Margot Note's Blog, page 9

Enhancing Archival Practices with Evaluations

Review and evaluation are essential components of effective archival management. 

Regularly assessing and analyzing archival practices allows for identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. In this blog post, we will delve into the importance of review and evaluation in archives and explore key strategies for enhancing archival practices.

Archives serve as guardians of our cultural heritage, preserving and providing access to valuable historical records and artifacts. To fulfill this crucial role, archives must continuously evaluate their operations, policies, and procedures. Review and evaluation offer opportunities to reflect on the effectiveness and efficiency of archival practices, ensuring they align with evolving standards and best practices in the field.

A 360-degree Review

One key aspect of review and evaluation is the examination of collection management policies. Archival institutions should regularly review their policies to ensure they remain relevant and consistent with the evolving needs of the archives and its users. This evaluation involves assessing the scope of the collections, the acquisition and deaccessioning processes, and the alignment of the policy with the archives’ mission and goals. Archives can adapt to changing research interests, cultural shifts, and new technologies by reviewing collection management policies.

The evaluation also plays a crucial role in assessing the physical condition of archival materials. Archivists should conduct regular inspections and condition assessments to identify materials requiring conservation or preservation interventions. This evaluation allows archives to allocate resources effectively, prioritizing materials needing urgent attention and ensuring the long-term preservation of the collections.

Assessment of Access

Another important aspect of review and evaluation is the assessment of access and outreach initiatives. Archives should examine their strategies for accessing materials and engaging with diverse user communities. User surveys, focus groups, and feedback mechanisms can be valuable tools for understanding user needs and expectations. This evaluation helps archives improve their services, enhance user experiences, and foster inclusivity in access to archival materials.

Digitization initiatives are increasingly prevalent in archives, allowing broad access to materials and preserving fragile or deteriorating items. Review and evaluation are essential in assessing the effectiveness of digitization efforts. Archivists should evaluate the quality of digitized materials, the accessibility of digital platforms, and the impact of digitization on user engagement and research opportunities. Regular assessments enable archives to refine digitization workflows, prioritize materials for digitization, and ensure the long-term sustainability of digital assets.

In addition to internal evaluations, external reviews can provide valuable insights into archival practices. Engaging with external experts, peer institutions, and accreditation bodies can offer fresh perspectives and benchmarking opportunities. External reviews can help identify areas for improvement, highlight best practices, and provide guidance on enhancing archival management.

Strategic Planning 

Strategic planning is another critical component of review and evaluation. Archives should engage in periodic strategic planning exercises to set goals, establish priorities, and chart a course for the future. These planning processes involve reviewing the archives’ mission, vision, and objectives and assessing the resources and capacities needed to achieve them. Strategic planning ensures that archives remain forward-thinking and adaptable in a rapidly changing information landscape.

To enhance archival practices, archivists can establish a culture of continuous improvement. They can integrate regular review and evaluation into the fabric of archival operations, with mechanisms in place for ongoing assessment and feedback. Archivists should foster a collaborative environment that encourages staff engagement, professional development, and the sharing of best practices. Embracing a culture of continuous improvement ensures that archives stay responsive to the evolving needs of users, stakeholders, and the broader archival community.

Regular Assessments

Review and evaluation are vital components of effective archival management. Regular assessments enable archives to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in their operations, policies, and services. By evaluating collection management practices, physical condition, access initiatives, digitization efforts, and engaging in strategic planning, archives can enhance their practices and ensure the preservation of collections.

The blog was originally published on Lucidea's blog. 

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New Course Launch: Project Management for Librarians and Archivists

This comprehensive course on project management is tailored explicitly for librarians and archivists seeking to enhance their skills in efficiently managing projects within the dynamic and organized realm of libraries and archives. The course is structured into five lessons, each dedicated to a project management phase. Each lesson incorporates thematic sections that delve into crucial aspects of project management, providing practical insights and tips relevant to the subject matter.

Enroll Now Course Structure

Lesson 1: Project Initiation

Lesson 2: Project Planning

Lesson 3: Project Execution

Lesson 4: Project Monitoring and Controlling

Lesson 5: Project Closure

Additional Course Components

Figures with supplementary information in PDF format

Practical tips sections for each project phase

Lesson summaries for quick reviews

Quizzes to assess comprehension after each lesson

Further Reading recommendations for in-depth exploration

Glossary of Project Management Terms for reference

Resource Library: A template library containing common project management forms and reports, available for download and use in your projects.

