Disasters—whether caused by storms, burst pipes, or human error—can wreak havoc on cultural collections in an instant. The key to minimizing loss isn’t just how fast you respond, but how well you’re prepared. That’s the core message of DHPSNY’s Salvage Workshops. Designed for libraries, archives, historical societies, museums, and any stewards of cultural heritage collections, this hands-on, scenario-based training gives professionals and volunteers the tools they need to respond effectively when collections are at risk.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top three things you’ll learn by attending a DHPSNY Salvage Workshop and how they can make a critical difference during collection emergencies.
1. Real-World Salvage Skills That Can Save Your Collections
One of the most valuable aspects of the salvage workshop is that it goes beyond theory and dives into practical, hands-on salvage skills. Through demonstrations and active participation, attendees learn exactly how to stabilize and recover collection materials that have been exposed to water, as most disasters are or become water-based.
Salvage techniques shared during the workshops focus on a wide variety of paper materials, including books, paper records, photographs, coated paper, and framed or matted artwork. Each type of material requires distinct salvage methods. For example:
- Books: If partially wet, interleaving with absorbent paper and standing them on end can allow them to dry without warping. If saturated, rinsing, boxing, and freezing as soon as possible can buy you time to better plan their recovery.
- Photographs: Some types, like color prints and gelatin glass plate negatives, can remain wet for a short window of time, but others (such as collodion glass plate negatives) must be given immediate attention or frozen until they can be dried out.
- Paper & Coated Paper: Air-drying is an efficient solution for uncoated papers, with careful handling to prevent tearing or ink bleeding. Coated papers (like glossy magazine pages) can become fused together irreversibly if saturated; if they are just damp, they can usually be successfully air-dried.
Beyond material-specific tactics, participants are taught to prepare salvage spaces, using tarps, clotheslines, fans, and absorbent materials to create an efficient triage area. One essential takeaway? It’s not always possible to save everything—but knowing what can be saved and how to respond increases the odds that your institution can rebound with minimal loss.
2. How to Safely Navigate Disaster Response & Recovery
Another central takeaway from the workshop is that human safety always comes first. Cultural heritage professionals are deeply passionate about the collections they care for, but during an emergency, the temptation to rush in can be dangerous.
Attendees learn the importance of site assessment: checking for hazards like standing water, lack of electricity, unstable shelving, or mold before attempting to retrieve any materials. The workshop emphasizes protective gear and the buddy system as essential components of safe salvage work.
The workshop also reinforces the emergency management cycle. After human safety is ensured and initial salvage has begun, staff must assess long-term needs: stabilizing the building environment, mold mitigation, working with vendors, and documenting all activity. These steps become critical for adjusting your organization’s emergency plan going forward, ensuring the cycle continues.
Crucially, attendees are reminded that they don’t have to go it alone. The workshop outlines the different types of recovery vendors available—from conservation professionals and vacuum freeze-drying labs to freezer rentals and dehumidifier providers. It clarifies what these vendors do and don’t do, empowering attendees to maintain control of their situation while getting the help they need.
3. The Power of Preparedness: Planning Is the Best Protection
The most enduring lesson from the Salvage Workshop is this: preparedness saves collections.
Attendees are introduced to tools like the salvage priority list, a living document that identifies the most vulnerable or significant parts of your collection, so responders can act swiftly and strategically. The workshop also provides guidance on building emergency supply kits stocked with gloves, tarps, absorbent paper, flashlights, and basic PPE, ideally stored in mobile containers that can be quickly deployed.
One particularly useful planning tool introduced is the abbreviated Incident Command System (ICS) model. This framework helps institutions define response roles so that even small teams can mobilize in a coordinated, efficient way. During simulated salvage activities, attendees assume these roles and practice decision-making in real time—reinforcing how communication and delegation are vital in high-stress situations.
The workshop also urges participants to review and revise their emergency plans after any incident or drill. It’s not enough to write a plan and leave it on the shelf. True preparedness is a living process—one that requires reflection, regular updates, and participation across departments.
Lastly, institutions are encouraged to mitigate future risks: installing water alarms, moving collections off the floor, updating storage materials, and fixing known building issues. These actions may seem small, but when disaster strikes, they can make all the difference.
Why You Should Attend
In a world of increasing climate volatility, it is ever more important that cultural heritage institutions are ready for emergencies. The DHPSNY Salvage Workshop offers:
- Essential hands-on training
- A clear framework for safe and effective disaster response
- Practical tools to help your institution be better prepared
But even more importantly, it helps cultivate a mindset of resilience: no matter the scale of the disaster, recovery is possible with the right knowledge and partnerships.
Whether you’re an archivist in a small historical society, a volunteer at a library, or a collections manager at a regional museum, this workshop can sharpen your response skills, build your confidence, and help you protect the irreplaceable.
Want to learn more or sign up for an upcoming session?
Visit our Workshops page for upcoming dates and locations, and to reserve your spot—space is limited! Registration closes one week before each session.
Your collections matter. Make sure they’re protected.
