Heritage Health Index Surveys Condition and Needs of U.S. Collections

Heritage Preservation is coordinating the Heritage Health Index in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, with major funding from the Getty Grant Program and additional support from the Henry Luce Foundation, Bay Foundation, Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Peck Stacpoole Foundation, and Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

What is the Heritage Health Index?
The Heritage Health Index is a national survey of the condition and preservation needs of U.S. collections. This project will—for the first time—produce a comprehensive picture of the state of artistic, historic, and scientific collections held by the full range of institutions that care for them, including archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, scientific research organizations, and archeological repositories. Survey participants included collecting institutions of all sizes from every U.S. state and territory. The survey was done via a self-administered questionnaire. The Heritage Health Index is designed to be repeated every four years to keep the data current and to measure progress.

When will the survey be conducted?
The Heritage Health Index was distributed in August 2004 and surveys were accepted until December 2004.

How may my institution participate?
Data collection is now complete; however, Heritage Preservation is also collecting stories about collections in need or artifacts that have been preserved. Click here to participate in this effort.

When will the results of the Heritage Health Index be available?
Heritage Preservation will publish the results of the survey in December 2005, and the report will be available online.

How will the results of the Heritage Health Index be used?
The statistics gathered by the Heritage Health Index will be used to articulate to policy-makers, trustees, and private and public funding sources a clear, detailed analysis of the most pressing preservation problems threatening our collective heritage. The survey results will facilitate consensus building and long-range planning within the fields of preservation and conservation.

What data will the Heritage Health Index report include?
The Heritage Health Index questionnaire covered all major issues related to the preservation of collections, and the survey report will contain data on environmental conditions, preservation activities, preservation staffing, preservation budgets and funding, and estimates of the condition and quantity of specific media and formats. Results will be reported by type and size of institution.

How will institutions that participated in the Heritage Health Index benefit?
Participating institutions will benefit by being represented in nationwide preservation data that Heritage Preservation will bring to the attention of decision-makers and funding sources to increase awareness and support. The results of the Heritage Health Index will allow individual institutions to view their preservation progress and challenges in the context of the work of their peers. This information can guide institutional preservation planning and fund-raising for the care of collections.

Who can answer my additional questions?
If you need additional information or have questions about the Heritage Health Index, contact Kristen Overbeck Laise, Director, Heritage Health Index, 202-233-0824 or klaise@heritagepreservation.org.