1. The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections
Selected Data from
A Public Trust at Risk:
The Heritage Health Index Report
on the State of America’s Collections

2. The Heritage Health Index Surveyed
Archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, archaeological repositories, and scientific research organizations
Collecting institutions of all sizes and from every U.S. state and territory
The full range of collections from art to vertebrate paleontology

3. Heritage Health Index Background
The Heritage Health Index was developed with the input of 35 national associations and federal agencies that represent collecting institutions
The survey questionnaire was written in consultation with more than 100 leading collections and preservation professionals
Survey and analysis was conducted by RMC Research Corporation, a firm experienced in government and non-profit sector studies.
For more information, see “Chapter 1: Heritage Health Index Development” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

4. Heritage Health Index Background
In August 2004 the survey was sent to a sample group of 15,000 institutions representing all types and sizes of institutions in every U.S. state and territory
The data collection ended December 2004
Report released December 6, Final report at

5. The Results of the Heritage Health Index Have Been Featured In
The New York Times
San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Columbus Dispatch through Associated Press story
National Public Radio’s All Things Considered
Christian Science Monitor
Reader’s Digest
American Libraries
The Art Newspaper
KJO-ABC TV in San Francisco
…among other publications

6. Heritage Health Index Response Rate
Overall, 24% response rate with 3,370 surveys returned
90% response rate from 500 of the nation’s largest and most significant collections
The 500 targeted institutions were balanced by type and state of institution and included all state libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies as well as major federal collecting institutions such as the Library of Congress, all units of the National Archives and Records Administration, and the Smithsonian Institution.
For more information, see “Planning Survey Implementation” in “Chapter 1: Heritage Health Index Development” (p. 6-7) and “Final Dispositions and Response Rates” in “Chapter 2: Heritage Health Index Methodology” (p ) in The Heritage Health Index Report at

7. Heritage Health Index Data Projections
Data has been projected to a study population of 30,827 collecting institutions and represents the condition and preservation needs of all U.S. collections held in the public trust
Includes collecting institutions that have collections for which they take a preservation responsibility.
For more information see “Study Projections” in “Chapter 2: Heritage Health Index Methodology (p )” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

8. Representation by Specific Institutions
Archives include only those institutions that indicated archives as their primary function or service. The Heritage Health Index found that an additional 44% of collecting institutions had a secondary or subsidiary function as archives.
Independent Research Libraries include libraries that are members of the Independent Research Library Association (IRLA), national government libraries, and state libraries.
For more information, see “Chapter 3: Characteristics of Collecting Institutions in the United States” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

9. Representation by Size of Institution
Definitions by size varied by type of institution:
Size of libraries, archives, and archaeological repositories/scientific research collections where based on size of collection.
Size of public libraries was based on service population.
Size of historical societies and museums was based on annual operating budget.
For more information, see “Subgroup—Institution Size” in “Chapter 2: Heritage Health Index Methodology” (pp ) in The Heritage Health Index Report at

10. Representation by Region
10%
17%
24%
15%
16%
For more information, see “Subgroup—Region” in “Chapter 2: Heritage Health Index Methodology” (pp ) in The Heritage Health Index Report at
19%

11. U. S. Institutions Have Taken Responsibility to Preserve 4
U.S. Institutions Have Taken Responsibility to Preserve 4.8 Billion Collections Items
Books/Bound Volumes
1.7 billion
Microfilm/Microfiche
1 billion
Natural Science Specimens
820.2 million
Photographic Collections
727.4 million
Archaeological Collections, individually cataloged
197.8 million
Unbound Sheets, cataloged in items
95.8 million
Online Files
54.6 million
Historic Objects
48.3 million
Recorded Sound
46.4 million
Unbound Sheets, cataloged in linear feet
43.6 million
Moving Images
40.2 million
Art Objects
21.2 million
Digital Materials
9 million
Archaeological Collections, bulk cataloged in cubic feet
2.6 million
For more information, see “Chapter 4: Condition of Collections” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

12. 4. 8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U. S
4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions - by type -
The high number of library based collections such as microfilm and books means libraries hold much of the collection items in the U.S.
For more information, see “Chapter 4: Condition of Collections” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility

13. 4. 8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U. S
4.8 Billion Collections Items Are Held by U.S. Institutions - by size -
For more information, see “Chapter 4: Condition of Collections” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Includes items for which institutions take a preservation responsibility

