IHRAB Resource Library

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.

What Does the Resource Library Contain?

This brochure lists the publications and other materials that are especially helpful to local government officials with significant records keeping responsibilities. Another 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.

How Were the Resource Library Materials Selected?

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.

How Can I Get Materials From The Resource Library?

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. 

Resource Library Materials

Basic Manuals

• Records Management: A Practical Guide for Cities and Counties, Julian L. Mims (International City/County Management Association, 1996).
• The Management of Local Government Records: A Guide for Local Officials, Bruce W. Dearstyne (AASLH, 1988).
• Guidelines for Planning Local Government Records Programs (NYSARA).
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 43.

Basic Records Management

• Developing a Records Management Program for Local Government, David W. Palinquist (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Starting a Records Management Program
• (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 32.
• Fundamentals of Establishing a Records Management Program (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 1.

Basic Archival Management

• Developing an Archives Program for Local Government, Sharon A Receveur (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Elements of an Archival Program (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 40.

Records Centers and Storage

• Records Center Operations. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Environmental Controls. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Developing an Inactive Records Storage Facility
• (NYSARA) Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 48.
• Administration of Inactive Records (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 49.

Files Management

• Files Management. Selecting a System. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).

Vital (Essential) Records

• Developing a Vital Records Program. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).

Inventorying and Scheduling Records

• Inventorying Local Government Records. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Records Retention and Disposition Schedules Gerald G. Newborg. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Using Records Retention and Disposition Schedules (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 4 1.
• Preparing an Office Records Retention and Disposition Schedule (N-YSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 25.
• How to Establish Records Retention Schedules (SCDAH). Public records info leaflet, #18.

Micrographics

• Should Local Governments Microfilm Their Records? (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Micrographics, William P. Ptacek. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Targeting and Certification of Microfilm (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 12.
• Producing High Quality Microfilm (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 9.
• Service Bureau or In-House Microfilming (NYSARA).
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 14.
• Managing Micrographics Projects (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 10.
• Choosing a Microfilm Reader and Reader/Printer
• (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 29.

Electronic Document Imaging

• The Local Government Guide to Imaging Systems: Planning and Implementation
• (International City/County Management Association, 1995).
• Optical Disk vs. Paper Records. (NYSARA).
• Local Govt Records Technical Info. Leaflet, no. 22.
• Electronic Document Imaging and Optical Storage Systems for Local Governments. An Introduction. (NYSARA). Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 21.
• Optical Storage Systems for Records and Information Management: Overview, Recommendations and Guidelines for Local Governments. (NYSARA).
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 45.
• Electronic Document Imaging Systems: A Reader for Local Governments (NYSARA).
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 46.

Preservation

• Basic Preservation of Local Government Records, Maria S. Holden and Robert W. Arnold. (NICLOG Series, AASLH, 1989).
• Preservation Microfilming (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Leaflet, no. 35.

Disaster Preparedness and Response

• Guidelines for Off-Site Storage of Inactive Local Government Records (NYSARA)
• Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 42.
• Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel (National Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property, National Task Force on Emergency Response)

Geographic Information Systems

• An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS).- A Reader for Local Governments (N-YSARA, 1994). Local Govt Records Technical Information Series, no. 47.

Key To Publishers and Organizations

If you would like to obtain your own copy of any of these publications, try contacting its publisher:

NICLOG Series, AASLH

National Information Center for Local Government Records

American Association for State and Local History
1717 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615/320-3203
Web: www.aaslh.org

ARMA, International Association of Records Managers and Administrators

4200 Somerset Dr., Ste. 215

Prairie Village, KS 66208

Phone: 800/422-2762

Web: www.arma.org/hq/

ICMA International City/County Management Association

777 N. Capitol St. NE, Ste. 500

Washington, DC 20002

Phone: 800/745-8780

Web: www.lcma.org

NYSARA New York State Archives & Records Administration

Cultural Education Center

Albany, NY 12230

Phone: 518/474-6926

Web: unix6.nysed.gov/pubs/

SCDAH South Carolina Department of Archives and History

8301 Parklane Road

Columbia, SC 29223

Phone: 803/896-6100

Web: www.state.sc.us/scdah/

For Assistance or Additional Information, Contact: 

Iowa Historical Records Advisory Board (IHRAB)
Gordon Hendrickson, State Archivist
State Historical Society of Iowa
600 East Locust, Des Moines, IA 50319
Telephone: 515/281-8875
Fax: 515/282-0502
E-mail: Gordon.Hendrickson@iowa.gov

The Resource Library was assembled with assistance from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. 1998.