Course Objectives

This course equips librarians and archivists with the essential skills to manage projects within their unique professional environments successfully. By the end of the course, participants will have a solid understanding of project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure, enhancing their ability to contribute to the successful completion of projects in library and archival settings.

Why Take This Course

By enrolling in this course, participants gain access to a comprehensive curriculum taught by an expert in the field, with the flexibility to learn at their own pace and an affordable cost. Whether you want to enhance your project management skills for career advancement or seek practical solutions for managing library and archival projects, this course offers a unique blend of expertise, convenience, and affordability.

Self-Paced Learning: Recognizing the demanding schedules of busy professionals, this course is self-paced, allowing participants to progress through the material at their convenience. Whether balancing work commitments or personal obligations, learners have the flexibility to tailor their engagement with the course to suit their unique circumstances.

Affordable Pricing: Accessibility is a priority. The course is affordable to ensure that all valuable project management skills are within reach. The goal is to empower librarians and archivists with the tools they need to excel in their roles without imposing financial barriers.

Enroll Now Instructor’s Credentials

Margot Note has over 25 years of experience in information work in the national and international sectors. She is a Certified Archivist, a Certified Records Manager, an Information Governance Professional, and a Project Management Professional.

Project Management Professional (PMP): Benefit from the insights of an instructor with a distinguished Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, ensuring that the course content aligns with industry best practices and standards.

Authoritative Publications: With a track record of writing books and articles on project management, Margot imparts theoretical knowledge and practical applications from years of experience. The course synthesizes this information into a format accessible to library and archival professionals.

Graduate Course Instructor: Margot’s experience teaching a graduate course in library school and advising professional development organizations on project management courses underscores their commitment to educational excellence. Participants can expect a well-structured and pedagogically sound learning experience.

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Processing for Archives

Archives play a vital role in preserving collective memory and cultural heritage. 

Archives rely on collection management policies together with well-defined processing and access procedures to effectively manage their collections and provide access to researchers and the public. 

Guiding Frameworks

Collection management policies are guiding frameworks that outline the principles, goals, and strategies for acquiring, organizing, preserving, and providing access to materials within an archives’ holdings. These policies are essential for maintaining the integrity of the collections. They help archivists make informed decisions about what materials to collect, how to prioritize acquisitions, and how to ensure that the collections align with the archives’ mission and scope.

A collection management policy provides guidelines for appraisal and selection. Archivists must evaluate potential acquisitions’ historical significance, authenticity, and research value to ensure the collections remain meaningful. The policy also addresses deaccessioning materials from the archives’ holdings, ensuring the process is ethical and transparent.

Processing and access procedures are equally important in the archival realm. Processing involves arranging, describing, and cataloging materials to facilitate discovery and retrieval. A well-defined processing workflow ensures that archivists organize materials systematically, assign appropriate metadata to them, and store them in a manner that promotes long-term preservation. By establishing consistent processing standards, archives can enhance the discoverability and accessibility of their collections.

Access procedures, on the other hand, govern how researchers, scholars, and the public can access and utilize archival materials. These procedures address issues such as registration, permissions, and restrictions. Archives may require users to register and provide identification, which helps protect the integrity and security of the materials. Access procedures ensure compliance with legal and ethical considerations, such as privacy rights, copyright restrictions, and sensitive materials.

To provide efficient access to their collections, archives often create finding aids and inventories. These tools serve as roadmaps for researchers, guiding them to the relevant materials within the archive. Finding aids can take various forms, from traditional paper-based guides to online databases or digital repositories. These aids provide descriptions of archival collections, including summaries, box or folder lists, and keywords, enabling researchers to locate specific materials or navigate broader subject areas.

Impact of Technology

Technological advancements have significantly impacted archival processing and access procedures in recent years. Digital preservation and digitization initiatives have revolutionized how archival materials are stored, accessed, and shared. Digital repositories and online platforms provide broader access to collections, transcending geographical boundaries. However, archivists must carefully balance the advantages of digital access with the need to preserve the physical integrity of original materials and ensure their long-term sustainability.

