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Last week, we departed from our usual webinar format to hear firsthand how staff from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Library battled a tenacious mold outbreak in their collections. Recounting challenges posed by building infrastructure, unforeseen staff shortages, inclement weather, and later, the COVID-19 pandemic, RPI’s Tammy Gobert, Preservation and Access Archivist, and Jenifer Monger, Assistant Institute Archivist, recounted their experiences with humor and humility, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way.

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Recently, the Antiracism Resources series discussed resources for building a diverse workforce. In tandem with those goals is the need to create workplaces that actively support diversity and inclusion. 

Released this past July, the second edition of The Time’s Up Guide to Equity and Inclusion During Crisis takes into account changes brought on by…

In last week’s webinar Conducting a Basic Inventory, DHPSNY Archives Specialist Kate Philipson discussed the process and principles for carrying out a basic inventory for archival, library, or museum collections. She thoroughly examined several important questions, including “What is an archival inventory?”; “Why would you want to conduct an inventory?”; “How do you approach such a big project?”; and “What are your next steps, when is it finished?.” This highly organized and accessible presentation is perfect for organizations new to collections management, as well and…

The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others have sparked protests that are among the most sustained social justice movements in American history. Many collecting institutions are interested in documenting these demands for racial equity and justice and their impact on our country, state, and local communities. However, undertaking projects to document these and other social justice movements is not simply a matter of collection development. Effective documentation requires recognizing your organization’s history, privileges, and place in…

In our most recent live webinar Photographs in the Archive: Arranging and Describing Visual Materials, DHPSNY Preservation Specialist Amanda Murray discussed important considerations for successfully arranging and describing visual materials with the goals of gaining physical and intellectual control, as well as providing access points. She also touched on preservation considerations for visual materials and, at the end of the presentation, answered a stream of thoughtful questions from the audience.

Below are links to the recording and…

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 12:00 PM for Photographs in the Archive: Arranging and Describing Visual Materials, presented by DHPSNY Preservation Specialist Amanda Murray. Learn more and register below! 

As always, DHPSNY webinars are presented free of charge for New York institutions. Visit dhpsny.org/webinars for our full schedule of upcoming presentations and archive of past webinar recordings.

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In 2006, the First Archivist Circle, working with representatives from Native American, First Nations, and Aboriginal communities, developed the Protocols for Native American Archival Material. The Protocols put forth best professional practices for culturally responsive care and use of Native American archival material, particularly those that are housed in non-tribal organizations.

While the Protocols have a long…

In the fourth presentation of our “Common Collection Conditions” series, Assessing the Condition of Your Photograph Collections, presenter Barbara Lemmen, Senior Photograph Conservator at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, discussed how to identify common condition problems found in photograph collections and how to prioritize collection items based on the urgency of conservation needs. Additionally, she discussed methods for caring for collections until the next steps can be taken and answered an array of thoughtful questions from the audience.…

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, at 1:00 PM for Common Collection Conditions: Assessing the Condition of Your Photograph Collections, presented by Barbara Lemmen, Senior Photograph Conservator at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA). Learn more and register below!

WEBINAR
Common Collection Conditions: Assessing the Condition of Your Photograph Collections
Presenter: Barbara Lemmen, Senior Photograph…

In a recently released Statement of Recommitment, the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) admitted to perpetuating a distorted viewpoint of Alabama’s past by focusing a majority of its efforts on the acquisition and promotion of Confederate records and failing to seek out materials documenting the lives and contributions of Black Alabamians. ADAH also acknowledged a lack of diversity amongst leadership and professional staff and vowed to make a change in both areas…