While the contest is not over until the end of October, there is still time to enter your favorite.

But while sorely lacking in rules, one entry per person and you must provide more than just a listing of the entity.  There must be support for the choice as this is a learning and teaching moment for us all.

In fact, David was hoping there would be some great submittals by the brilliant minds on the List so that his students would see the logic of records collection and archives.

I wish Alan Andolsen was still alive as his entry would have been fascinating and well supported..........but alas a gross failure in our medical system took him way to soon.

Fred, is the Louvre a museum in an archive or an archive in a museum. My contest rules would allow the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Museum of History and the Louvre to all be considered.  I am most interested in how records managers view various collections and award merit.

Since David was hoping for more entries I hope he will forgive me for using his entry as a role model for a well supported entry.

Archives are interesting things.  Are they a rape of other country's culture or a pragmatic collection to avoid savages destroying the history of the world?  Napoleon in his conquests filled the Louvre, the British in heir conquests brought back culture from all parts of the world. The battles in Iraq have caused their collections to flow around the world, (in many cases into wealthy people’s personal collections) and even now they are trying to return them.  In Peter’s Rain post he describes Chuck Schumer trying to stop some artifacts moving back to Iraq because they are Jewish artifacts. So Archives are in the news today.


Here is David’s great entry as an example.  I hope others think about what collections you viewed in your life time that changed your life; or have the potential to affect others.  I will even allow David’s students to participate.  

> From: "Steward, David" <[log in to unmask]>
> 
> Date: September 12, 2013 2:30:58 PM EDT
> 
> To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> 
> Subject: The greatest archive
> 
>  Here is my submittal. 
> 
> The United States Library of Congress
> 
>  
> 
> Why should the Library of Congress be considered for recognition as the world’s most valuable archive?  Let’s consider the factors that measure an archive’s value.  These are scope, authenticity, accuracy, and relevancy.  Let’s consider each.
> 
>  
> 
> Scope
> 
> While the Library is entitled “of Congress”, it is anything but.  The collection is inclusive of not only United States but of the world.  Much of the content is concerned with the history and culture of the U.S.  a simple search on the Internet demonstrates that the Library collects and informs on history and culture of all continents.
> 
>  
> 
> Authenticity
> 
> How do we know that the content of the Library is real?  It is based on two factors.  One, the sheer volume of material lends itself to presenting a complete picture of events and realities.  There are often two or more sources for any fact.  Two, The majority of the collection consists of original source material.  Originals are almost always authentic.
> 
>  
> 
> Accuracy
> 
> Similar to Authentic, Accuracy is concerned with the integrity of the content.  And in addition to the two points above, access to the collection provides great accuracy to the researcher.  It is possible to touch, read, feel, and listen to source material.  Each person is able to find the truth of a matter on their own and according to their own standards.
> 
>  
> 
> Relevancy
> 
> Why is the Library Relevant?  The scope certainly affects Relevancy.  But it is far more.  The collection grows as history and culture expand.  Old resources are added as these are identified and their value is confirmed.  And the diversity of the collection is itself the hallmark of relevancy.  One can examine original documents regarding the founding of the Republic, journey to distant lands via vast physical and digital albums, or listen to the roots of recorded music such as the earliest forms of American Blues.  And the Library has embraced developing sources as challenging as Twitter.  This ensures that the Library is not relegated to obsolescence through time, technology, and change.
> 
>  
> 
> These arguments simply present the foundation to consider the worth of the Library.  But what is the value as measured by its return on investment to mankind?  The Library is open to anyone who wishes to be entertained or find a great truth.  And the latter is the greatest value to the world.  Individuals can freely access information.  It is not limited, censored, or restricted.  Many of the pieces of the collection are so valuable that they are beyond the ability of any expert to set a price.  How does one replace an original or one-of-a-kind piece?  Thus, the value is in the outcome.
> 
>  
> 
> A person can learn the foundations of freedom, from the birth of democracy in ancient Greece to the writings of the U.S. Founding Fathers.  Great discoveries in science are available to help those who will stand on the shoulders of their antecedents.  Art, in its many forms, is there to inspire our next Michelangelo or Warhol.  And the dark side of humanity can be seen, acting as a warning to future generations to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors.
> 
>  What is the value of the Library of Congress?  It can only be measured by the abhorrent thought “What if we lost it?”  The world would be darker and more dangerous place.  Knowing that we have a place to visit, learn, and be inspired is worth everything that has been invested.  There is no limit to the value that the Library can produce through the boundless opportunities that are our future generations.
> 
> David B. Steward
>  Director of Records
>  
> 
> 
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