Please excuse the cross-postings.

We are an art and history museum.  How does your staff handle questions
like, "I have a painting by David Mann and I would like to know
everything about the artist and how much the painting is worth?" or "I
have a letter from my great-uncle who fought in the Civil War and I want
to know everything about him, his regiment, and how much the letter is
worth?"  These are the kinds of general interest questions that are
generated by the types of the collections we hold.

I've been using a 15 minute rule with most of these requests suggesting
that the user come in and do their own research, etc. and of course
always referring them to a reputable appraiser.  My dean has asked
whether 15 minutes is too much given the exponential increase in our
volume - we're facing a two to three month backlog right now.  He wants
to know if there is a polite way to service these types of users without
spending 15 minutes with each and every one.  How does your staff handle
these types of questions?

Your input is appreciated.
Thanks,
Julie
--
Julie Holcomb, MLIS, CA
College and Special Collections Archivist
Pearce Collections at Navarro College
Navarro College Archives
3100 W. Collin St.
Corsicana, Texas 75110

Phone: 903-875-7438 ~ Fax: 903-875-7593
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Internet: http://www.pearcecollections.us/ or
http://www.navarrocollege.edu/library/archives/

"Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they
please; they do not make it under
circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly
found, given, and transmitted
from the past.  The tradition of all the dead generations weighs like a
nightmare on the brain of
the living." Karl Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire

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