Library and Archives

Many museums manage library and/or archival collections. Libraries refer to collections of books and periodicals. Archives refer to historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people. The following resources were compiled from organizations throughout the nonprofit and museum sector. AAM reviewed and approved each one based on the organization’s authority and expertise and the resource’s usefulness related to the topic. Clicking the links below will take you off the AAM website.

Alternative Basic Library Education Program

The Idaho State Library offers 4 online courses on cataloging library materials. The courses provide an introduction to cataloging, subject headings, the Dewey Decimal Classification system, and MARC cataloging. They are designed for those who do not have formal library training; each takes about two hours to complete.

Archivist’s Toolkit

The Archives Association of British Columbia provides the Archivist’s Toolkit. Designed for those working in small and medium-sized institutions, it includes resources for establishing archives, arrangement and description, appraisal and accessioning, reference and access, digitization, preservation, and emergency planning.

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