Library for Records Repositories

What is the IHRAB Resource Library?

The Iowa Historical Records Advisory Board (IHRAB) has established a Resource Library to provide access to basic literature on records related methods and techniques.

This brochure describes the materials in the Resource Library that are targeted at Historical Records Repositories such as local historical societies, college and university special collections, and public libraries. Another brochure lists the publications and other materials that are especially helpful to local government officials with significant records keeping responsibilities.

IHRAB reviewed the publications, technical leaflets, and other information resources currently available from many professional associations and the records and historical agencies in other states. It selected those materials that provided the most straightforward presentations of basic, good advice.

IHRAB has assembled six sets of the Resource Library collection and distributed them at sites throughout the state to enhance access. All of the materials are available for use at these six sites or may be borrowed temporarily.

• Cedar Falls--University of Northern Iowa
• Clermont-- Montauk Historic Site
• Council Bluffs --Western Historic Trails Center
• Des Moines--State Historical Society of Iowa
• Ft. Dodge--Webster County Historical Society
• Iowa City--State Historical Society of Iowa

Contact the State Archivist, who also serves as chair of the Iowa Historical Records Advisory Board, for further information on accessing the Resource Library

• Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives, Gregory S. Hunter 

• (NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1997)

• Starting an Archives, by Elizabeth Yakel (Chicago: SAA, 1994)

• Local History Collections in Libraries, Faye Phillips (Libraries Unlimited, 1995)

• Starting Right: A Basic Guide to Museum Planning,Gerald George and Cindy Sherrell-Leo (Walnut Creek, CA: Altarruira Press, 1986, reprint 1995)/Ahamira

• Collecting, Processing, and Preserving Local History Manuscripts, Thomas A. Smith. (OAHSM, 1986).

• A Primer for Local Historical Societies, 2nd ed., Laurence R. Pizer (Nashville: AASLH, 1991)/Altamira.

• Archival administration in the small repository: policies and procedures for organizing manuscript collections, Parts 1 & 2 (OAHSM, 1992).

• Strengthening New York's Historical Records Programs. A Self Study Guide (NYSARA, 1989).

• Planning Your Future. Treat Your Historical Organization Like a Business (OAHSM, 1994).

• Automating the Archives: A Beginner's Guide, Richard Kesner and Lisa Weber (SAA, 1991).

• Current Thoughts on Collections Policy. Producing the Essential Document for Administering Your Collections, Daniel R. Porter (AASLH, 1985). Technical Report 1.

• Guidelines for Arrangement and Description of Archives and Manuscripts (NYSARA, 1995).

• Collections Care. What to Do When You Can't Afford to Do Anything (AASLH, 1997). Technical leaflet 198.

• Developing a Collections Management Manual, Daniel R. Porter (AASLH, 1986). Technical Report 7.

• Bringing Up Boomer. Archival Care of Mid-Twentieth Century Media, Bruce Macleish and Greg Harris (AASLH, 1996). Technical leaflet 195.

• Storage Solutions for Oversized Paper Artifacts, Mary Todd Glaser (AASLH, 1994). Technical leaflet 188.

• Rediscovering Your County's Historical Atlases (OAHSM, 1991).

• Basic Advice for Historical Societies Wanting to Make a Difference in 7beir Communities (OAHSM, 1988)

• Archives Week Action Guide (NYSARA, 1995)

• Make Your Historical Organization Teacher Friendly. - (OAHSM, 1989)

• Planning and Creating Effective Exhibits on a Limited Budget, Parts I and II (OAHSM, 1994)

• Volunteers Are People Too (OAHSM, 1988)

• Sustaining Leadership in Historical Organizations (OAHSM, 1991)

• Ideas on Membership Development for Local Historical Societies (OAHSM, 1992)

• Financial Management for the Local Historical Society. (OAHSM, 1986)

• An Insurance Primer for the Local Historical Organization. (OAHSM, 1986)

• Choosing a Microfilm Reader and Reader/Printer (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 29.

• Security for the Small Historical Organization (OAHSM, 1986)

Storage and Environmental Controls

• How to Control Environmental Conditions in Historical Agencies and Museums, Shelley Reisman Paine (AASLH, 1985). Technical Report 3.

• Disaster Prevention and Planning, Parts I and II (OAHSM, 1995).

• Disaster Planning and Recovery. A How-To-Do It Manual for Librarians and Archivists Judith Fortson (Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1992).

• Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property, National Task Force on Emergency Response, NIC

• Disaster Planning for Cultural Institutions,Beth Lindblom and Karen Motylewski (AASLH, 1993). Technical leaflet 183.

• A Guide to Resource Organizations (AASLH, 1997). Technical leaflet 196.

• State, Federal, and Private Sources of Funding for Archives, Historical Societies, Libraries, and Other Not-for-Profit Organization (NYSARA, 1995)