Advocating Archives: An Introduction to Public Relations for Archivists

by Elsie Freeman Finch

Overview

Now in Paperback! As institutional budgets become tighter and information sources wider and more complex, archivists, manuscript curators and staff of special collections seek ways to broaden the use of their materials, bringing their services and their story to wider publics. Advocating Archives: An Introduction to Public Relations for Archivists presents practical advice on how to find and relate to these publics: how to better serve the client in person, launch a fund-raising campaign, work with the media, market programs, organize programs around historical events, train and successfully use volunteers, and avoid the most common public relations errors by planning. Written by archivists with previous professional or practical experience in these fields, Advocating Archives offers simply written, practical guidelines for the professional or manager who either develops their own public relations program or works with public relations professional in their institution. Three studies in archival public relations, taken from the daily experience of their writers, provide material for the instructors in archival management courses. Part of a long-term public relations initiative undertaken by the Society of American Archivists, the book aims to make public relations skills an integral part of archival management, and to help the archivist, curator, or special collections professional direct the public's response to their work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810847736
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/1994
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	186
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Elsie Freeman Finch has been a leader in the development of public relations and education programs for archives since she began her career in the mid-1960's. Recently retired as manager of public education programs for the National Archives and Records Service, she also taught in secondary schools, university and adult education programs and worked in advertising and public relations firms.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction Chapter 2 1. TALKING TO THE ANGEL Part 3 Beginning Your Public Relations Program Chapter 4 2. MONEY TALK Part 5 An Introduction to Private Sector Fund Raising for Archives Chapter 6 3 IN PRINT, ON AIR Part 7 Working with the Media Chapter 8 4. MODEST PROPOSALS Part 9 Marketing Ideas for Planning Public Programs Chapter 10 5 .ANNIVERSARIES Part 11 A Framework for Planning Public Programs Chapter 12 6.VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS Part 13 Recruitment, Management, and Satisfaction Chapter 14 7.TROUBLESHOOTING Part 15 STUDIES IN PUBLIC RELATIONS Chapter 16 Politicians and the Press in the Archives Milwaukee Chapter 17 The Pope and the Archives Chapter 18 Once in a Hundred Years Part 19 APPENDICES Part 20 Appendix 1 Working with the media Part 21 Appendix 2 Fund Raising Part 22 Appendix 3 Planning Special Events Part 23 Appendix 4 volunteers Part 24 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Part 25 INDEX

Editorial Reviews

...the volume is firmly focused on outreach in the context of archives...public relations is presented not as an optional add-on to the core functions of acquisition and preservation but as a core function in its own right...The authors write enthusiastically but with a practicality... [Each of the] essays has something useful to say and archivists and other information professionals, struggling to make ends meet in these difficult days, would benefit from listening and learning.

Journal Of Documentation

The SAA Committee on Public Information...labored over this book during the course of half a decade. The result is this practical and useful collection of essays...very helpful...

The American Archivist

...this handbook is substantially better than any of the public relations tools designed for librarians. Don't be misled by the title. Buy, read, and—above all—use this great handbook.

Wilson Library Bulletin

...an excellent manual for archivists, for all managers for non-profit programs, and for anyone who wants to improve the image and usefulness of any service organization...The essays are clearly written, their authors expound their assigned topics well, and they are complementary but not repetitious. This book should be in most libraries. It is essential for archivists, record managers, librarians, and other professionals.

Collection Management

...an excellent presentation of ways to make the public and your own organization aware of your archives' existence and, more importantly, its worth...Finch has collected information invaluable in crafting outreach programs that get and keep public or organizational attention.

Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship

Aimed at the archivist who is not a public relations expert, this is a very useful how-to book for people actually working in the archives and for students taking an archives class. The chapters dealing with starting a friends group and managing volunteers would also be useful to those working in public libraries.

Public Library Quarterly

...the volume is firmly focused on outreach in the context of archives...public relations is presented not as an optional add-on to the core functions of acquisition and preservation but as a core function in its own right...The authors write enthusiastically but with a practicality... [Each of the] essays has something useful to say and archivists and other information professionals, struggling to make ends meet in these difficult days, would benefit from listening and learning.--Journal Of Documentation

Aimed at the archivist who is not a public relations expert, this is a very useful how-to book for people actually working in the archives and for students taking an archives class. The chapters dealing with starting a friends group and managing volunteers would also be useful to those working in public libraries.--Public Library Quarterly

...an excellent manual for archivists, for all managers for non-profit programs, and for anyone who wants to improve the image and usefulness of any service organization...The essays are clearly written, their authors expound their assigned topics well, and they are complementary but not repetitious. This book should be in most libraries. It is essential for archivists, record managers, librarians, and other professionals.--Collection Management

From the Publisher

The SAA Committee on Public Information...labored over this book during the course of half a decade. The result is this practical and useful collection of essays...very helpful...

American Archivist

...an excellent presentation of ways to make the public and your own organization aware of your archives' existence and, more importantly, its worth...Finch has collected information invaluable in crafting outreach programs that get and keep public or organizational attention..

Rare Books & Manuscripts Librarianship

An archivist's guide to public relations, for archivists, manuscript curators, and staff of special collections. Covers private sector fund raising, working with the media, marketing programs, planning public programs around historical events, and training volunteers. Includes three case studies. Appendices include news release examples, and sample forms for fund raising and volunteer recruitment. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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