Preservation Instruction, Education and Outreach Discussion Group

Agenda
Preservation Instruction, Education, and Outreach Discussion Group
Ritz Carlton Boston Commons/Hamilton
Saturday, January 15, 2005, 2-4 pm

    1.  Core Competencies Specific to Preservation
    2.  Giving Preservation Information to the Public:  Issues and
        Resources

The ALCTS Education Committee that is working to update the
Educational Policy Statement.  In the Discussion Group we will be
discussing the core competencies specific to preservation that are
noted below.  The entire policy statement is in the ALCTS Policies
and Procedures Manual at
<URL:http://www.ala.org/ala/alcts/alctsmanual/conted/cepolicy.htm>.

The Educational Policy Statement of the Association for Library
Collections and Technical Services, approved by the ALCTS Board of
Directors 27 June 1995. Preserving Access:

    Access to library collections is an integral part of
    librarianship.  All librarians must possess a conceptual
    knowledge of the physical and intellectual nature of library
    materials as well as the factors affecting the life expectancy
    of library materials.  Librarians must understand basic
    preservation activities for ensuring continued access to
    information in the most appropriate format.  Knowledge and
    skills required for preservation of information resources
    include:

        knowledge and understanding of the interdependent roles that
        the building, environment, and security and fire protection
        systems, as well as pest control and housekeeping programs,
        play in the preservation of collections, and the application
        of this knowledge for the planning for new buildings and
        additions to and renovations of existing buildings,
        including appropriate and nondamaging handling procedures
        and storage conditions

        knowledge of and skills in the application of preventive and
        remedial treatments to keep materials usable for as long as
        they are needed

        knowledge of and skills in the application of methods used
        to preserve materials in their original format when
        appropriate

        knowledge to make decisions about the appropriateness of
        replacing or reformatting deteriorated materials

        knowledge of not only preservation methods for paper, books,
        and other current library materials, but also preservation
        strategies for new and emerging technologies, including the
        updating and reformatting of magnetic media to allow
        continued access and protection against viruses, worms, and
        unauthorized alteration of data and information in
        electronic media

        skills in initiating and supporting preservation initiatives
        at all levels, include supporting research into the causes
        of deterioration and the application of new treatments and
        technologies

        knowledge of the operations of other parts of the
        organization and how they relate to preserving information
        resources

        skills in communicating the need for increased funding for
        the preservation of endangered materials to appropriate
        organizations and federal, state, and local government
        agencies

        skills in educating current and future librarians, library
        users, and the public about collection care and
        preservation

        skills and initiative to promote the use of permanent and
        durable media by publishers of information products

        knowledge of state-of-the art research and practice in this
        area

Jill Rawnsley
Director of Preservation Services
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)
264 South 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
215-545-0613
Fax: 215-735-9313


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:29
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 5, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-18-29-006
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