In an effort to open more collections for research at the point of accession, and in accordance with the principles outlined in the Harvard Joint Processing Guidelines, the Center utilizes a triage process at the point of accession to identify manuscript collections that can be adequately made available with only minimal physical control and description. First, a collection is assessed for whether 1) it can be opened with minimal/Level 1 processing, or 2) it requires Level 2 processing and should enter the backlog. If entering the backlog, it is then assessed as to whether it requires a folder-level inventory to support preliminary access while it awaits processing, or whether a box-level inventory is sufficient. Criteria for each of these assessments is outlined below, along with the workflow for Level 1 Processing.
See more about Processing Levels.
Table of Contents
Level 1 Triage Criteria For New Accessions
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- Immediate Source of Acquisition
- Use info from accession record. Language to use:
- <p>[Gifted OR Transferred] to the [Harvard Medical Library OR Boston Medical Library] by [donor/transferring office name] in [YYYY] (Accession #[YYYY-###]).</p>
- <p>Purchase, [name of seller], [YYYY] </p>
- Preferred Citation [Title, dates. H MS cXXX.] Harvard/Boston Medical Library, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
- Immediate Source of Acquisition
- Biog/Hist (Change the Label to EITHER Biographical Note or Administrative History)
- Example of a bio note with minimal creator information available:
- Ellen Lucy Moyle (1876-1956) (later Ellen Kellogg) was born in Raymond, Wisconsin on 15 August 1876. The 1900 U.S. Census identified her as white. She married Marcus Kellogg and had one child, Lucy May. Moyle was a patient of Clark I. Miller of Whitewater, Wisconsin, and a resident of La Grange, Walworth, Wisconsin in 1895.
- Example of a bio note with minimal creator information available:
- Biog/Hist (Change the Label to EITHER Biographical Note or Administrative History)
- Scope & Content
Language of MaterialsMaterials in English [and/or other relevant languages].- Scope & Content
- Using the "Content Description" field from the Accession Record (if one exists) as a starting point, briefly describe the record types and formats and content of the material. Limit your description to a short paragraph.
- Conditions Governing Access
- <p>Collection is open for research. Access requires advance notice. Contact <extref xlink:href="https://www.countway.harvard.edu/chom/research-and-access">Public Services</extref> for further information.</p>
- Conditions Governing Access
- Conditions Governing Use (choose one option below)
- <p>Public domain.<p> [Use for works from authors who died before 1948, OR Works created before 1898.]
- <p>The [Harvard/Boston] Medical Library does not hold copyright on all materials in the collection. Researchers are responsible for identifying and contacting any third-party copyright holders for permission to reproduce or publish. For more information on the Center's use, publication, and reproduction policies, view our <extref xlink:href="https://www.countway.harvard.edu/center-history-medicine/policies/reproduction" >Reproductions and Use Policy</extref>.</p>
- Conditions Governing Use (choose one option below)
- Processing Information -
- Label: Alma ID
- Content: [9 digit Alma ID]17-digit MMS ID number
- Processing Information - (2nd note)
- Label: (leave blank)
- <p>Processed by [processor's name] in [Month, YYYY]. Collection was processed according to Level 1 protocol. [If applicable add any other details regarding physical processing, rehousing, etc].</p>
- Processing Information -
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