Preservation

The MBLC works to enhance the capacities and knowledge of libraries and their staff in managing their special community collections. Preservation and access were once considered mutually exclusive, but with reformatting, digitization, and online hosting, that is no longer typically the case. Preservation activities can be essential steps to broaden access to special collections, supportive of outreach and programming with positive outcomes for education, advanced scholarship, and community understanding.

Grants

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants supports libraries for Preservation. In addition to yearly Preservation Assessment grants, the MBLC offers Direct Grant to libraries in areas of preservation, specifically: "Archives Arrangement and Description," "Protecting Priority Collections," and "Managing Fine and Decorative Arts."

Consulting

Available for free on-site consulting for libraries and their staff with strategic and technical questions about their historical or community collections. Happy to connect and learn more about your collections and goals - and help you get there.


Education, Training, & Services to Enhance Collections Preservation and Access

Host and organizer of a number of events, in person and online, connecting libraries and their staff with best practices, new viewpoints, and opportunities for discussion and leadership on topics in special collection preservation, access, and management.

Disaster Preparedness & Mitigating Catastrophic Loss
MBLC is a founding partner of COSTEP MA (Coordinated Statewide Emergency Preparedness for Cultural Heritage in Massachusetts), connecting libraries and the emergency management community with high quality, current information to mitigate or recover from disasters.

MBLC Environmental Monitoring Program: Free Tools, Software, & Trainings
Through a public contracting process, MBLC has partnered with Conserv Solutions to provide libraries free tools, software, and training to empower them to use the latest technology solutions to easily implement museum-quality monitoring for their special or historic community collections.

Sharing Best Practices for Preservation and Access for Special Collections
Periodic webinars, in partnership with the Massachusetts Library System, to improve standards and practices for special collections management among libraries in the Commonwealth. Selected recorded events:

For More Information

Jessica Branco Colati, Preservation Specialist
617-725-1860 x236
857-283-5658 (Mobile)
jessica.colati@mass.gov

Rob Favini, Head of Library Advisory and Development
617-725-1860 x237
857-488-6590 (Mobile)
robert.favini@mass.gov