Heritage Health Index Completes Data Collection

This August, over 15,000 collecting institutions nationwide received the Heritage Health Index, a survey of unprecedented scope and scale that will result in a comprehensive picture of the condition and preservation needs of this country’s collections. Archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and scientific organizations of all sizes and from every state and U.S. territory participated in the survey.

Heritage Preservation will begin full analysis of the Heritage Health Index data in December, and results will be published in spring 2005. In a letter that accompanied the survey, Heritage Preservation President Lawrence Reger and Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Robert Martin explained “survey results will be used extensively in the years ahead as administrators, policy makers, government agencies, and private funding sources make decisions that affect the preservation of collections.” The final report will be published on the Heritage Preservation Web site, and a summary of the results will be sent to survey participants.

While the data collection is complete, Heritage Preservation is still accepting submissions for case studies to use in the Heritage Health Index reports. We are seeking information about significant artifacts or collections that are in need of preservation or that have received care due to a preservation effort. Click here for information on how you can share a preservation story with us.

The Heritage Health Index is administered by Heritage Preservation 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.

Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the Heritage Health Index.