Ohio
Historical Records Advisory Board
Strategic Plan 2005-2007
The
Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board's (OHRAB) mission
is to serve the people of Ohio by advocating, nurturing,
and advising programs that identify, preserve, and provide
access to their documentary heritage, which enriches
the culture and protects the rights of Ohioans.
In
order to fulfill that mission, OHRAB has developed a
strategic plan to guide its endeavors for the next three
years. The plan outlines the board's initiatives to
address the major short-term issues facing Ohio-based
records repositories and record keepers. Annual revisions
to this plan will allow OHRAB to develop a long-term
strategic plan that allows the board to serve its constituents.
This plan provides the general blueprint for OHRAB activities
from September 1, 2004 through September 30, 2007. During
that time, the plan will be consistently reviewed, refined,
and revised.
Three
major themes guide the plan:
· Acquiring and delivering Ohio's documentary
heritage to today and tomorrow
· Advocating for Ohio's documentary heritage
· Strengthening OHRAB as a partner in Ohio's
documentary heritage
Acquiring
and delivering Ohio's documentary heritage to today
and tomorrow
Goal
1. Encourage the collection and preservation of primary
source materials to ensure citizens of Ohio an accessible
documentation of both common and diverse elements of
their historical experience.
Objective
A: Increase the number and quality of grant applications
to NHPRC for historical records projects in Ohio.
Action
1: Facilitate professional organizations, such as
the Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA), conducting
grant-writing workshops.
Action
2: Create program so Board members can mentor grant
applicants.
Action
3: Send mailing to records repositories throughout
Ohio encouraging institutions to work with OHRAB
to submit NHPRC grant proposals.
Objective B: Facilitate the creation of a web portal
to historical repositories of Ohio.
Action: Work with Webmasters at OHS and other institutions
to develop a portal that provides a directory of
historical repositories.
Objective
C: Facilitate training of professionals and non-professionals
on archival practices and archival issues.
Action
1: Support Basics of Archival Continuing Education
(BACE) Workshop.
Action
2: Coordinate with SOA on possible workshops.
Goal
2: Assist public and private entities in Ohio in dealing
with the challenges of electronic records.
Objective
A: Collaborate with appropriate entities such as the
Ohio Electronic Records Committee on the development
of best practices for electronic records.
Action:
Establish an official OHRAB representative to the
Ohio Electronic Records Committee.
Objective
B: Facilitate the training of professional and non-professional
archivists on electronic records issues.
Action:
Contribute support to workshops and conferences
with electronic records management themes.
Goal
3: Promote the welfare of historical records programs
in Ohio.
Objective
A: Work with the Ohio Historical Society to examine
and evaluate the Ohio Network of American History
Research Centers.
Action:
Pursue grant funding from the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission or other sources
to hire a consultant for this purpose.
Objective
B: Create a communications network for institutions
responsible for historic records in Ohio so that common
issues can be discussed and acted upon in a coordinated
fashion.
Action:
Contact Ohio institutions holding historical records
(Using the Ohio results from the 1998 survey "Where
History Begins: A report on Historical Records Repositories
in the US" and repositories listed with the
Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook) and work with them
to create a listserv to discuss common issues.
Objective
C: Advocate to the state the importance of state and
local records management programs.
Action
1: Advocate for State Records Administrator position.
Action
2: Advocate for improved local records management
programs.
Action
3: Sponsor statewide meeting to explore options
for funding Public Records activities.
Action
4: Review current laws, undertake benchmarking of
programs in other states.
Action
5: Contact appropriate legislators.
Advocating
for Ohio's Documentary Heritage
Goal
4. Increase public awareness and interest in Ohio's
historical records.
Objective
A: Promote Ohio Memory, and encourage further development
of educational programs for the project.
Action:
Assist the project in finding additional grant funding.
Objective
B. Encourage the use of historical records by Ohio's
youth.
Action
1: Members of the Ohio Historical Records Advisory
Board serve as judges for History Day and seek the
involvement of others.
Action
2: Facilitate historical record repositories' knowledge
of History Day themes. Encourage them to identify
records that support themes and make these known
to participating students.
Objective
C: Promote the celebration of "Archives Week
in Ohio."
Action
1: Provide financial support for Archives Week when
possible.
Action
2: Help the Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) promote
Archives Week.
Goal
5. Increase investment in Ohio's documentary heritage.
Objective
A: Work to increase state funding for Ohio's documentary
heritage.
Action
1: Facilitate the development of a collaborative
advocacy effort in the state for archives and records
issues.
Action
2: Explore the feasibility of creating historical
legacy funds from tax returns, license plates revenues,
etc. that could be used for the preservation of
and access to Ohio's historical materials and resources.
Action
3: Explore options for funding Ohio's public records
activities (e.g., filing fee).
Action
4: Work with the Ohio Historical Society and other
supportive parties to establish a grant program
for the preservation of and access to Ohio's historical
materials and resources.
Action
5: Work to increase the state operating and capital
funding of the State Archives and historical library
operation at the Ohio Historical Society.
Objective B: Work to increase national investment
in Ohio's Documentary Heritage.
Action
1: Advocate at the national level for more financial
support especially for the National Historical Publications
and Records Commission, but also for the National
Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for
Museum and Library Services, and other similar federal
agencies.
Action 2: Support funding initiatives such as the
National Initiative for
Historic Records organized by the Council of State
Historical Records Coordinators (COSHRC), the Society
of American Archivists (SAA), National Association
of Government Archivists and Records Administrators
(NAGARA), and the American Association for State
and Local History (AASLH).
Strengthening
OHRAB as a Partner in Ohio's Documentary Heritage
Goal
6. Improve the effectiveness of the Ohio Historical
Records Advisory Board.
Objective
A: Clarify organizational procedures and structure.
Action:
Create OHRAB By-laws and Membership Manual.
Objective
B: Explore having official responsibilities of OHRAB
codified in the Ohio Revised Code.
Action:
Contact legislators, especially those who attended
the "Future of Our Past" conference, for
help and assistance.
Objective
C: Join with OHS and other historical organizations
in Ohio as a partner in promoting the annual "Building
Connections" conference and its advocacy on behalf
of the state's historical programs.
Action:
Propose sessions at each year's conference that
furthers OHRAB's strategic plan.
Objective
D: Continue to assess of the needs of OHRAB constituents.
Action
1: Host annual meetings on records issues based
on September 2003 conference "The Future of
our Past: Ohio's Historical Records at 200 Years."
Action
2: Facilitate actions of other organizations and
entities that assess the needs of OHRAB constituents.
The board welcomes comments on the plan. Please read
the plan and share your opinion of it with the board.
Comments may be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to:
Laurie
A. Gemmill
Deputy State Coordinator
Ohio Historical Society
1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211-2497
E-mail: lgemmill@ohiohistory.org
Fax: (614) 297-2546
