2021 Webinar Archives

Click on the titles below to view the information and videos for past webinars.

New Tools of the Trade - December 14, 2021

This webinar will be co-presented by Lesley A. Langa, PhD, of NovaKultura Consulting, Kate McEnroe, Associate Conservator of Archaeological Materials at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and Anne Kingery-Schwartz, Principal Objects Conservator, Kingery Conservation LLC. The presenters will provide an overview of two distinct measurement tools they have developed to assist small and medium-sized cultural heritage institutions perform their daily work.

Long Term Storage for Large Functional Objects: Vehicles - November 16, 2021

One of the most basic ways we can care for our museum collections is by making sure that their long-term storage is as safe as it can be for the materials in our care. Vehicles and other wheeled machinery were made to function. Keeping them for the long term in a museum storage or exhibit environment can actually cause further deterioration if the proper steps for preservation aren’t taken.

Care of Painted Surfaces - October 13, 2021

Across time and culture, paint has been applied to the surface of many materials. Paint can be found on fabrics, wood, metal, and glass, just to name a few. Caring for painted surfaces can be challenging as the paint and substrate frequently respond differently to fluctuations in the environment. This webinar will provide an overview of common condition issues and best practices for storage and display.

Reducing Environmental Impacts of Collections Care and Management - September 13, 2021

People who protect and care for collections are often concerned about the negative impacts of their work on the environment and climate. Fortunately there are resources and practices that augment what you likely already do to limit waste and save money. And there is social science research to guide us in understanding how to adapt behaviors while remaining positive. We’ll explore a variety of approaches that you can take as an individual to ‘green’ your work, AND we’ll consider steps to take to encourage your institution and your peers to join you in making these shifts. You will learn to know when a green practice is good to try now or better to try later. You’ll leave having created a personalized list of options, tools, and tricks to help you start incorporating approaches on your own.

Choosing Materials for Museum Storage - July 29, 2021

One of the most basic ways we can care for our museum collections is by making sure that their long-term storage is as safe as it can be for the materials in our care. This webinar will introduce a wide variety of potential storage materials and work through the decision-making process of why different materials should be chosen for particular storage applications and collection material type. At the end of the webinar, attendees should feel informed and confident in choosing storage materials for many of the most common types of museum collection materials. Attendees are invited to share examples of specific storage challenges they face.

Identifying and Managing Hazardous Materials In Museum Collections - June 23, 2021

While hazardous materials can be a daunting topic to tackle, it is very possible to not only identify hazards in your own collection, but to also implement straightforward and inexpensive solutions to safely house, store, display and work with these materials. This webinar will take a close look at hazardous materials present in museum collections and how to properly manage their safe storage and handling. It will cover not only the identification of hazards, but also the straightforward steps that can be taken to improve safety and reduce the likelihood of exposure to dangerous substances

Collections Emergency Kits - May 19, 2021

Leaky pipe dripping on your storage shelf? Smoke from a kitchen fire nearby? An earthquake causing objects to topple? Collections emergencies can be large and catastrophic, but also small and less severe. Having a well-stocked and thought-out emergency kit on hand can help mitigate the chronic nuisance of a ceiling drip or buy valuable time when planning a more coordinated response for a larger emergency. In honor of MayDay and the essence of being prepared, we will be discussing all things related to collections emergency kits.

What’s Best for My Collection? New Approaches to Environmental Monitoring - April 20, 2021

Do you keep track of the environment, i.e., temperature and humidity in your institution? Are you using data loggers or hygrothermographs to monitor the help you keep track of environmental changes? Do you really know what to do with the data you’re collecting? Are you doing this just because you are supposed to in order to better care for your collections, but not so sure about the overall benefit? Do you have a variety of collections materials that varying requirements for their optimal environmental conditions and not quite sure how to optimize for the overall needs of your collections? Have you thought that there are better ways to present the findings from your data to others in your institution? Would it be helpful for you to have better ways to understand or tell the story of your institution’s environment and its effect on your collections

REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM): Caring for Your Resources During COVID-19 - March 10, 2021

Amid COVID-19, many archives, libraries and museums are reopening and expanding access to services in their communities. The challenges of reopening during a pandemic have led to many questions about policies for staff, the handling of materials as well as the management of building operations. From allowing the virus to die naturally, to using disinfectants, to applying UV light or heat treatment—there are many options to consider. This webinar features members of the REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project team who will share information about the project, including freely available resources to support local decision-making.

Labeling Lightning Round - February 16, 2021

Have you ever had a question about how to label an object in your collection? Well now is your chance to not only watch short instructional videos on how to label objects but also take part in a live Q&A with the panelists who created the videos!

Care of Basketry - January 19, 2021

Basketry is one of the most ancient cultural traditions and can be found in most heritage collections including historic houses, cultural centers, museums and galleries. Although these objects are universal, the organic components of basketry make them vulnerable to deterioration from physical and environmental factors, especially if they have a history of use. This webinar will review the agents that can damage the baskets in your care, and offer some storage and display solutions using examples from the collections at the Museum of Anthropology UBC. This webinar will also discuss the materials and practice used in the preservation and repair of baskets.

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