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Getting the Word Out about the Heritage Health Index

Heritage Preservation continues planning for Heritage Health Index, a survey on the condition and preservation needs of U.S. collections, which is being done in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In preparation for the implementation of the survey, Heritage Preservation has increased publicity. The survey will be distributed to approximately 15,000 institutions and achieving a high level of response will be critical to producing useful results that will help guide future preservation planning and initiatives.

Nadina Gardner, Assistant Director for Libraries and Archives gave a project update to the Preservation Administrators Discussion Group at the American Library Association’s mid-winter meeting in Philadelphia. Larry Reger and Kristen Laise, Director of the Heritage Health Index, made a presentation to the Regional Alliance for Preservation in Washington in June.

The Heritage Health Index was also a topic at Heritage Preservation’s annual meeting, where members were briefed on the project planning and testing phases. The benefits that institutions will realize by participating in the survey were particularly emphasized. Respondents can use the survey as a self-study tool for long-range preservation planning and increasing support for preservation. All survey participants will receive a copy of survey results, which will allow them to place their preservation needs and goals in a national context and to compare them with those of peer institutions of similar type or size. The annual meeting presentation concluded with a discussion of how Heritage Preservation might further publicize the project, specifically to institutional senior leadership, so that they would endorse the survey and allocate staff time needed to complete the questionnaire.

For more information about the Heritage Health Index, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page at www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/HHIFAQ.HTM or contact Kristen Laise at klaise@heritagepreservation.org or 202-634-0033. Updates on the Heritage Health Index will be made available through this Web site.