Professional Associations: ALA launches Preservations Week

The American Library Association (ALA) with a support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Library of Congress, Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, Society of American Archivists, and the National Institute “Heritage Preservation” for the first time launches “Preservation Week. Pass it on: Saving Heritage and Memories” – series of events, aimed at preservation of national cultural heritage, which will take place from May 9 -15 2010.

In 2005 the first comprehensive national survey of the condition and preservation needs of the nation’s collections reported that U.S. institutions hold more than 4.8 billion items. Libraries alone hold 3 billion items (63 percent of the whole). A treasure trove of uncounted additional items is held by individuals, families, and communities. These collections include books, manuscripts, photographs, prints and drawings, and objects such as maps, textiles, paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and furniture, to give just a sample. They include moving images and sound recordings that capture performing arts, oral history, and other records of our creativity and history. Some 630 million items in collecting institutions require immediate attention and care. Eighty percent of these institutions have no paid staff assigned responsibility for collections care; 22 percent have no collections care personnel at all. Personal, family, and community collections are equally at risk.

ALA encourages libraries and other institutions to use “Preservation Week” to participate in events, activities, and resources that highlight what can be done, individually and together, to preserve personal and shared collections.

On May, 10 within the framework of the “Preservation Week” the Library of Congress will mount “Personal Archiving Day”.  Library staff will discuss practical strategies for preserving personal collections, and share advice on how to safeguard precious digital and traditional photos, documents, recordings. The Library’s preservation experts will talk directly with individuals about managing their materials in all formats—everything from e-mail to home movies to digital photographs and recorded sound.

Deanna Marcum, associate librarian for Library Services, said "Partnering with ALA for the first national collections Preservation Week serves the Library’s mission by sharing information and increasing public awareness of preservation’s importance”.