Selected Data from A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections

1. Selected Data from A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections

2. The Heritage Health Index Surveyed • Archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, archaeological repositories, and scientific research organizations • Collecting institutions of all sizes and from every U.S. state and territory • The full range of collections from art to vertebrate paleontology

3. Heritage Health Index Background • The Heritage Health Index was developed with the input of 35 national associations and federal agencies that represent collecting institutions • The survey questionnaire was written in consultation with more than 100 leading collections and preservation professionals • Survey and analysis was conducted by RMC Research Corporation, a firm experienced in government and non-profit sector studies.

4. Heritage Health Index Background • In August 2004 the survey was sent to a sample group of 15,000 institutions representing all types and sizes of institutions in every U.S. state and territory • The data collection ended December 2004 • Report released December 6, 2005. Final report at www.heritagehealthindex.org.

5. The Results of the Heritage Health Index Have Been Featured In • The New York Times • San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Columbus Dispatch through Associated Press story • National Public Radio’s All Things Considered • Christian Science Monitor • Reader’s Digest • American Libraries • The Art Newspaper • KJO-ABC TV in San Francisco …among other publications

6. Heritage Health Index Response Rate • Overall, 24% response rate with 3,370 surveys returned • 90% response rate from 500 of the nation’s largest and most significant collections

7. Heritage Health Index Data Projections • Data has been projected to a study population of 30,827 collecting institutions and represents the condition and preservation needs of all U.S. collections held in the public trust

8. Representation by Specific Institutions

9. Representation by Size of Institution

10. Representation by Region 10% 17% 24% 15% 16% 19%

11. U.S. Institutions Have Taken Responsibility to Preserve 4.8 Billion Collections Items

12. 4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions- by type - Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility

13. 4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions - by size - Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility

14. Condition of U.S. Collections

15. Most Institutions Care for More Than Six Types of Collections • Collections types: • Books and bound volumes • Unbound sheets • Photographic collections • Moving image collections • Recorded sound collections • Digital material collections • Art objects • Historic and ethnographic objects • Archaeological collections • Natural science specimens

16. Institutions’ Use of Environmental Controls for the Preservation of Collections

17. Institutions Using No Environmental Controls* for the Preservation of Collections- by type - *Including temperature, relative humidity, and light

18. Institutions Reporting Causes of Some and Significant Damage to Collections

19. Institutions’ Collections Stored in Areas Large Enough to Accommodate Them Safely and Appropriately 59%

20. Institutions’ Percentage of Collections Accessible Through a Catalog- by type -

21. Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out- by type -

22. Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out- by size -

23. Institutions with a Written, Long-range Plan for the Care of the Collection

24. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation Multiple responses allowed

25. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation- by type - Multiple responses allowed

26. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation- by size - Multiple responses allowed

27. Average Number of Internal Staff* Who Perform Conservation/Preservation Activities *Includes conservation/preservation professional and support staff and volunteers

28. What Institutions’ Conservation/Preservation Program Includes Multiple responses allowed

29. Institutions with Funds Allocated for Conservation/ Preservation in Annual Budget

30. Institutions’ Annual Budget for Conservation/Preservation* - most recently completed fiscal year - * Includes funds for staffing, supplies, equipment, surveys, treatment, preservation reformatting, commercial binding, consultants, contractors, and other preservation costs

31. Institutions that Used Income from Endowed Funds for Conservation/Preservation- last three years -

32. Institutions that Have Received External Conservation/ Preservation Funding - last three years - Multiple responses allowed

33. Institutions that Have Appliedfor Conservation/Preservation Funding*- last three years - * Includes from private or public funding sources

34. Institutions’ Reasons Why They Have Not Applied for Conservation/Preservation Funding* - last three years - Multiple responses allowed *Includes from private or public funding sources

35. Heritage Health Index Recommendations • Every institution recommits to providing safe conditions for the collections they hold in trust • Every collecting institution develops an emergency plan to protect its collections • Every single institution assigns responsibility for caring for collections to members of its staff • Individuals at all levels of government and in the private sector assume responsibility for providing the support that will allow these collections to survive

36. For more information, contact Heritage Preservation at 202-233-0800 or survey@heritagepreservation.org Heritage Health Index report available atwww.heritagehealthindex.org.