Furthermore, archivists must consider issues of sensitivity and privacy when establishing access procedures. Certain materials may contain confidential or personal information that requires restricted access or redaction. Archives must implement appropriate measures to protect the privacy and rights of individuals in the collections, adhering to legal and ethical guidelines.

Discoverability 

Archival collection management policies and processing and access procedures are vital for efficient archives operation. A well-crafted collection management policy ensures that archives acquire, preserve, and provide access to materials purposefully and responsibly. Processing and access procedures enhance the discoverability and usability of collections, enabling researchers and the public to engage with the materials effectively. As archives navigate the digital age, they must adapt their practices to incorporate technological advancements while preserving the core principles of preservation, access, and ethical stewardship. By continually evolving and refining these policies and procedures, archives can fulfill their mission of safeguarding our cultural heritage for future generations.

Aligning with the Archives’ Mission

A collection development policy significantly impacts the processing of archival collections. This policy serves as a clear framework and provides guidelines that directly shape the approach and management of archivists during the processing workflow. It assists in prioritizing collections, aiding archivists in allocating resources efficiently to ensure prompt processing of materials that hold greater significance and align with the archives’ mission. Moreover, the policy establishes consistent practices for arranging, describing, and preserving collections, enabling archivists to adhere to standardized procedures throughout the processing phase. Appraisal decisions are guided by the policy, allowing archivists to evaluate the value and relevance of materials within the context of the collection.

Furthermore, the policy addresses considerations of deaccessioning, ensuring the removal of materials that no longer align with the archives’ collecting goals. The policy may also include provisions for access, such as guidelines or restrictions for sensitive materials, influencing archivists in handling and processing collections to facilitate public access. Ultimately, a thoughtfully crafted collection development policy provides essential structure and direction, effectively guiding processing activities to ensure the efficient management and preservation of archival collections.

The blog was originally published on Lucidea's blog. 

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Developing Acquisition Strategies for Archives

Acquiring materials is a crucial aspect of archival collection development. To build a robust archives, it is essential to develop effective acquisition strategies. 

These strategies outline the methods and approaches used to acquire valuable materials that align with the archives’ mission and objectives.

Identify Sources

The first step in developing acquisition strategies is to identify potential sources of materials. Consider various avenues such as individuals, organizations, government agencies, businesses, and other archives. Explore local historical societies, cultural institutions, and community groups that may have valuable materials related to the archives’ focus. Networking and building relationships with potential donors or partners enhance acquisition efforts.

Acquisition Methods

Direct donations are a common source of acquisitions. Develop a proactive outreach strategy to engage with individuals and organizations who may be willing to donate materials. Raise awareness about the archives’ mission, the importance of preserving historical materials, and the potential impact of their contributions. Cultivate relationships with potential donors and communicate the benefits of their donations, including recognition, tax benefits, and preserving their legacy.

Occasionally, purchasing materials to fill gaps or enhance collections may be necessary. Allocate funds for acquisitions and explore opportunities to purchase materials aligned with the archives’ objectives. This may involve attending auctions, working with rare book dealers, or negotiating purchase agreements with individuals or organizations. 

Partnerships 

Collaborating with other institutions can be a profitable acquisition strategy. Establish partnerships with libraries, museums, universities, and research centers with similar interests or complementary collections. Develop cooperative acquisition programs that allow for material exchange or joint acquisition. Collaborative efforts expand the breadth and depth of the archives’ holdings and foster knowledge sharing and resource optimization.

Collection Development Initiatives

To actively build and shape the archives’ collections, consider implementing proactive collection development initiatives. Conduct research to identify materials missing from the holdings or necessary to support specific research or educational goals. Engage in proactive outreach to individuals, organizations, or communities that may have relevant materials and initiate conversations about potential acquisitions. Proactive collection development initiatives demonstrate the archives’ commitment to continuously expanding and enriching collections.

In the digital age, acquiring digital materials is becoming increasingly important. Develop strategies to acquire born-digital materials or digitize physical materials to ensure their long-term preservation and accessibility. Collaborate with technology experts to establish protocols and tools for acquiring, managing, and preserving digital content. Explore partnerships with digital repositories or online platforms that can facilitate acquiring and sharing digital materials.

