Today (May 1, 2020) is MayDay, an annual tradition started by the Society of American Archivists and Heritage Preservation that encourages actions your institution can take to safeguard your collections. Learn more about MayDay from SAA and from AIC/FAIC. And in the spirit of MayDay, below is information on two recorded webinars (simple actions you can take today!) to learn more about emergency preparedness, followed by the announcement of another live webinar on May 6th on Fire Protection Strategies from professionals at the Smithsonian. Details below:
- After Disasters: Salvage and Recovery in Small to Mid-Sized Museums and Libraries (free recording from May 1st, 2015)
- Speaker: Susan Duhl, Art Conservator and Collections Consultant
- Understanding the components of disaster response is key in successful recovery of collections of any type, size, and budget. This webinar will show professionals and volunteers the steps needed to save effectively collections, including:
- What happens to collections after fires, floods, mechanical failures, and other events
- Recovery logistics, team building, and securing supplies
- Safety and health practices
- Working with first responders, engineers, contractors and conservators, and local resources
- Collections triage, handling practices, drying options, soot and mud cleaning techniques, and mold control
- Long-term recovery: conservation treatment and funding
- Recording information: https://www.connectingtocollections.org/after-disasters/
- After Disasters: Salvage and Recovery in Small to Mid-Sized Museums and Libraries (free recording from May 1st, 2015)
- Speaker: Tara Kennedy, Preservation Services Librarian at Yale University Library
- After a disaster happens, it’s human nature to want things to return to normal as quickly as possible. That feeling can affect one’s ability to vet disaster recovery vendors.
- This webinar will provide information so that you understand what these companies offer. As a result, you will feel more confident investigating and working with recovery vendors.
- Learn how to prepare with disaster recovery vendors before disaster strikes;
- what types of services disaster recovery vendors offer;
- which questions to ask vendors so that you get the services you need (not the ones you don’t);
- and know in advance what are appropriate answers to those questions.
- Sample documents such as Request for Proposal (RFP) and contract templates will be provided for your use. The webinar content applies to your cultural institution as well as the family home.
- Recording information: https://www.connectingtocollections.org/after-disasters/
- Fire Protection Strategies for Collections and Museums
- Wednesday, May 6th from 2:00-3:30pm EST
- Speaker: Michael Kilby, Associate Director for Fire Protection at the Smithsonian Institution
- Hosted by FAIC’s Connecting to Collections Care program
- Managing the fire risk to collections and museums requires a multi-pronged strategy incorporating prevention programs, fire containment measures, as well as detection and suppression systems. When implemented together, the frequency of unintentional fires can be drastically reduced, and the impact of fires successfully managed. A brief review of the Smithsonian’s fire experience, lessons learned, and strategies employed to manage fire risk will be presented.
- Registration information: https://www.connectingtocollections.org/fire-protection-strategies/