Title
REQUEST TO AMEND THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION'S ARCHIVAL MATERIALS TO CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Body
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that an order be entered amending the authority to transfer the Department of Planning and Construction's Archival Materials to the Chicago Public Library.
II. Explanation
The Chicago Park District, under the purview of its Department of Planning and Construction, possesses valuable original archival materials, such as architectural plans and drawings, photographs, records, and documents relating to the design, development, and history of Chicago parks (the "Planning Archives"). In 2012, pursuant to Chapter X, Section F, paragraph 4 of the Code of the Chicago Park District, the Board entered an order granting authority to the General Superintendent or his designee to transfer various Park District Planning Department archival materials to the Chicago Public Library. Pursuant to that order, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was negotiated and executed.
The Chicago Public Library was determined to be the most suitable repository for these Planning Archives for several reasons. Its staff includes professional archivists who are qualified to organize and conserve the collection. The Library houses the collection in one location-the Harold Washington Library-thereby providing public access to the material. The Library has agreed to help raise funds needed to ensure that the remaining archives are digitally scanned properly and stored for all to enjoy for years to come. Finally, the close relationship between our agencies provides the Park District with quick access to the original materials when needed.
Under the IGA, approximately 100,000 plans and drawings and approximately 60,000 photographs, that had already been digitally scanned and inventoried, have been transferred to the Chicago Public Library. H...
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