Security

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Security

• Collection Protection at the Austin History Center

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Introduction

• Security issues from the Archivists viewpoint
• Specifics about expectations for securing the
  building when the building is closed, but
  meetings are taking place
• Discussion of threats to archives and tour to
  examine trouble spots

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Overview

• Archives are unique and valuable
• By examining the common threats to archives, we
  will be better able to protect the collection and
  preserve it for future use

Archives
Threats
Solutions
Environment
Computers
Preservation
Safety
Locks
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Collection Protection

• Policies procedures
• Physical examination and observation
• Keys, locks and doors, and
• Training to preserve the unbroken chain of
  custody and the physical well-being of the
  materials in our care

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Common Threats

• Pests--no food except in the staff room/ pest
  control/ remove trash
• Light dust--gray acid-free boxes and file
  folders/ window treatments
• Water--keep things up on pallets avoid placing
  items on the floor/ watch the roof and vaults
• Environment--stable temperatures and reasonable
  fluctuations in humidity
• Biggest threat of all -- People

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People

• AHC AHCA Staff, APL Staff, Meeting Room Users,
  Reading Room Users, Vendors
• Keys, Locks and Doors
• Policies and Procedures

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Revisiting Policies and Procedures

• Volunteer supervision
• Meeting room booking
• Opening procedures
• Closing procedures
• Key distribution control
• Security presence
• Security systems

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Issues Not Covered

• Exterior security
• Lighting, landscaping, perimeter detection
• Reading Room
• Training, policies, supervision, registration,
  lockers, collection retrieval and control,
  staffing,
• What to do when theft is discovered
• Notifications, actions to take

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Summary

• Effective Internal Security Programs (1)
  recognize that there is potential for a problem,
  (2) demonstrate a willingness to tackle the
  problem, and (3) practice consistent adherence to
  procedures.
• Your thoughts and suggestions.

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Where to Get More Information

• Other training sessions -- Amigos Collection
  Security, Disaster Preparedness
• Brown, Karen E. Collections Security Planning
  and Prevention for Libraries and Archives, in
  Preservation of Library Archival Materials A
  Manual, 3rd edition, Sherelyn Ogden, Ed. Andover,
  MA Northeast Document Conservation Center, 1999.
• Trinkaus-Randall, Gregor. Protecting Your
  Collections A Manual of Archival Security.
  Chicago Society of American Archivists, 1995.