Defining the RI Heritage Universe
The RI Historical Records Advisory Board has identified over one hundred and fifty institutions in Rhode Island that hold unique archival records, manuscripts and graphic materials.
Among these are fifteen (15) university and college institutions, thirty-eight (38) historical and preservation societies, thirty (30) public and private libraries, thirty-nine (39) municipalities and twenty-four (24) museums.
These are enumerated in an online text directory that provides links enabling institutions to be included or to update their listing .
OLIS’ Library of Rhode Island (LORI) network comprises 174 libraries, some of which are also on the RIHRAB list.
LORI includes 51 public, 21 academic, 15 hospital, 78 school and 9 special libraries.
Some of the LORI libraries may not have collections appropriate to this project.
To create a comprehensive description of the universe of collections relevant to Rhode Island’s Heritage, those directories will be reviewed, updated, and expanded where needed by the project coordinator and technical assistant. This will be accomplished during the project’s first two weeks and provide the foundational directory of the project’s stakeholders.