Course Introduction 

Historical records are unique and fragile items that require special consideration. In this course, we’ll look at ways to protect archival records by evaluating and improving the facility in which the records are housed. 

The ideal facility for historical records is a repository specially planned and constructed for holding archival collections.  

The reality is that most historical records are housed in buildings that were constructed for purposes other than housing historical records, buildings that serve many functions, or buildings that may be older with less than state-of-the-art systems. We’re assuming that your facility is not the dream home of an archives – in fact, this less-than-ideal situation is the rule for most historical records programs, not the exception.

This "lesson" should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Course Overview

In this course we will look at:

• The building that houses your collections--the physical space and environment where your collections are stored within the building
   
• The security requirements of a records facility
   
• The importance of disaster planning

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, the user will be able to:
 

• Assess the physical space that houses collections and identify appropriate improvements
   
• Assess the structure that houses collections and identify appropriate improvements
   
• Assess the climate and environment that surrounds collections and identify appropriate improvements
   
• Create a security policy
   
• Implement appropriate security practices
   
• Create a disaster plan