2.7.2 Workflow for Creating the Processing Plan from Creation to Approval

  • Material is accessioned 

  • Initial assessment is completed, linked to the accession record 

  • The accession is assigned to an archivist 

  • The archivist surveys materials and drafts plan 

  • If the materials to be processed include multiple accessions the archivist will draft a single processing plan addressing all accessions pending processing. 

  • The archivist consults with the curator, and as needed with Access Services, PCMU, etc. to determine options or identify problems in order to articulate them in the plan 

  • The archivist shares a draft of the plan with their supervisor/MSU leadership, receives feedback, edits as necessary 

  • The archivist shares a second draft of the plan with stakeholders by emailing a link to it in the MSU Sharepoint site, indicating date that work according to the plan is expected to start:  

  • CRE (Associate Director for CRE and acquiring curator) 

  • Head of Access Services 

  • Head of PCMU 

  • Head of YUL Preservation 

  • Head of DSU (if photography is required or expected imminently) 

  • The plan is discussed via email or in a face-to-face meeting, as deemed appropriate by all parties for the scope of work proposed, with MSU leadership (one or both Assistant Unit Heads and Unit Head), CRE leadership (acquiring curator and Associate Director for CRE), the processing archivist, and other stakeholders as needed.  

  • The plan is revised per discussion  

  • Additional discussion with stakeholders is held as deemed necessary 

  • The plan is further revised based on subsequent discussion 

  • Agreement among all parties is documented at the top of the plan  

  • The plan is filed in the collection file 

  • The archivist begins implementation of the plan (straightforward work may already have started during feedback/discussion) 

  • If anything unexpected occurs, revision to plan is drafted and discussed as outlined above. 

  • Work outlined in the processing plan is completed and the accession(s) moved along for shelving