Finding an Archival Home: Understanding the Accessioning Process

Описание: Churches, both active and engaged in the legacy process, may find themselves needing to partner with external repositories to properly steward their important historical records.

The process of working with repositories to donate materials can be surprisingly complex and time intensive for both the donor and repository. Every archive, library, and museum has their own unique accessioning workflow and rules for collecting, so when the stewards of church records understand the overall process, they are able to set realistic expectations when working with both repositories and church administrators.

This virtual workshop with the CLA's archivists, Zachary Bodnar and Billy McCarthy, explores the accessioning process from start to finish with an eye towards setting expectations for donors and best practices to follow when working with external repositories. Zachary and Billy will also discuss the gift agreement, a document that legally transfers physical ownership; explore how to talk about copyright and other legal rights with a repository; and offer a peek behind the curtain at the CLA’s accessioning procedures.

If you have questions, Zachary and Billy are happy to help via email. You can contact them at [email protected]


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This video is part of the Congregational Library & Archives' commitment to helping churches preserve their valuable historical records through our Church Stewardship Initiative.

•• Find the full playlist of our Church Stewardship Initiative workshops here:    • Church Stewardship Initiative  
•• Learn more on our website at https://congregationallibrary.org/csi


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Find the resources mentioned in the video here:

• Sign up for the Congregational Library & Archives monthly newsletter to learn about our upcoming programs here: https://congregationallibrary.org/new...
• You can find the example gift agreements from the University of Michigan that Billy mentions in the video here: https://www.lib.umich.edu/research-an...
• Find information on US copyright laws from the US Copyright Office here: https://www.copyright.gov/what-is-cop...


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CHAPTERS:

0:00 Welcome and Introductions
3:05 Church Stewardship Program Initiative Overview
4:45 Setting Expectations for Repositories and Donors
12:18 Understanding Gift Agreements
15:48 Understanding Copyright
21:58 The CLA's Accessioning Process
34:52 Q: How can you find out if part of your church's collection is already at a repository?
38:18 Q: In an archive interested in both digitized records and the records themselves?
40:33 Q: Does the CLA ever receive full-processed collections?
42:03 Q: Are gift agreements negotiable?
44:23 Q: What can go wrong with copyright?
46:10 Q: What ownership documentation does the CLA require for donations?
48:18 Q: What is the CLA's collecting policy on 3-D objects?
50:39 Final Thoughts and Thanks


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