Best Practices for Shared Print Storage Environments

(Download PDF) [m][s]

Note: This Best Practice uses the Good, Better, Best, Aspirational terminology

Summary: 

Shared print retentions carry with them the assumption of longevity. It can be assumed that questions will arise around the storage environment in which the shared print collections are retained. Additionally, when a group of libraries or programs undertake to coordinate shared print retentions, there may be questions around what storage environments are most appropriate. For some shared print retentions, an efficient, appropriate storage environment may be a service library, in open stacks. For other shared print retentions, it may be advisable to prioritize secure, environmentally regulated space. 

This best practice is composed of two sections: (1) a recommended tier system to quickly identify the quality of the storage environment in which a title resides; and (2) recommendations for programs and participants to consider as they determine what storage environments are optimal for their shared print collections.

Storage Environments:

Table 1

Download PDF of table

Recommended storage environments for shared print

This best practice is meant to support shared print program member libraries as they evaluate the storage options available to them. While this best practice makes recommendations that take into account the need for materials to be secure, closed storage facilities with basic environmental regulation (Tier 1 or Tier 2 as outlined in Table 1), not all contributors will have access to that type of environment. 

How to expose storage environment information for shared print retentions

Option 1: Record and expose through a directory of retention institutions associated with shared print registries (i.e., directory of facilities in the Print Archives Preservation Registry); a related option is to further expose the tiers as a generated data field in the metadata.1

Option 2: Record and expose through local metadata (i.e., 583 note in disclosure records).

Resources

Updated: August 2022

  1. As of August 2022 the exact location and syntax for this is still being discussed by the Partnership Best Practices and OCLC Metadata group.