Heritage Health Index Reports Underway

Production of the final Heritage Health Index reports has begun; they are expected to be published in fall 2005. The Heritage Health Index was conducted from August to December 2004. The survey had a 24% response rate with 3,370 surveys returned, including a 90% response rate from the nation’s largest and most significant collections. The data has been projected to a survey universe of about 31,000 collecting institutions so that the figures will represent the condition and preservation needs of collections in the entire nation.

What Kind of Data Will Be Included?
Since early 2005, Heritage Preservation has been analyzing the survey data, which included presenting the findings to our project partner, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and getting feedback on how best to view the information. Based on their recommendations, the data has been analyzed by:

• region, size, and general institutional type: archives, libraries, historical societies, museums, and scientific research/archaeological research collections;

• ten specific institutional types: archives, public libraries, special libraries, academic libraries, independent research libraries, historical societies, art museums, history/other museums (includes historic houses/sites, history museums, general museums, specialized museums, children’s museums), science museums (includes natural history museums, science/ technology museums, nature centers, planetaria, arboreta, botanical gardens, aquaria, zoos), and scientific research/archaeological research collections;

• by size within each institutional type (however, the data is most accurate when considered by broader categories of type, size, and region).

Detailed analyses with data tables, graphs, and explanation of the survey methodology will be included in the full Heritage Health Index report that will be available at no charge on the Heritage Preservation Web site.

In May, Heritage Preservation staff reviewed the results of the Heritage Health Index with a working group of 14 conservation and preservation professionals to identify the survey’s key findings. These main points will become the basis of an illustrated summary report designed to get the attention of busy decision-makers. The summary report will be provided to all survey participants; key staff at foundations, corporations, and federal and state agencies; members of Congress and state legislators; and the press.

The excitement for the release of the Heritage Health Index data is building. In June, Heritage Preservation Board Chair Debbie Hess Norris and project director Kristen Laise presented some of the Heritage Health Index findings at the General Session of the American Institute for Conservation annual meeting and received an enthusiastic response from the 600 conservators in attendance. Additional Heritage Health Index data was shared at the 2005 Heritage Preservation annual meeting held during the AIC meeting.

How Can I Help the Heritage Health Index Have an Impact?

• Heritage Preservation is still accepting case study stories and images of collections in need or collections saved. Dramatic photographs of the risks that collections face will help convey the message that preservation of our nation’s collections should be a priority.

• The summary report will be sent to influential individuals on all levels of government and philanthropy. If you have names and contact information for local or state government officials, funders, or others should see the Heritage Health Index results, Heritage Preservation would be pleased to send them a copy of the summary report.

• After the Heritage Health Index reports are published, staff will be available to provide articles for professional publications and make presentations to professional associations. If you are involved in such groups, Heritage Preservation would like to know of opportunities to disseminate the Heritage Health Index findings.

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

Click here to see the Heritage Health Index funders.