Bridging the financial impact of the covid-19 pandemic at the municipal archives [the new york city municipal archives, a division of the department of records and information services, requests…

The New York City Department of Records and Information Services received a $321,737 project grant award from the National Endowment for the Humanities under the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access program (CFDA 45.149). The grant funds the hiring of four archivists to support the appraisal, acquisition, and reference services of the New York City Municipal Archives through March 2023.

Specifically, two archivists will assist in the transfer and processing of records from the outgoing mayoral administration, notably documenting the city's early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two additional archivists will provide reference services to the tens of thousands of annual patrons from diverse backgrounds, answering inquiries in a timely manner. The records and services made available are expected to benefit local community historians as well as scholars and students. No sub-awards are planned under this project grant award.

Activities

   two hired appraisal and accessions archivists will assist in the transfer of records from the current mayoral administration by: 1) conducting surveys of various new york city agencies and offices, 2) appraising digital and analog format records for historical value, 3) filing documentation on the transfer of collections, 4) helping to coordinate the transfer of digital collections to cloud storage environments, and 5) participating in content development for promoting archival accessions.  two & nbsp; hired & nbsp; reference archivists will field reference requests online and in person, guide patrons using access tools and catalogs, and retrieve collections.&nbsp

Expected outcomes

   the & nbsp; appraisal and accessions archivists will & nbsp; assist in & nbsp; the complete and accurate transfer & nbsp; and archival processing & nbsp; of historically significant records from the current mayoral administration, which notably will document key activities and decisions made during the early months of the covid-19 pandemic when the city was an early epicenter.  the reference archivists will provide patrons of the municipal archives information in a timely and efficient manner & nbsp; by making records of city government available to the public and demonstrating expertise in research services.&nbsp

Intended beneficiaries

  the archival records and services supported by this grant will benefit the tens of thousands of annual users representing diverse local, national, and international institutions, scholars, students, authors, researchers, documentarians,  family & nbsp; and community historians, as well as the general public.  the archives also maintains & nbsp; ongoing partnerships with the NYC department of education and local higher-education institutions to provide access to primary source materials for teachers and students.&nbsp

Subrecipient activities

   the recipient does not intend to subaward funds.]