14. Condition of U.S. Collections
No need: Material is stable enough for use and is housed in a stable environment that protects it from long-term damage and deterioration.
Need: Material may need minor treatment to make it stable enough for use, and/or the collection needs to be rehoused into a more stable enclosure or environment to reduce risk of damage or deterioration.
Urgent Need: Material needs major treatment or reformatting to make it stable enough for use, and/or the material is located in an enclosure or environment that is causing damage or deterioration. For machine-readable collections, deterioration of media and/or obsolescence of play-back equipment or hardware/software threatens loss of content.
Unknown: Material has not been recently accessed by staff for visual inspection and/or condition is unknown.
For more information, see “Chapter 4: Condition of Collections” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

15. Most Institutions Care for More Than Six Types of Collections
Collections types:
Books and bound volumes
Unbound sheets
Photographic collections
Moving image collections
Recorded sound collections
Digital material collections
Art objects
Historic and ethnographic objects
Archaeological collections
Natural science specimens
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

16. Institutions’ Use of Environmental Controls for the Preservation of Collections
For more information, see “Chapter 5: Collections Environment” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

17. Institutions Using No Environmental Controls
Institutions Using No Environmental Controls* for the Preservation of Collections - by type -
For more information, see “Chapter 5: Collections Environment” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
*Including temperature, relative humidity, and light

18. Institutions Reporting Causes of Some and Significant Damage to Collections
Some damage or loss: Change(s) in an item’s physical or chemical state requiring minor treatment.
Significant damage or loss: Change(s) in an item’s physical or chemical state necessitating major treatment or reformatting or resulting in total loss of access.
For more information, see “Chapter 5: Collections Environment” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

19. Institutions’ Collections Stored in Areas Large Enough to Accommodate Them Safely and Appropriately
59%
59% institutions have less than 80% of their collections shored in adequate areas. This goes up to 65% if “don’t know” is added.
For more information, see “Chapter 6: Collections Storage” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

20. Institutions’ Percentage of Collections Accessible Through a Catalog - by type -
For more information, see “Chapter 10: Assessments and Intellectual Control” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

21. Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out - by type -
For more information, see “Chapter 6: Emergency Planning and Security” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

22. Institutions With No Emergency Plan With Staff Trained to Carry It Out - by size -
For more information, see “Chapter 6: Emergency Planning and Security” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

23. Institutions with a Written, Long-range Plan for the Care of the Collection
Written, long-range preservation plan for the care of the collection: a document that describes a multi-year course of action to meet an institution’s overall preservation needs for its collection.
For more information, see “Chapter 4: Condition of Collections” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

24. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation
Dedicated paid staff could include full-time or part-time workers.
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed

25. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation - by type -
Dedicated paid staff could include full-time or part-time workers.
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed

26. Institutions’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation - by size -
Dedicated paid staff could include full-time or part-time workers.
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed

27. Average Number of Internal Staff
Average Number of Internal Staff* Who Perform Conservation/Preservation Activities
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
*Includes conservation/preservation professional and support staff and volunteers

28. What Institutions’ Conservation/Preservation Program Includes
Institution staff: Workers at the collecting entity that include temporary, hourly, and volunteer workers but do not include hired consultants.
External providers: Workers, including volunteers, from outside the collecting entity or its parent institution(s) that provide conservation/preservation services, such as consultants and workers at another institution or firm.
For more information, see “Chapter 8: Preservation Staffing & Activities” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed

29. Institutions with Funds Allocated for Conservation/ Preservation in Annual Budget
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

30. Institutions’ Annual Budget for Conservation/Preservation
Institutions’ Annual Budget for Conservation/Preservation* - most recently completed fiscal year -
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
* Includes funds for staffing, supplies, equipment, surveys, treatment, preservation reformatting, commercial binding, consultants, contractors, and other preservation costs

31. Institutions that Used Income from Endowed Funds for Conservation/Preservation - last three years -
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at

32. Institutions that Have Received External Conservation/ Preservation Funding - last three years -
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed

33. Institutions that Have Applied for Conservation/Preservation Funding
Institutions that Have Applied for Conservation/Preservation Funding* - last three years -
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
* Includes from private or public funding sources

34. Institutions’ Reasons Why They Have Not Applied for Conservation/Preservation Funding* - last three years -
For more information, see “Chapter 9: Preservation Expenditures & Funding” in The Heritage Health Index Report at
Multiple responses allowed
*Includes from private or public funding sources

35. Heritage Health Index Recommendations
Every institution recommits to providing safe conditions for the collections they hold in trust
Every collecting institution develops an emergency plan to protect its collections
Every single institution assigns responsibility for caring for collections to members of its staff
Individuals at all levels of government and in the private sector assume responsibility for providing the support that will allow these collections to survive

36. For more information, contact Heritage Preservation at 202-233-0800 or
Heritage Health Index report available at