Heritage Health Index Plans Survey Distribution

Heritage Preservation is moving forward toward the distribution of the 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. The announcement of the launch date will be made in 2004—watch for e-mail reminders.

Heritage Preservation has been compiling the mailing list that will be used to select randomly about 15,000 institutions to participate in the survey. It is estimated that there are about 50,000 archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, and scientific research collections across the U.S., but there is no one source for contact information on all of them. Heritage Preservation is consulting major directories of museums and libraries, and also consulting association membership lists, previous studies, and many other sources to make sure the list is as thorough as possible. Extra effort is being taken to include local and specialized collections.

Heritage Preservation has also identified approximately 500 institutions that represent the largest and most significant collections. All these institutions will be asked to complete the Heritage Health Index because the size and significance of their collections make them a critical part of this report on the state of U.S. cultural, historic, and scientific heritage. Included in this group are some smaller institutions with important holdings in particular media or subject matter. In January 2004, this list will be circulated to project advisors for review. To recommend an institution to receive a Heritage Health Index questionnaire, please contact project director Kristen Overbeck Laise at klaise@heritagepreservation.org or the assistant director for libraries and archives, Nadina Gardner, at ngardner@heritagepreservation.org.

You do not need to wait to receive a survey to contribute to the Heritage Health Index data-gathering effort. See the Heritage Health Index’s Web page for information on how to submit photographs and information about collections that are in need of or have benefited from a preservation effort. Heritage Preservation will select case studies to illustrate major findings from the Heritage Health Index, which will be distributed to state and federal leaders, to private and public funding sources, and to the media nationwide.