Libraries, Archives & Museums > SLAM Project

The mission of the Alaska Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums is to preserve Alaska’s cultural heritage and to facilitate access to information and resources for research and lifelong learning. In keeping with this and to better protect and share our collections and to improve our programs and services, the division is working towards consolidating and integrating the work of its three sections: the State Library, the State Archives, and the State Museums. A new building should help us to work more efficiently and effectively for Alaskans. However, while integration will be easier in the new building, there are things we can do now to improve our services.

Streamlining Integration for Knowledge and Efficiency

We are taking advantage of traditional methods and new technologies to increase awareness within the division of each section’s regular work and special projects. This way, we can better share our expertise, experience, and equipment. To this end, representatives attend other sections’ staff meetings, we’ve created a division intranet, and we are exploring other tools and techniques to make sharing as easy as possible. We are considering ways we can cooperate in a variety of areas. Some examples are listed below.

Shared Reference: All of the sections of the division provide reference and research assistance. To increase flexibility and understanding, staff from Information Services, Historical Collections, State Museum and the State Archives have begun cross-training and staff exchanges.
Shared Digitization: Digitization allows people from all over the state, country and world to access our unique collections, and can be a tool for preservation as well. There are digitization projects in every section. Although the material included and the target audiences vary somewhat, we can benefit from shared equipment and expertise. Groups are working together across sections to hammer out legal, technological and preservation issues related to microfilming and digitizing Alaska newspapers; to State of Alaska documents; and more. Our Digital Librarian facilitates cooperative projects.
Shared Catalog: Staff are working together and with others around the state to explore shared search and catalog possibilities.

Supporting Documents

April 22, 2009. LAM Subject Matter Expert Workshop Summary (PDF)
April 22, 2009. SLAM Project Roadmap (PDF)
April 22, 2009. LAM Expert Presentation: Michael Fox (PDF)
April 22, 2009. LAM Expert Presentation: Art Wolf (PDF)
April 22, 2009. LAM Expert Presentation: Tom Hickerson (PDF)
February 19, 2009. LAM Organizational Development Workshop Summary (PDF)
OCLC Report: Beyond the Silos of the LAMs (PDF)

Building Towards Integration

Bruce Kato and SLAM State Advisory Committee

Chief curator Bruce Kato talks with members of the SLAM State Advisory Committee

The division is seeking to come together in a new building. Currently, each section is on their own - housed in facilities that are, at best, overcrowded, and are often in major disrepair.

A new building would not only give the division a state-of-the-art facility to house Alaska’s history, it would bring together the staff and resources of each section to create an efficient and unified body. Services would be streamlined, reference would encompass more resources, staff time would no longer be devoted to tasks duplicated across sections. The patron experience would be heightened by shared reading rooms, display space, research, and conservation facilities. A researcher will be able to come in to the division’s unified facility and access material from all three sections at once.

Cost for the new building was estimated in 2006 at $75 million, including construction costs and project support for a fully functional building, including exhibits in new public spaces.

Background

The U.S. Congress established the Alaska Historical Library and Museum in 1900. The first curator, Andrew Kashevaroff, was appointed in 1920 and shortly thereafter the Territory assumed responsibility for its operations. When the new federal building (now the State Capitol) was finished in 1931, the Library and Museum moved to the second floor.

A new museum was built by the community of Juneau and turned over to the State of Alaska in 1968 to honor the centennial of Alaska’s purchase. At that time, the Alaska Historical Library was separated from the Alaska State Museum and became a part of the Alaska State Library that had been established in 1955. When the Alaska State Archives was created in 1970, public state records were transferred to it from the Historical Library, which retained all manuscript and photograph records and papers produced by the private sector. The State Archives entered the current building in 1975. In 1991, the Commissioner of Education created the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums.

Project Up To Now

Plan to release design request for proposals in summer of 2009
Pre-design program planning in spring 2009
Additional design funding provided by Legislature in 2008
Needs Assessment completed November 2006
Partial design funding secured 2005
1.8 acres acquired 2003

Supporting Documents

November 10, 2009. RFP for SLAM Building Released
September 2009. SLAM Building Needs Assessment Revised (PDF)
August 2009. SLAM Brochure (PDF)
November 2006. SLAM Building Needs Assessment (PDF)

SLAM Statewide Advisory Committee (SSAC)

In the winter of 2008, the division created the SSAC to get ideas to consider as we review our division’s ways of working. We invited leaders: people not employed by LAM but who are interested in the division’s activities, to help us get a statewide perspective. Since then, the members have provided guidance in the review and update of our division’s programs and services. They have provided ideas and suggestions on improving our offerings to state residents and to libraries, museums and archives around the state. We are grateful for their efforts, as we believe the combined building project can be only as effective as the programs that we have in it. As we continue our process, SSAC perspectives will be invaluable to us.

Supporting Documents

March 9, 2009. SSAC Teleconference Meeting Summary Draft (PDF)
February 5, 2009. SSAC Meeting Summary (PDF)

SSAC Members

Jo Antonson Museum Collections Advisory Committee	LaRue Barnes Ilanka Cultural Center
Beverly Beeton, Ph.D Historian	Barbara Berg Juneau Public Library
Ben Brown Arts Council Representative	Esther Cox State Board EED
Bob Doll City and Borough of Juneau	Gary Gillette Gastineau Channel H.C.
Clark Gruening Lobbyist	Sven Haakinson Alutiiq Museum
Linda Henning Library Representative	Lucy Hudson Friends of the Alaska State Museum
James Huesmann University of Alaska Fairbanks Library	Ron Inouye Fairbanks Library/Museum
Mary Jo Joiner Alaska Library Association	Jackie Lorensen Disabilities Representative
Mike Martz Media Representative	Paul McCarthy University of Alaska Fairbanks Library
Bruce Merrell Alaska Historical Society	Carol O’Malley Alaska State Historical Records Advisory Board (ASHRAB)
Pat Race Youth Representative Alaska Robotics	Steve Rollins University of Alaska Anchorage/Alaska Pacific University Consortium Library
Candy Waugaman Alaska Historical Commission	Pat Wolf Museum Community

Last updated November 19, 2009