Rates

Inventory and processing rates vary a great deal from box to box and collection to collection. The following guidelines provide a rough estimate of the time necessary to inventory or process a collection. These estimates are derived from preliminary examinations of materials and can be revised if complications are encountered during processing.

Processing of formats that cannot meaningfully be represented in linear feet (e.g. electronic files and audiovisual materials) cannot be estimated by these measures. Additional time should be added if these materials are present in significant quantities.

Rate A
Used for collections that have no significant organizational problems. A minimum amount of arrangement is necessary. Time will be expended chiefly on the basic work required for all collections: box, folder, list, and describe the contents of the papers. Records of organizations and collections that consist primarily of manuscripts of published works often fall into the D category.

• Inventory Rate A: 1 or fewer hours per linear foot
• Processing Rate A: 10 or fewer hours per linear foot

Rate B
Used for collections that have mild organizational problems. Papers may have some order and sections of the collection may be properly sorted, although significant portions must be arranged. Most collections can be processed at this rate.

• Inventory Rate B: 4 to 8 hours per linear foot
• Processing Rate B: 10 to 20 hours per linear foot

Rate C
Used for collections that have little or no apparent arrangement. Different kinds of materials are mixed together, correspondence is unsorted or stored in original envelopes, some papers and correspondents are unidentified, and extensive preservation work may be required.

• Inventory Rate C: 6 to 12 per linear foot
• Processing Rate C: 20 to 30 hours per linear foot

Rate D
Used for collections that must be described at the item level.

• Inventory Rate D: 8 to 16 hours per linear foot
• Processing Rate D: 30 to 40 hours per linear foot