They didn’t cover this in library school: Practical Tips for Librarians Working with Historic Materials

UPDATE
Presentation: http://prezi.com/469mo7gmvq8k/mobius2010-archive-basics/
Case Study: http://www.slideshare.net/lcwk86/jefferson-county-history-center-case-st...

Does your library have historic letters, postcards, photographs, or ledgers gathering dust in a back corner? Were you recently given boxes of important “stuff” that needs to be saved? Or perhaps your director informed you “Oh, by the way, you’re also in charge of the local history collection.” Many libraries house archives, manuscripts, and other “special” materials that are old, fragile, and important to the community. This presentation is designed to help anyone who has taken on the additional role of curator, archivist, or special collection guardian.

During this session we will look at practical, real-life solutions you can implement to manage your library’s unusual historic materials. Learn how to provide sensible security, locate available resources, and see what simple (and low-cost) steps you can take to preserve historic items. We’ll also touch upon common terms such as “acid-free” and “archival,” review options for cataloging, and look at productive ways volunteers and interns can lend a hand. Most importantly, the session will offer ideas for making historic materials useful to your patrons and the wider community.

Librarians Lisa Wolfe and Lisa Pritchard from Jefferson College, a small rural community college, will also share their experiences and progress caring for the Jefferson County History Center, located within the college library.

Session Files: 

handout.doc