Fall Meeting: Meeting Program
October 21, 1995
Clark University, Worcester, MA
8:15- 9:00: Registration and Coffee
9:15- 10:00: Keynote Presentation
"Responsible Custody: New Strategy for a New Era"
Speaker: Christine Ward, Principal Archivist, New York State Archives
In this period of dwindling resources, archivists are faced with a dilemma. How are we to meet our time- honored responsibilities and mandates to preserve and provide access to the historical record when the support and resources required for traditional preservation practices are no longer available? Adding to the problem is the fact that we are no longer dealing with only traditional archival material; new formats pose new problems and responsibilities.
Clearly we need to develop new ways of thinking about the concept of preservation; we need to consider new approaches to both old and new problems; and we need to conceive and put into practice new strategies to recall traditional goals. She speaker will examine some of the problems, suggest some new approaches and strategies, and consider the programmatic implications of preservation in the modern age.
10:15-12:00 Morning Sessions
1) Spinning the Web: Creating a homepage on the Information Superhighway
Speakers: Peter Carini, Mount Holyoke College; Kara Schneiderman, The MIT Museum; Greg Colati, Bowdoin College Archives
What exactly is the World Wide Web and how can archivists use it? After a brief introduction to Web terminology, the session speakers will discuss the process of setting up a homepage, the reasons for doing so, and the benefits that might come to the archives as a result. The session will include a "tour" of several Web sites that are up and running.
2) Balancing Budgets, Buildings, and Systems to Create a Sympathetic Archival Environment
Speakers: William Boss, University of New Hampshire; Ernest Conrad, Landmark Facilities, Norwalk, CT; Nicholas Artim, Fire Safety Network, Middlebury, VT
Session chair: William Ross
Older buildings and systems often frustrate archivists' efforts to provide a protective environment for their collections. Archivists need to know accepted environmental standards and how to achieve them when resources are limited. An archivist will provide an overview of this dilemma, along with current thinking about environmental standards. A climate control engineer, experienced in working with library, archives, and museum collections, will discuss the way in which older building system can be modified to provide maximum protection for collections. A fire protection consultant, currently involved in developing the new water mist fire suppression system, will describe that system and give practical advice for improving existing fire prevention measures.
3) Preservation Planning: Surveys and Assessment Tools
Speakers: Gregory Sanford, Vermont State Archives; Robin McElheney, Harvard University Library Preservation Office; Steve Dalton, Northeast Document Conservation Center
Session chair: Gwenn Stearn, Rhode Island State Archives
What can we do for ourselves, and where and how do we begin to address preservation are basic questions for many archivists. This session will look at three assessment tools that have been used in New England repositories; the NAGARA GRASPP (Guide & Resources for Archival Strategic Preservation Planning), the Commission on Preservation and Access Preservation Needs Assessment Tool, and the NEDCC self-survey guide. Each of the three can be used in part, in whole, or adopted for repositories small and large. Speakers will address the effectiveness of the tools; why should they be used, what can be learned, and how will it impact the institution?
12:15 -2:30 Luncheon Buffet
1:15-2:00: The Task Force on Future Directions: Open Forum
The Task Force on Future Directions is taking a good, hard look ad the NEA -its vision, its activities, and its administration in order to ensure that the organization is meeting the needs of its members and the region. Co-chairs Margery Sly and Paul Lasewicz will discuss questions from the membership.
As part of the information-gathering process, the Task Force also seeks to use this forum to solicit input from NEA members attending the Fall meeting. If you have an opinion about what should or shouldn't be changed about the NEA, bring it! No proposal will be too inconsequential or outrageous to be dismissed without proper reflection by the Task Force.
2:15-4:00: Afternoon Sessions
4) Mining the Archive: Education using Archival Sources
Speakers: Nancy Zeller, New Netherland Project, New Yore State Library; Janet Murphy, Archival Consultants
Session chair: Susan Richardson, Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
This session will address educational curricula that have been developed from archival sources. The New York State Library's New Netherland project, funded by the New York State Archives, has developed programs for New York State's fourth and seventh graders based on New Netherland records of the 17th century. Janet Murphy has developed programs for advanced placement high school students in Haddam, CT and West Hartford, CT based on family letters, city directories and other primary materials. Speakers will discuss the development and funding of these programs and their success from the point of view of the students and the archival repository.
5.) Preservation Programs and Preservation Projects
Speakers: Ardys Kozbial, NEH H.H. Richardson Project, Harvard University Library; Melissa Banta, NHPRC Daguerreotypes Project, Harvard University Library; Lisa Biblo, Harvard University Library Preservation Office
The session will consider the relationship between preservation programs and preservation projects. Is it possible to build a preservation program based on individual projects? How can project proposals that fit into an ongoing program be created? Are projects a drain on programs? How do the two interact? How can they best complement each other? Speakers will address these issues from their own experience.
6) Decline of Print Culture
Speakers: Albert H. Whitaker, Jr.; Guy McLain; Peter Weis, Amherst College Archives
With more and more information becoming available through on-line and other electronic media, many foresee a decline, even a disappearance of paper print. The extent and manner of this decline as well as its implications for both archives and libraries remain the subjects of intense debate. The speakers for this session will present their own visions of this change. This will be followed by a group discussion. To allow all attendees a part in this conversation, three short background articles will be provided to all who pre-register. Please indicate your intention to attend this session on the registration form.
4:15-5:30: Closing Reception and Cash Bar:
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