n.an individual who seeks information from and/or consults archival resourcesThompson 1978, 60Patrons seeking information in local history collections want to know general history, want the answer to a specific reference question, or want detailed material to use in some project.Hurst and Kesner 1981, 15The researcher registration program is more complex than the other components of the “ADMINISTRATIVE SUBSYSTEMS” sub-routine. This program records information about the patron including: name, address, institutional affiliation, and research interest. It also records patron use of the archives in terms of date, time, seat location, and collections examined.Walsh, Hales, and Diamondstone 1987, 41Patrons who are not research specialists can use the index without training or assistance to find films on subjects of special interest.Cloud 1987, 24NOTIS can, of course, be used in different ways at different institutions. It is possible to create numerous separate files and have them accessed by patrons from a menu screen.Lake 1991, 24–25Using state-of-the-art technology, Project Jukebox allows a researcher to find an appropriate interview, to listen to the interview, to look at historical photographs relative to the interview, to locate the site of the interview on a map, and when available, to read a transcript of the interview. The original records are not subject to damage from handling because the patron works from a digitized record on the computer.Reynolds 1996, 66Reference service is when a user requests information or a type of document, and the archivist must search for the specific document or information before delivering it to the patron.Chute 2004, 16Archivists also need to explain to volunteers how their work fits into the larger scheme of the archives-how the project will help patrons find materials or use collections that were inaccessible before, or how important aspects of university life will be lost without their help.Griner 2008, 60–61Various kinds of contextual information may be obtained from archival collections. During their research, patrons learn about relationships between collections housed in the repository as well as in other institutions. They gather knowledge on historical trends, events, and figures related to the materials they are studying.Cook 2009, 57Well-educated archivists and informed patrons will ensure that researchers leave the PAA feeling that their research has been a success, not simply because they located the material that they desire, but because they have understood how and/or why the PAA must restrict access to these valuable records.Bastian, Sniffin-Marinoff, and Webber 2015, 33Archives[:] User/patron/researcher ¶ Library[:] Patron/user/customer ¶ Meaning[:] An individual who uses the collections and services of a repository[.]Shallcross 2016, 4The true measure of success is meeting the archives’ specific institutional mission, fulfilling the information-seeking needs of patrons, and staying within budget to ensure continued operations and custody of content.Rogers 2016, 176An interactive table display on the First World War in the news included a large bound volume of the Daily Mail and Empire newspaper, which visitors could leaf through. This uncommon invitation to patrons to touch (with care) period artifacts provides an example to other archives of how published materials can be incorporated into a tactile exhibition that otherwise showcases unique or fragile documents from the main collection.Horton and Kaplan 2019, 24Despite all the work of selecting, describing, and curating, our patrons and users generally assume they are the ones discovering content, providing context, and assigning meaning, a sense reinforced by their awareness of content beyond the immediate four walls of the place where they are currently doing research.Willey 2020, 48–49With digitization and online access not an option, the project attempted to provide metadata similar to that generated for scanned images, but without scanning the image itself and placing the resulting file online. It was reasoned that if such metadata is sufficient for a patron to search for and find an image in a content management system, the same metadata might allow a patron to find an image in a textual guide and request an associated physical folder number. While patrons might prefer online availability of images, this work would still improve access.Zamon 2024, 155Reference involves connecting patrons to the information they seek and educating them on how to search for the materials they need to complete their work.Johnson 2024, 19From beginner topics to specialized research, I strive to offer something for everyone. Our annual House History workshop, in particular, has been a highlight, offering patrons a hands-on exploration of some of the resources in our Local History Room and fostering a deeper connection to our community’s past.
Notes
The most common terms are patron, researcher, and user, often used interchangeably. Other terms used earlier in the archival literature are reader and searcher.
