Organizations

Processing collections is done in two steps. First, records are physically organized to reflect the intellectual pattern present in the material. Following arrangement, information about the collection’s contents, physical characteristics, context, use, and purpose is captured and compiled in a finding aid, or guide to the collection.

Digitizing material and providing online access has the following benefits:

• It opens your holdings to more users, whether you choose to make them available online or through terminals at your institution
• It protects material from constant handling, thus extending their lifetime
• It provides a surrogate in case of a natural or other disaster.

• Your organization might hold collections that can be used for “Teaching with primary sources” modules in many courses in high schools and the university, such as History, Literature, Art History, Sociology, Political Sciences, Cultural Studies, etc.
• Student assignments and papers using your collections can be used to further contextualize your collections and help shed light to material contained within.

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Your collections offer various thematic clusters (either by artist, or by subject) that can be promoted as temporary physical exhibits.

Digitized material from your collection can be used to develop digital exhibits that will promote your institution.

You can use and show your collections in innovative ways through mobile walking tours, augmented reality or virtual reality applications. Such applications bring history to the public in ways that appeal to younger audiences, as well as to visiting tourists.