Survey of Student Involvement in Hidden Collections Projects: Results

In Autumn 2011, CLIR asked librarians and archivists working on Hidden Collections grants to complete a short survey about the kinds of work they do with students. There were 31 responses to the survey. CLIR staff gave a presentation about this survey (pptx, also ppt) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference in Bethlehem, PA, on October 22, 2011. For more, see the presentation slides (pdf) or the slides with notes (also pdf). General information about the program and recipients in the Mid-Atlantic is available on the accompanying handout.

2. 
   

   Responses listed as "other" included:

   • We worked with graduate students on a special web-based class project.
   • We will use materials as part of our classroom instruction program.
   • We participate in events created for educators. We provide information on how educators may want to use collection content for teaching and learning activities with their students.
   • We work with students seeking primary resources for class assignments.

    

4. 
   

   Responses listed under “Other” included:

   • Writing blog posts
   • Labeling folders
   • Curating Flickr sets

    



5. 
   

   One comment:

   • "The focus of our institution‘s work with students is to establish a mutually–beneficial cooperation in which the student contributes to the mission of the institution while also obtaining experience or knowledge that benefits their academic experience."

    



8. 
   

   Some examples given by respondents:

   • "[Our project] provided essential experience in working with manuscripts that will serve all the students throughout their careers; it provided advanced codicological and paleographical training for one student who is drawing heavily from these disciplines in his dissertation work."
   • "One of our student workers was offered two other part time jobs in archives; we discussed which would suit her career goals best, and she accepted the one I recommended. She has now moved on to a full-time job with the same institution."
   • "Our project has hired a number of graduate students in archival studies programs, and several of them have now been able to get permanent professional positions. Several of our undergraduate workers have decided to go to graduate school with the intention of working with historical collections."
   • "Two of our students secured jobs possibly as a result of their work with us. Another student received high grades in his class writing about our project."
   • "[Our project] provided exposure to archival work for students coming from museum backgrounds."
9. 
   

10. From a staff perspective, what are the primary advantages and disadvantages of working with students on your project?

    • Frequently mentioned advantages:
    • Students are good at routine work.
    • Working with library and archival collections is a valuable educational experience for students.
    • Students are fun, enthusiastic, and rewarding to work with.
    • Students offer relevant subject knowledge and a scholarly perspective.
    • Student labor keeps project costs low.
    
    
    • Frequently mentioned disadvantages:
    • Students require extensive training.
    • Students require extensive supervision, which is time-consuming for staff.
    • There is high turnover among student hires, increasing training burden for staff.
    • Students have unpredictable schedules, cannot always work 9-5, and can be unreliable when studies and other commitments interfere with project work.