"Play it Again, Sam": Historical Slide Presentations in Public Programming—A Case Study

Attracting favorable attention to archival holdings and services is a fundamental concern of archivists as administrators. The slide presentation that depicts the history of the host institution using the resources of the archives can be an effective and economical promotional tool. Undertaking this kind of public programming requires an analysis of the potential audience, well-defined objectives, attention to technical decisions of format and length, product testing, and marketing. The Ohio State University Archives has developed a presentation that has drawn the attention of the entire institutional community— administrators, staff, faculty, students, staff, and alumni.