Balancing Scope and Resources

While pursuing acquisition strategies, balancing the archive’s scope and available resources is essential. Consider the capacity of the archives to manage and preserve acquired materials effectively. Prioritize acquisitions that align closely with the archives’ mission and objectives while being mindful of resource limitations. Regularly assess the capacity of the archives to avoid overextending resources and ensure the sustainability of the acquisition efforts.

Maintain transparency and accountability in acquisition strategies. Communicate the acquisition processes, criteria, and priorities to potential donors, researchers, and stakeholders. Implement documentation and record-keeping systems to track acquisitions, including provenance, legal agreements, and donor acknowledgments. Regularly report on acquisitions and their significance to demonstrate the impact and value of the archives’ collections.

Acquisition Done Right

A well-crafted acquisition strategy is essential for archives to build and maintain exceptional collections. It enables proactive collection development, resource allocation, and ethical considerations, all contributing to the archive’s mission of preserving and providing access to valuable historical materials. By developing effective acquisition strategies, archives can strengthen their holdings, enhance their scholarly value, and ensure the long-term preservation of our cultural heritage.

The blog was originally published on Lucidea's blog. 

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Establishing Selection Criteria for Archives

Establishing clear and well-defined selection criteria is crucial when developing a collection development policy for archives. 

Selection criteria act as the yardstick by which archivists evaluate potential acquisitions, ensuring the addition of valuable and relevant materials to their collections. 

Relevance to the Archives’ Scope

The first consideration when establishing selection criteria is the relevance of materials to the archives’ scope. Clearly define the subject areas, themes, or topics within the institution’s purview. Doing so ensures that the materials acquired align with the archives’ purpose and contribute to the comprehensiveness and coherence of the collections.

Assessing the historical significance of potential acquisitions is essential. Consider the materials’ historical value in understanding specific events, movements, individuals, or communities. Determine if the materials shed new light on existing historical narratives or offer unique perspectives that enrich the archives’ holdings.

When acquiring materials, prioritize authenticity and originality. Ensure the items are genuine and accurately represent their period, culture, or context. Assess the provenance and authenticity of documents, artifacts, photographs, or other materials to guarantee their reliability and historical value.

Preservation Needs

The condition of potential acquisitions is another crucial factor to consider. Evaluate the physical state of the materials and assess their preservation needs. Fragile or deteriorating items may require significant conservation efforts or ongoing preservation measures. Weigh the cost and feasibility of preserving and maintaining materials against their potential value to the archives’ collections.

Adhering to legal and ethical standards is paramount in collection development. Consider any copyright or intellectual property rights associated with the materials. Ensure that the acquisition and use of materials comply with relevant laws and regulations. Additionally, be mindful of ethical considerations such as cultural sensitivity, privacy rights, and the potential impact on communities or individuals represented in the collections.

Relevance to Users

To better serve the archives’ intended audience, consider the relevance of potential acquisitions to their interests and research needs. Identify the primary users of the archives and assess how the materials will support their scholarly pursuits, educational endeavors, or community engagement. Acquire materials that cater to the needs and preferences of users, ensuring that the collections remain valuable and accessible to those who will benefit most from them.

Consider collaboration and partnerships as part of the selection criteria. Engage with other institutions, researchers, scholars, and community members to identify potential acquisitions that align with shared interests or complement existing collections. Collaborative acquisition efforts can enhance the breadth and depth of the archives’ holdings and foster a sense of collective responsibility in preserving and providing access to valuable materials.

Inclusivity and representation are crucial considerations in selection criteria. Aim to acquire materials that represent diverse perspectives, cultures, and communities. Actively seek materials that challenge traditional narratives, highlight marginalized voices, and provide a more inclusive understanding of history, culture, and society.

Evaluation and Refinement

Archivists should evaluate election criteria and refine them to ensure their effectiveness. As the archives evolves, the criteria may need adjustments to reflect changing priorities, research trends, or community needs. Solicit feedback from staff, researchers, and stakeholders to identify areas of improvement and make necessary revisions.

Selection for Archives

Establishing selection criteria is critical in acquiring valuable materials for the archives by considering their relevance to the archives’ scope, their historical significance, authenticity, condition, and legal and ethical considerations. Selection plays a crucial role in archives, determining which materials are worthy of preservation and inclusion within the archives’ collections. 

