Select one important preservation
issue; one that has not been addressed in detail
during the semester; one that warrents a new, fresh look to see
how redefined, recombined resources and partnerships can impart
a hybrid vigor to preservation – and other fields.
The more preservation can forge new partnerships and tap new recourse,
the greater our ability to meet important issues.
Define the scope
of the issue. Reference (and cite appropriately) definitions (scholarly,
or developed by organizaton, agencies).
Develop, briefly, a needs assessment
of one or two pages. The following description of a "gap"
analysis, and the questions are here
to guide you in your critical assessment. A needs
assessment is a systematic exploration of the way things are and
the way they could be.
To do this...perform
a "gap" analysis, with the "gap"
between the current and the necessary (see below)
helping to identify needs, purposes, resources and objectives.
Ask:
- What is the current situation, or way the issue is
being addressed, and by whom.
- What is the desired, or necessary, situation: the
goal.
Here are some questions to consider:
- What has worked to address this issue?
- What is lacking?
- What are the impending, foreseen changes that affect the issue?
- What mandated provisons (laws, codes, regulations) have to
be considered?
- What are the opportunities (what staff and organizations skills,
technologies, funding, etc.are available)?
- What partnerships
could be forged with organizations and agencies involved in
other initiatives? These may be preservation-related initiaties
(examples
of initiatives), or other initiatives by other, different
professions/fields.
Focus on question six above, on partnerships,
to identify what initiatives can (and – by some
examples – do) work together to better address
the particular issue.
List tree to five initiatives
that can (or – again, by example – do) work
together to meet shared goals. These initiatives do not have to
only be the preservation-related initiatives listed, but can include
others.
- Define each
initiative, with reference to cited resources.
Provide at least three examples
of organizations, agencies, institutions or corporations that
are addressing each initiative.
Include at least ten references.
In summary.
- One issue
- Three to five initiatives
that help address the issue.
- At least three examples
of who is successfully working on each initiative.
