Site visits and formal reports
          Technical assistance and advice
          Workshops and other professional development programs
           DHP Electronic Mail List
           DHP Lending Library
           Advocacy activities

On Site Visits and Consultation Reports

The Regional Archivist is available at no cost to:

• Meet with your organization's staff and/or governing body to discuss and provide guidance in identifying program needs, whether you have an existing program or are setting up an historical records program for the first time.
• Make presentations to your membership and/or administrators.
• Survey and assess your historical records collections and program policies, and provide a written report based on findings. The reports follow the Archival Needs Assessment Guidelines and the Needs Assessment Template, developed by the New York State Archives Documentary Heritage Services Unit.

Technical Assistance and Advice

The Regional Archivist is available Monday through Thursday, from 9am to 3pm, responding to queries via telephone, email or in-person. Advice is provided on issues ranging from general programmatic issues such as locating standards, models and templates for creating policies or adopting new technologies, to more specific operational issues such as immediate needs resulting from disasters or locating particular collections.

Workshops

The DHP organizes and offers technical workshops and informal seminars each Spring and Fall.
Topics are designed to reach audiences that both manage and use historical records collections. Past sessions have included:

• Setting up an Archives
• Appraisal of Archives & Manuscripts
• Arrangement & Description of Archives and Manuscripts
• Historical Records on the Internet
• Teaching with Historical Records
  

DHP Electronic Mail List

The DHP Electronic mail list is used by the Regional Archivist to help disseminate local, state and national news, opportunities for grants and professional development, and to facilitate networking and information exchange. The mail list also offers a forum for individuals and organizations to share information. Members of the list may provide information about events as well as post queries concerning specific collections, events or other archival issues.

Lending Library

A selection of resource materials is available through the DHP Lending Library. Materials can be borrowed by any local individuals or organizations. The Lending Library materials include:

• "How-to" materials covering a range of topics including: Accessioning, Arrangement & Description, Managing Photo Collections, Reference and Access, Policy Development etc.
•  the "New York" series; has information about specific collections and organizations at the state, regional and local levels.
• "Where-to" materials which help provide direction in seeking grants, professional development opportunities, information on related fields such as libraries, museums, records, management, preservation, automation and folklore.

To Borrrow Items from the Lending Library simply search the catalog by Title, Author or Subject.

Materials may be borrowed for three weeks at a  time (and two week renewals on request).  TO BORROW ITEMS from the Lending Library you may either use the WNYLRC catalog to request items or you may contact the DHP office (you can call, write, or stop in), and indicate the item(s) you would like to borrow.

The items will be mailed to you directly, along with 2 copies of a loan form. Sign and date one copy of the loan form and return it to the DHP office.  The materials must be returned (by mail or in person) to the DHP office three weeks from the date on the loan form.

This Lending Library List is a .pdf file which is updated periodically. If you would like an updated list, or have any questions, please contact the DHP office.

Liaison and Advocate

• The DHP can be your link to archival programs and activities outside the region; legislative activity in Albany at the State level and; disseminating to a broad audience news about archival programs and activities in the WNY region.
• The DHP is an advocate for saving documentary materials, encouraging continued support and increasing resources allocated to new & existing programs

• The Regional Archivist coordinates and promotes Archives week activities; encourages inclusion of historical records programs in other special events; is involved in increasing media and political attention to archives and; promoting general public awareness wherever possible.