A thoughtful and rigorous selection process ensures the archives acquires historically significant, culturally relevant materials aligned with its collection policy and mandate. By carefully selecting materials, archives can prioritize resources and allocate limited storage and preservation capacities. The selection also allows archives to maintain a diverse and representative collection, encompassing various perspectives, voices, and subject areas. Moreover, a well-executed selection process helps prevent the accumulation of redundant or insignificant materials, ensuring that the archives’ holdings remain focused, coherent, and accessible to researchers and the public.

Ultimately, selection serves as a crucial filter that helps archives fulfill their mission of preserving and providing meaningful access to our collective memory and cultural heritage.

The blog was originally published on Lucidea's blog. 

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Looking for archival advising, records management, and historical research services? Click below to speak with an expert consultant.

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Building a Purposeful Archives

Creating a collection development policy involves setting objectives that guide the growth and management of collections. 

These objectives serve as the compass that directs the acquisition, preservation, and accessibility efforts of an archives. Archivists understand the importance of identifying collection development objectives and how they shape the purpose and direction of an archives.

Aligning with the Archival Mission

Collection development objectives should align closely with the mission statement of the archives. By establishing clear objectives, archivists ensure that every acquisition and preservation decision contributes to the overall purpose of the institution. Whether preserving local history, supporting scholarly research, or promoting cultural heritage, the objectives set the stage for building purposeful and impactful archives.

One significant objective of an archives may be to support educational and research endeavors. By identifying this objective, archivists can shape their collection development strategies to acquire materials that align with the academic interests of their intended audience. This may involve partnering with educational institutions, providing resources for student projects, or developing research-oriented collections that enrich scholarly pursuits.

Many archives have the objective of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. These archives serve as vital repositories of artifacts, documents, and records that reflect a particular group’s history, traditions, and values. By identifying cultural heritage preservation as a core objective, archivists can focus on acquiring materials that safeguard and celebrate the unique heritage of the archives’ audience.

Fostering Communities

Archives can play a significant role in fostering community engagement. By identifying community engagement as an objective, archivists can develop collection strategies that resonate with the interests and needs of the local community. This may involve organizing public exhibitions, hosting events, or seeking input in collection development decisions. Engaging the community creates a sense of ownership and connection with the archives’ collections.

One crucial objective for many archives is to ensure inclusivity and representation. Archives have the power to address historical gaps and amplify underrepresented voices. By identifying this objective, archivists can actively seek materials representing diverse perspectives, marginalized communities, and historically overlooked narratives. This objective encourages the acquisition of materials that challenge traditional narratives and provide a more comprehensive understanding of history and culture.

Archives can serve as catalysts for social change and advocacy. Archivists can actively acquire materials documenting social movements, human rights struggles, and historical transformative moments by identifying advocacy and social justice as collection development objectives. These collections provide a platform for education, awareness, and promoting social justice causes.

Balancing Quantity and Quality

An essential objective in collection development is to strike a balance between quantity and quality. While it may be tempting to acquire an extensive range of materials, it is equally essential to ensure that the materials meet specific quality standards and align with the objectives of the archives. Focus on acquiring historically significant, authentic, and relevant materials.

Identifying collection development objectives is vital in creating purposeful and impactful archives. By aligning with the archives’ mission, supporting educational and research endeavors, preserving cultural heritage, fostering community engagement, representing underrepresented voices, supporting advocacy, and balancing quantity and quality, archivists can shape their collection development strategies to reflect the institution’s core values and goals. These objectives provide a roadmap for acquiring, preserving, and providing access to materials that serve the target audience’s needs and make the archives a valuable resource for education, research, and social impact.

A Guiding Framework

Archivists play a crucial role in creating purposeful archives through the implementation of a well-defined collection development policy. This policy serves as a guiding framework that ensures the archives acquires materials that align with its mission and objectives. They establish criteria for evaluating potential acquisitions, considering factors such as historical significance, uniqueness, and relevance to the archives’ designated subject areas. The collection development policy also outlines the procedures for soliciting and accepting donations, as well as the protocols for appraising and selecting materials. Archivists engage in proactive outreach efforts to raise awareness about the archives and its collecting priorities, cultivating relationships with individuals, organizations, and communities that may possess valuable records. By adhering to a collection development policy, archivists ensure that the archives’ holdings are purposeful, representative, and reflective of the mission and values of the institution, while also enabling researchers and the public to engage meaningfully with the materials preserved within the archives.

