CCAHA | Save Pennsylvania's Past

Save Pennsylvania's Past is a statewide effort to preserve the millions of objects and historic artifacts that shape the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's history and define our nation. As part of this two-year project, CCAHA will present six training programs in eight regions to prepare staff to address the challenges threatening Pennsylvania's world-class collections.

Programs

Six programs will be offered in the following locations between October 2011 and June 2013 (click on a location for program listings with dates and registration information):

New! A seventh program (Preserving Your Photographic Collections) will be presented in Allentown, Erie, Pittsburgh, and York in June and July 2013.

Preservation Best Practices for Optimal Collections Care

Archivists, collections managers, librarians, curators, and other staff members involved in collections care must manage a variety of tasks, including implementation of collections management plans and policies, management of environmental controls and storage conditions, and provision for safe use and exhibition of collections. This program will provide participants with an overview of the preservation standards for the many aspects of collections care.

Speaker: Laura Hortz Stanton, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA

Digitization Basics

Every institution struggles with pressure to be visible on the web and to make its collections accessible to wider audiences, and many face daunting hurdles to implementing digitization programs. This program will cover basic issues in digital preservation, including an introduction to digitization, and will provide information on handling guidelines for digitization, selection of materials, conducting pilot projects, creating access to digitized materials, funding sources, and the benefits of collaborating with other institutions.

Speaker: Thomas F.R. Clareson, Senior Consultant, Digital & Preservation Services, LYRASIS

Understanding Archives: An Introduction to Archival Basics

Proper archival procedures enable safe and effective management of collections. Participants will learn about the fundamentals of archival appraisal, acquisition, and access; proper storage materials; and the most common preservation problems associated with paper-based archival collections. This program will touch briefly on processing, arrangement, and description. Volunteers, historians, and those with archival responsibilities in addition to other duties may find themselves in the position of "archivist" without formal training in the profession; this program offers an introduction to best practices in the field.

Speakers: Beth Bensman, Certified Archivist (CA)
Dyani Feige, Preservation Specialist, CCAHA

Essential Policies & Procedures for Cultural Institutions

An institution’s collections care and business practices are defined by its written policies and procedures. Institutional memory is often lost through staff changes, but best practices are encoded in these important documents. This program will provide an overview of the policy and planning documents that are essential for collections care, such as collections management policies, handling guidelines, and maintenance policies. Participants will review the critical components of these documents along with concrete examples of how to adapt them to different institutions. Policy development as well as approval and implementation responsibilities of staff, volunteers, and board will be discussed.

Speakers: Dyani Feige, Preservation Specialist, CCAHA
Laura Hortz Stanton, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA

Fundraising for Preservation & Conservation

Through thoughtful planning and effective grant writing, your organization can be competitive in the race for public and private funding to preserve cultural collections. This workshop will examine the planning process that funders want to see in place and the elements of a successful grant proposal. With examples drawn from success stories at museums, historic sites, libraries, and archives, program participants will gain an understanding of how to effectively develop and implement a funding strategy to raise money for their collections.

Speakers: Ingrid Bogel, Executive Director, CCAHA
Lee Price, Director of Development, CCAHA

Protecting Cultural Collections: Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Response & Recovery

One of the most important steps a cultural institution can take to safeguard its collections is to be prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster. This two-part program will guide participants in risk mitigation, emergency planning and preparedness, response, and recovery. By the end of the second session, participants will develop and complete an emergency preparedness and response plan; learn how to train staff to implement the plan effectively; set pre- and post-disaster action priorities for collections; learn how to use practical decision-making skills during an emergency or disaster; and have information on salvaging a variety of materials, including books, documents, photos, and objects. The two sessions are scheduled several weeks apart in order to give attendees time to undertake several planning assignments.

Speakers: Dyani Feige, Preservation Specialist, CCAHA
Jessica Silverman, Paper Conservator and Preservation Consultant, CCAHA
Laura Hortz Stanton, Director of Preservation Services, CCAHA

Preserving Your Photographic Collections

Photographic media are sensitive materials that require special housing to ensure their longevity. This workshop will examine suitable housing supplies, including paper, plastics, interleaving papers, boxes, and more. Environmental parameters for storage, proper labeling techniques, and safe handling of photographs will be discussed.

Speaker: Rachel Wetzel, Photograph Conservator, CCAHA

Statewide Conferences

Additionally, two conferences will be held in the Harrisburg area in 2012 and 2013.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Disaster Planning for Cultural Collections (June 7, 2012)

Collecting institutions have a responsibility to preserve their collections for future generations, yet an unanticipated emergency can put these collections at risk. Planning for the unexpected (from large-scale emergencies to damage from leaks, pest infestations, mold, theft, or fire) allows institutions of any size or budget to identify risks and mitigate damage to collections, preventing emergencies from becoming disasters. Learn more on our program calendar.

Environmental Management: Stewardship & Sustainability (June 18, 2013)

This program will explore new approaches to controlling environmental conditions in cultural institutions. Leading experts in the field will present physically and financially feasible environmental control strategies to help institutions preserve collections materials for the long term. Topics to be covered include: the collections environment; understanding the building/climate relationship; new approaches and best practices for environmental control; and environmental monitoring and data analysis. Learn more on our program calendar.

CCAHA's Save Pennsylvania's Past partners are the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, PA Museums, and LYRASIS. The project is supported by an Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collections Statewide Implementation Grant, by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and by the Arthur Ross Foundation, Inc.