Taking Stock
It’s at this time of the year more than any other, that we understand that change is unavoidable and often times welcomed. Without any effort from me or you, the clock struck 12 on January 1 to ring in a new year and toll a bell on the old one. Along with that comes the realization that time is only moving forward, and if one doesn’t catch that forward momentum, one will be left behind. The new year brings a hope and determination to make the year ahead better than the one in the rear-view mirror.
In the latter part of 2024, we transferred a map from our collection to the University of Minnesota’s John R. Borchert Map Library. There’s a post about that here. I explained that after assessing the map, the condition of the item required attention that we couldn’t provide, and that the best choice for its care was to transfer it to the map library. I also mentioned that there were more “cases” in our collection that needed attention. Not all of these are of preservation concern, though. Some have to do with volume, some with organization, some with mission alignment, some with value. However, all of them create an issue for accessibility in that they take up time, space, and resources from more relevant collections. The nature of archives, lone arranging in particular, is managing competing priorities.
Looking Ahead
As we steer into the new year, we are addressing these concerns. Last year’s collection assessment revealed that we had a way to go to get control of our holdings and shined some light on possible solutions to our issue with space and storage, and accessibility.
Enter Hennepin County Library Special Collections (HCLIB). Hennepin History Museum and HCLIB have worked together in the past to make collections accessible. They digitized and made available the Confer House Photo Collection, as well as the Minnesota Department of Transportation Collection. They also host digital versions of our magazine. They have done some heavy lifting, along with Minnesota Digital Library to make our digital collections possible. As we go through the process of refining our collection, HCLIB stepped in to receive collections that we deaccession. This allows us to create space in our archives, improve the organization and description of remaining collections, and simplify resource-finding for patrons.
Deaccession is often equated to a four-letter word in museum circles. We are of the opinion that it’s necessary for growth, adaptation and change for the better. Our deaccession plan hinges on a transfer of records to a leader in the field. This is an exciting way to begin a new year. We will keep you posted on the progress.
-Michele Pollard | Hennepin History Museum Archivist