The blog was originally published on Lucidea's blog. 

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Looking for archival advising, records management, and historical research services? Click below to speak with an expert consultant.

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Ultimate Guide to Completing Family History Projects

I've written a lot about family archives over the years, but sometimes my readers miss a post or are new to my community. I've listed my posts related to how anyone can learn methods to save their personal and family history. 

Learn the preservation secrets used by libraries, archives, and museums to protect their priceless materials (that you can also use for your family heritage items) by ordering my book:

Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide to Saving Your Memories for Future Generations By Margot Note Buy on Amazon

Navigating the World of Archival Management

I've compiled some of my best post posts on archival management. I love being a consultant who can help organizations fund, set up, or expand their archives programs. Interested in learning more about what I do? Check out my services. 

Holiday Gift Guide for History and Archives Lovers

A gift that celebrates memories is so much more than a present. An occasion for gift giving--the holidays, a birthday, an anniversary--is all about the experience. Everything's better when you enjoy it together. 

Here's a list of distinctive presents for everyone on your nice list. They are suitable for people of any age. They are affordable as well; most gifts are $10-$20, with many under $10. When you purchase items through these links, I receive a small percentage of the cost through the Amazon Associates program. You can buy curated, high-quality items at the same that you support my work. The ties that bind these gifts together is that they cherish the past or create the future.

Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide to Saving Your Memories for Future Generations By Margot Note Buy on Amazon

For Family Archivists

I would be remiss for not mentioning my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations, as a thoughtful gift. It's an easy, quick, and affordable guide to protecting your treasures. I've also selected a collection of my favorite Gaylord Archival items for beginners, including family history kits, enclosures, and folders, that I advise my clients to use and that I use myself. I've also created the ultimate archival supply shopping list that goes into more detail about what beginning archivists need to get started.  

For Memory Makers

Lea Redmond's Letters to... series provides prompts for letters to loved ones. Letters to My Friend: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever. offers 12 letters to celebrate a cherished friendship. 

A gift of a recipe box with 100 recipe cards (and a potential to hold twice as much) allows family members to record their favorite recipes. I like this box because of its clean, modern design; a groove on the top of the box allows you to view your recipe easily. 

The Memories line of Homesick candles are the best. The Books scent smells like an older leatherbound book mixed with a woody desk character of cedar and sandalwood. Hints of balsamic and vanilla finish the complex scent. Doesn't that sound wonderful? This hand-poured soy wax candle burns for 60 to 80 hours. 

Drop a note to friends and family with letterpress printed cards. My favorite is a set individually printed on a 1930's letterpress with a vintage typewriter motif with "just a note" in black on the front. They're blank inside. The cards measure 3.5" x 5" and come neatly packaged with a variety color of envelopes. If these aren't your style, I suggest seeking another set of letterpress stationery; they have a luxe, handmade touch that stands out among slick and impersonal commercial cards. 

An archival-quality photo album kit includes everything you need to safely present precious family photos in an elegant black album. The kit includes a buckram cover, mounting pages, protectors, photo corners, and envelopes that are acid-free to safely store photos, negatives, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia. I've written a post about purchasing and using the album to recreate a damaged magnetic album. 

For Kids

In Home, artist Carson Ellis makes her solo picture-book debut with a whimsical tribute to the many possibilities of home. I spotted this book at The Strand and was immediately drawn to it. The book has a beautiful tone that invites many return visits. It also introduces the important concept of how the places we live shape our lives.

These forest friends bookplates are so cute. The 80 bookplates were illustrated by Quill & Fox. They feature colorful owls, worms, squirrels, foxes, beavers, ladybugs, rabbits, and hedgehogs. It makes a fun gift for the little bookworm in your life.

Let's Make Some Great Art is such an inspiring book; it’s full of activities and lessons on artists, and is a great tool to get kids’ creative juices flowing.

Nothing beats the ease of taking photos on your cellphone, but there’s something retro about the Instagram-like wallet-sized photos produced from a Fuji Instax. All kids should experience the tangible aspects of photography, especially instant photography. Archivists and conservators are unsure about how long digital images will last. Physical images (when preserved properly) will survive hundreds of years. 

The classic My Book About Me, By ME, Myself encourages children to write and draw their own biographies. It's an ideal gift for elementary school children and one that will become a cherished keepsake. (I loved filling in my copy as a child!)

