This online course aims to prepare participants to create a clear, practical emergency plan for their organization. Participants will learn how to take identified collection risks and translate them into actionable response procedures. Emphasis will be placed on working in manageable phases rather than tackling the entire plan at once. The course introduces the Council of State Archivists’ Pocket Response Plan™ (PReP™) as a starting point and builds toward developing a comprehensive emergency plan that includes response, salvage, and recovery procedures.
Throughout the course, participants will be guided in setting realistic goals, tracking progress, and collaborating with colleagues to support the process. By the end of the course, participants will have a structured path toward completing an emergency plan and practical steps they can begin implementing immediately.
This course supports New York libraries working to meet updated state requirements for a board-approved disaster plan.
Work at your own pace, with a live Q&A session on November 19.
Instructor: Kate Jacus, Preservation Education Specialist, DHPSNY
Metadata plays a critical role in making collections discoverable, understandable, and usable, but knowing where to start can be challenging. This webinar provides a clear, practical introduction to foundational metadata concepts for collecting institutions. Participants will learn about common types of metadata, essential elements for describing materials, and approaches to file naming, controlled vocabularies, and basic schema use, including Dublin Core. The session will also introduce key considerations for rights statements, interoperability, and how metadata functions across systems and platforms. Designed for small and mid-sized organizations, this webinar emphasizes manageable, scalable approaches and real-world application.
Metadata plays a critical role in making collections discoverable, understandable, and usable, but knowing where to start can be challenging. This webinar provides a clear, practical introduction to foundational metadata concepts for collecting institutions. Participants will learn about common types of metadata, essential elements for describing materials, and approaches to file naming, controlled vocabularies, and basic schema use, including Dublin Core. The session will also introduce key considerations for rights statements, interoperability, and how metadata functions across systems and platforms. Designed for small and mid-sized organizations, this webinar emphasizes manageable, scalable approaches and real-world application.
Presenter: Jamie Brinkman, Supervisor, Researcher Services, New York State Archives
Pests pose a significant risk to collection materials, but effective management does not require complex systems or specialized training. This webinar introduces the core principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for cultural heritage collections, with a focus on prevention, monitoring, identification, and response. Participants will learn how to recognize common signs of pest activity, implement basic monitoring strategies, and take practical steps to reduce risk in storage and exhibit spaces. The session emphasizes realistic, scalable approaches appropriate for small and mid-sized institutions. By the end of the webinar, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to establish or strengthen an IPM program using manageable, low-cost strategies.
Presenter: Kate Jacus, Preservation Education Specialist, DHPSNY