Swimming Upstream:
Cooperatively Preserving Collections in the Northwest
September 21,
2000, University of Washington
Our Vision for
Preservation in the Pacific Northwest*
In our vision there is:
- Enthusiasm for preservation within our institutions and within the region.
- Increased public/staff recognition of preservation and understanding of preservation needs.
- A shared vision within our institutions and the region of the need and importance of preservation.
- Institutional commitment to preservation activities – each institution has a preservation plan.
- Political support within governments for preservation
- More preservation resources and staff within our region
- A regional preservation alliance or organization inclusive of all types of libraries/cultural institutions and geographic areas
- Sustained funding for preservation projects, workshops, etc.
We want:
Assistance with planning and needs assessment to:
- Assess regional preservation needs and collection strengths
- Establish preservation goals and priorities
- Create a vision and plan for preservation collaboration
Coordinated state and regional disaster preparedness planning to:
- Help each institution develop a plan
- Provide mutual aid and assistance
- Identify supplies that might be needed
(might include a list, a central store, and/or shared purchase) - Assist with training
Preservation training within the region:
- Preservation workshops, e.g., on:
- Basic conservation techniques
- Binding
- Book repair
- Disaster preparedness and response training
- Grant writing
- Preservation management
- Internships
- Train the trainer
To encourage collaboration/coordination between institutions and government agencies to gain resources for preservation activities and projects:
- Cooperative contracts, e.g. mass deacidification and supply purchasing to lower costs
- Cooperative grant writing
- Cooperative preservation and digitization projects
- Cooperative efforts to identify endangered materials
- Coordinated collection development for preservation – last copy of record
- Local and regional foundation support to make preservation a priority
- Personal and institutional networking
- Regional preservation listserv
- Regional tools for local preservation activities, e.g. a traveling conservator for smaller institutions.
- State preservation funding (from State Libraries?)
- Shared preservation expertise (who is doing what, who can I call?, etc.)
- Support from the Governor/Legislature in each state
Long Range:
- Efforts might lead to the establishment of a regional preservation facility that might include:
- Cold storage for nitrate negatives and other media
- Conservation lab including photographic conservation
- Environmentally controlled regional storage
- Freeze drying service
- Preservation microfilming/scanning service
- Staff to provide assistance with preservation information, planning and surveys
- Staff to provide regional preservation training
*Summary by Gary Menges based on flipcharts done at the meeting in breakout sessions