education

workshop offerings

In addition to workshops presented at NEDCC’s headquarters in Andover, cultural organizations can request and sponsor a workshop at their facility. Costs for a workshop vary depending on the length, the amount of preparation time required, the type of workshop, and the travel costs. For more information about sponsoring a workshop, please contact the Field Service office at (978) 470-1010, ext. 220, Donia Conn, Field Service Representative.

Basic Preservation

Focusing on preservation planning, this workshop begins by looking at basic definitions, the nature of specific materials, and agents of deterioration. Components of a preservation program are also introduced, including: environmental control, disaster preparedness, security, storage and handling, reformatting; binding and repair, and conservation treatment. The importance of collections care, written policies, and staff and user education is emphasized. As a more advanced workshop, surveys and assessments can be incorporated into the discussion.

Collections Care

This workshop looks at holdings and stacks maintenance on a more detailed level. As in other classes, nature of materials and agents of deterioration are discussed, and examples of enclosures are analyzed. Students are able to practice handling oversize materials and learn how best to shelve and retrieve books and boxes. Students also learn how to identify priority collections and discuss the importance of creating written reading room policies and processing guidelines. Any aspect of collections care can be incorporated into this workshop, including staff and user education, facilities maintenance, and mold and pest control.

Emergency Preparedness 

This course covers the importance of planning for emergency situations. Elements of a disaster plan and ways to update current plans are discussed. Different levels of planning can be taught; the course can focus on developing the plan itself, especially using NEDCC’s online tool, dPlan. Additionally, disaster recovery, salvage of wet collections, response, and rehabilitation can be emphasized. Case studies are used, and students learn from what others have experienced.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

This course is an introduction to IPM as a pest control measure in cultural institutions. Participants will examine the kinds of pests that might be found in their buildings and causes of infestation. The focus is on how to start an IPM program, as well as how to work with pest control firms to get results that will best benefit the collections.

Identification and Care of Photographs

An introduction to the preservation of photographs, this workshop focuses on historical photographic prints, including their identification, deterioration, and conservation. Participants learn how to recognize various photographic formats and study the preservation problems associated with each format type. The class discusses storage concerns and sometimes examines photographs brought in by participants.

Basic and Intermediate Book Repair

Both basic and intermediate book repair are workshops that combine lecture and discussion with hands-on exercises. Students learn about the mechanics, composition and deterioration of books, as well as how to manage a book repair program in a general library collection. The place of book repair within a larger preservation program is discussed, as well as selection and treatment decisions, materials, and how to set up in-house. These workshops are for repair of general circulating collections, not for rare, special, or archival collections.

Basic Paper Repair

This workshop is an introduction to the basic procedures of paper conservation and their place in a comprehensive preservation program. Students learn how to work with a conservator and walk away from the session with a greater understanding of the intricacies of paper conservation. The course covers the nature of paper and describes responsible solutions to common problems of unbound materials such as prints, drawings, maps, and documents. Participants are given hands-on experience with handling, surface cleaning, mending, and flattening. Techniques to avoid are discussed, as well as when to take items to a professional conservator.

Preservation of Scrapbooks

Scrapbooks and albums present a range of preservation challenges, and finding solutions for their care can be difficult. This workshop addresses the structure of scrapbooks, types of materials commonly found in them, methods of attachment, and their implications for preservation and conservation. Selection and preparation for microfilming, as well as low-cost, in-house preservation approaches are discussed. Participants are invited to bring in their own examples for examination and discussion by the class.

Preservation Technologies

This workshop can be taught with different focuses. Primarily a look at reformatting technologies, these courses can center on microfilming, digital conversion, and photo duplication. Emphasis is on planning, selection, and in the case of digital conversion, sustainability. In each course, accepted standards and best practices are discussed, as well as when to work in-house vs. contract with vendors.

Holdings Maintenance

Holdings maintenance - simple procedures that can prolong the life of records - is essential to any preservation program. These collection-level actions, such as upgrading boxes and folders and removing metal fasteners, can be easily incorporated into daily tasks. This workshop will examine ways to implement a successful holdings-maintenance program at minimal cost. Topics will include levels of collections care, storage and handling options, and selection for preservation.

Creating and Maintaining Digital Collections

This workshop will explore the issues that cultural institutions face when deciding whether or not to exhibit their collections in an online environment. What are the benefits and responsibilities of doing so? What new approaches to a collection are made possible through digitization? This day-long workshop will walk participants through the questions they should ask when considering and planning Web access and then outline the basic guidelines for digitizing a collection.

Writing Successful Grant Proposals

Preparing and writing grants for preservation and digitization projects is a valuable skill. This workshop examines the major granting entities’ requirements and explores the elements of a grant proposal. Participants practice writing their own grant and will consider how to develop proposals for state, local, and foundation funding sources. They learn how to establish a grant program, identify potential funders, match projects with the appropriate funding agency, and prepare a proposal.