REALM Project
REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums
REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) is a research project conducted by OCLC, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and Battelle to produce science-based information about how materials can be handled to mitigate COVID-19 exposure to staff and visitors of archives, libraries, and museums.
Happening Now
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Managing uncertainty during COVID-19
A year after COVID-19 upended our lives, we are still contending with many uncertainties. Pandemics make for a complex problem in a complex system. Organizations have had to make decisions quickly bas...
Upcoming webinars
Watch this space for more upcoming webinars.
Research timeline
This project is designed to be flexible and evolve as more becomes known about the virus and practices to reduce risk of transmission. The partnership will address known and emergent research questions in three phases.
Current Planned Activities
April 2021
- Publish research briefing on vacines and variants
- Plan evaluation data collection
- Stakeholder input to Phase 3 activities
- Publish toolkit resources
- Host webinar on vaccines
- External presentations (Association for Rural and Small Libraries)
May 2021
- Continued research on vaccines and variants
- Plan evaluation data collection
- Publish toolkit resources
- External presentations (Connecticut Library Consortium)
Phase 1
Preparing for Reopened Libraries: Research on High-priority Materials and Workflows
May 2020 – August 2020
This phase will collect, curate, and disseminate information and recommended practices for handling physical collections and facilities in anticipation of a phased-in or full reopening of public library buildings and services starting as early as May 2020. This phase will produce an initial set of research findings and related resources.
Phase 2
Additional Research to Support Operations of Libraries, Archives, and Museums
June 2020 – October 2020
This phase will study a second set of materials and workflows across libraries, archives/special collections, and museums. The research activities will produce results of laboratory testing, a scientific literature review, toolkit resources, and related resources that provide updated or new information that may have emerged since Phase 1. A more fully designed website will be launched during this phase.
Phase 3
Monitor, Update, Communicate
October 2020 – September 2021
In Phase 3, the project will continue to monitor and review emerging research that may require updates and additions to what has been created during the first two phases. In addition, as the rate of transmission for the virus changes over time and communities continue to adjust to those changes, the policies and practices of libraries and museums may also warrant a change. Research briefings on vaccines, variants, and other emerging priorities are planned for this phase.