus the actual outcomes. The objectives of this presentation will be to share their lessons learned—what went well and what didn’t—and to allow a robust question-and-answer session following their presentations. This session seeks to provide real-life and actionable information that you can use to help with any possible future renovation plans at your own institution.

Speakers:

  1. Jenny Haddon, University of Nebraska at Kearney (session chair)
  2. Bethany Fiechter, DePauw University
  3. Anthony Jahn, State Historical Society of Iowa
  4. Leslie Van Veen McRoberts, Michigan State University

Additional Files
BFiechter MAC 2024 Slides Notes.pdf (121 kB)
Presentation Notes
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