Practical archival help for libraries, museums, nonprofits, and individuals.
Supporting you and your collections with a thoughtful mix of traditional archival care and practical digital solutions.
How can I help you?
Not sure how to handle rare or antique materials? Looking for better ways to maintain and share your collection? Need some help on a research project? We’ve got you covered.
Archival Consulting Services
A Rapid Archive Assessment provides organizations with a fast, focused evaluation of their archival needs. During a one‑hour Zoom consultation, I review your collection’s current condition, storage environment, organizational structure, and immediate preservation risks. After our conversation, you’ll receive a concise written report outlining tailored recommendations—such as practical next steps, low‑cost preservation improvements, suggested workflows, and options for longer‑term archival planning. This assessment is designed to give you clear, actionable guidance you can implement right away, whether you're caring for a small historical collection or beginning a larger archival project.
A comprehensive, on‑site or virtual evaluation designed for organizations that need deeper guidance beyond a rapid assessment. This service includes a detailed review of the entire collection—its condition, storage environment, preservation risks, intellectual control, existing documentation, and long‑term needs. You’ll receive a clear, actionable written report tailored to your organization, including prioritization of next steps, recommended supplies, staffing suggestions, and a multi‑phase improvement plan. This package is ideal for small libraries, museums, or nonprofits preparing for Board updates, grant writing, or long‑term stewardship planning.
The Processing & Digitization Support Package provides hands‑on, professional assistance to help you bring order, clarity, and long‑term stability to your archival materials. I work directly with your collection to arrange and describe materials, create or refine inventories and finding aids, and establish clear, sustainable workflows for ongoing maintenance. For organizations preparing to digitize their collections, I develop practical file‑naming conventions, metadata standards, and step‑by‑step digitization procedures tailored to your resources and goals. Whether you’re tackling an inherited backlog of unsorted boxes or planning to make your materials more accessible, this service offers the structured expertise needed to confidently move your collection forward.
Please note that projects involving large backlogs, significant preservation issues, or extensive digitization planning may be quoted at a higher project rate after the initial consultation.
This service provides detailed, research‑driven valuations for rare, antique, or potentially significant books, offering clear insight into their market and historical value. Ideal for collectors, estates, and anyone needing accurate pricing for insurance, donation, or resale.
$40–$75 per book, or
$150–$300 for a detailed written valuation report
This higher tier applies when:
The book is pre‑1900
It may be a first edition, signed, or scarce
The client needs documentation for insurance, donation, or resale.
Please reach out to emma@theresearchraven.com for a custom quote
About me
As a lifelong book lover, becoming a librarian was an easy career choice. I graduated with my Masters in Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University and have spent nearly two decades working in libraries with rare and historical materials.
A few years ago, I completed an Archives Management certificate at Simmons University, where I became especially passionate about cultural heritage preservation and the ways modern tools help us share history for generations to come.
Today, I bring that blend of experience, curiosity, and practical archival care to the organizations and individuals I serve.