For Readers

Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind by Sarah Wildman documents her journey to find the lost love her grandfather left behind when he fled pre-World War II Europe. The book begins when she finds a cache of letters in his old files, then ends in an exploration into family identity, myth, and memory.

In Sidonia's Thread: The Secrets of a Mother and Daughter Sewing a New Life in America, Hanna Perlstein Marcus writes about her journey with her mother, Sidonia, who came to Massachusetts from a displaced persons camp after World War II. Sidonia supports herself as a talented seamstress, yet hides many secrets. As an adult, Hanna searches through her mother's old letters and photographs to find clues about her heritage. 

The House in Prague: How a Stolen House Helped an Immigrant Girl Find Her Way Home follows Anna Nessy Perlberg's life from witnessing the Nazis invade Prague in 1939 to after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The book is illustrated with pictures from the author’s family archives. 

97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman investigates the culinary habits of five ethnic families living at the turn of the twentieth century in one tenement on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It includes 40 recipes.

In search of a place to call home, thousands of Hmong families made the journey from the war-torn jungles of Laos to the overcrowded refugee camps of Thailand and onward to America. Lacking a written language of their own, the Hmong experience has been primarily recorded by others. Driven to tell her family’s story after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is Kao Kalia Yang’s tribute to the remarkable woman whose spirit held them all together.

For Writers

The Blackwing pencil was introduced in the 1930's by Eberhard Faber and was the pencil of choice for Oscar, Grammy, and Pulitzer Prize winners throughout the 20th century. Pencil aficionados from John Steinbeck to Thomas Wolfe to E.B. White have sung the praises of the Palomino Blackwing pencil. After it was discontinued in the 1990's, fans began paying as much as $40 per pencil to seize unused stock. These are perfect for writing in your journal, scribbling down notes as you interview family members, or crafting letters to loved ones. 

The Fisher space pen is one of the most popular pens of the twentieth century. The original Fisher Space Pen was used on the Apollo 7 space mission in 1968 after two years of testing by NASA and has been used on all manned space flights since then. The design and construction of the pen hasn't changed; it's exactly the same as the one taken to the moon. The pen writes at any angle, even in Zero Gravity, and in extreme temperatures. 

Writers can jot ideas down quickly with a set of three Moleskine Cahiers. These flexible, singer-bound journals have indigo blue covers and visible stitching on the spine. The ruled pages are acid-free, so they are easy to preserve. 

For a more substantial notebook, choose Leuchtturm. These notebooks helps you get organized with numbered pages, a blank table of contents, and a set of stickers for the cover and spine that allow for clear labeling and archiving. I've chosen a notebook with plain paper; you can also choose lined or dots (for bullet journals). 

The Miracle Time Cube is perfect for overcoming procrastination. You can set it to 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes and research, write, or edit until it beeps. 

What gifts are you looking forward to giving and receiving? 

To learn the preservation secrets used by libraries, archives, and museums to protect their priceless materials (that you can also use for your family heritage items), read my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations.

Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide to Saving Your Memories for Future Generations By Margot Note Buy on Amazon

Essential Archival Supplies

Archival supplies are available through distributors like Gaylord Archival, Hollinger Metal Edge, and University Products, available on Amazon in stores like The Container Store. For those unfamiliar with archival supplies, The Container Store offers a curated selection in their Photo Storage section, including boxes, folders, and enclosures.

Consider these items with links to my preferred products below:

Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations

No. 2 pencils and a sharpener

A mini spatula to carefully remove staples and photos from sticky surfaces

Archival-quality clips to replace traditional paper clips that rust

A book and document cleaner, like Absorene

A PH testing pen

Archival-quality file folders (I prefer letter-sized folders with full tabs. Order more than you think you'll need because you'll go through these quickly).

Clear photo corners

Drop-spine archival boxes to store materials flat

Vertical file archival boxes, best for letter file folders

Bankers boxes for when you have a lot of files (Paige No. 15 Miracle Boxes are the easiest to construct and the most durable).

Photo boxes with photo enclosures

Photo envelopes

Clear plastic enclosures for papers, pamphlets, family records, and small maps

Archival photo album kits

Unbuffered or buffered acid-free tissue (If unsure of the materials you're protecting, chose unbuffered).