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C2C Care Course Monitoring What Matters Part 1: What is Your Building Telling You?

March 25 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

A Three-Part Introductory Course for Environmental Monitoring for Collections of All Sizes

Register for one or all three-parts. Each webinar stands alone, but attending all three provides a complete foundation for developing a sustainable monitoring program tailored to your institution’s needs and resources.

Whether you’re just beginning to think about environmental monitoring or have data loggers gathering dust, this accessible webinar series will help you understand why monitoring matters, how to get started, and what to do with the data you collect. Designed for small museums, historic sites, archives, and anyone caring for collections—no science background required.

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Part 1: What is Your Building Telling You? | The Why of Environmental Monitoring

March 25, 2026 1:00-2:00 pm ET

Presented by Megan Brakob Narvey, Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society

You’re already monitoring. You just might not realize it.

Does your basement smell musty? Is there a persistent leak you manage with a bucket? These observations are the foundation of environmental monitoring, and this webinar helps you understand why they matter for long-term preservation.

You’ll discover:

  • Risk assessment basics: How temperature, humidity, and other factors specifically impact YOUR collection
  • Thinking long-term: Why a 100-year preservation timeframe changes how we evaluate risk
  • Building your advocacy case: Using data to support grants, funding requests, and stakeholder presentations
  • Everyone has a role: Why monitoring isn’t just for conservators—staff, volunteers, and docents all contribute

Real-world impact through case studies:

Learn from institutions that used monitoring data to make critical decisions—from discovering stable storage in unexpected places to identifying mold risks before they became health hazards.

This webinar validates what you already know about your building while giving you the framework to turn observations into actionable preservation strategies. Monitoring isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about understanding your environment so you can make informed decisions.

This webinar is perfect for: small museum staff, historic site managers, archivists, volunteers, and anyone who feels monitoring might be “too technical” for their institution.

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About the Presenter

Megan Brakob Narvey is the Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, where she provides guidance to individuals and local historical organizations on caring for collections big and small across the state of Minnesota. She has an MA in Principles of Conservation and an MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums from University College London, and completed a postgraduate fellowship in objects conservation at the Canadian Conservation Institute. Megan is passionate about sharing conservation expertise with new audiences, and in helping small and mid-size cultural heritage organizations care for their collections. She is a Professional Member of the American Institute for Conservation.

Register for the entire series:

Details

  • Date: March 25
  • Time:
    1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
  • Event Category:

Venue

  • Virtual