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Do’s and Don’ts for Archivists
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Saved by djm51@...
on May 26, 2011 at 6:22:34 am
DO:
- Follow the National History Day Annual Guidelines and pre-select relevant collections. http://www.nhd.org/images/uploads/2010rulebook.pdf.
- Consider developing a web page for NHD participants with links to relevant collections and resources. (See Best NHD practices )
- Work with your state coordinator (http://www.nhd.org/Coordinators.htm) to coordinate class visits and individual NHD researchers.
- Assign a staff member to liaison with your various NHD groups.
- Communicate directly with the teacher to plan a class visit.
- Refer teachers to your webpage or list of topics for student research for certain topics. (See History Topics Examples)
- If your finding aids are online, ask teacher to have students identify materials of interest and have teacher email call slips for each student.
- Pull materials in preparation for a class visit.
- Consider this an opportunity to share your archives with younger users.
- Hang a sign that says "History Day Help.”
- Try to find college age interns or retired teachers to volunteer during class visits/project time. Train volunteers to bring any unresolved questions to the archivist.
- Come up with creative ways to use original documents and images without adding to wear and tear—use plastic sheet protectors or make surrogate reproduction or digital versions.
- Encourage students whose research topic has no holdings to check secondary sources to find new topics or search terms.
- When students do find good stuff, create a “History Topic” for it so you don't have to repeat the search.
- Educate your users about primary and secondary sources.
- Ask students questions (adjusted to their level) to help them clarify their thinking.
- Be flexible and accommodating with students who cannot visit on-site.
- Be patient with both parents and students.
- Know that the time you take when talking with or emailing students has a great impact.
- Ask students questions to clarify their thinking. You'll need to adjust to their entry level into research but you will have a wonderful opportunity to make an impact.
- Share your excitement for the past with teachers and students by talking about different ways to look at the selected topic.
DON’T:
- Expect NHD students to know how to do research or search for materials.
- Expect NHD teachers or students to understand what a finding aid is.
- Do the research for the student.
- Forget home-schooled students.
- Leave out assessing the experience of your K-12 users.
Do’s and Don’ts for Archivists
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