Geological materials can not only be found in many collections managed by small and mid-sized institutions, but are also complex objects that can span a huge range of sizes, characteristics, values, environmental sensitivities, and other preventive conservation concerns. Too often they do not receive the care they merit because of an assumption that they are…

Does the building that houses your collections have temperature and humidity sensors that are read and maintained by facilities or HVAC professionals? Do you have a separate environmental monitoring system and have you ever had to seek agreement on sensors with vastly different readings? This presentation will go into some reasons why it is important…

When it’s time to show off and present your institution’s amazing collections care accomplishments the formats seem endless. Should you aim for a 1-hour lecture or a 10-minute video? Your answer can make all the difference on how effectively your message is received and how efficiently you spend your time. Is this due to advances…

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) On-Site Consultation Program is a no-cost service that operates in all U.S. states where consultants visit work sites at employers’ requests to identify hazards, help develop and maintain effective health and safety programs, and provide training. Consultants are independent of OSHA enforcement activities and will not report hazards…

On July 10th, 2023, after weeks of inclement weather, it began to rain across Vermont.  The saturated ground could not absorb the water from the sky or the rivers, and there was widespread flooding. The Vermont Arts & Culture Disaster and Resilience Network (VACDaRN), organized in 2018, activated and provided assistance to several cultural heritage…

Earthquakes can be devastating to building structures and their contents for small and mid-sized institutions, resulting in extended recovery periods based on accessibility and structural reinforcement, and they affect numerous regions throughout the United States. During this webinar, part of AIC’s MayDay programming, experts will explain the science behind these natural phenomena, helping attendees understand…

Aiming to provide collections care professionals from small and mid sized institutions with practical strategies for effectively managing and preserving film and glass negatives, this webinar will emphasize pragmatic advice, resourceful solutions, and cost-effective measures to ensure the longevity and integrity of these valuable collections. Throughout the webinar, essential practices for the care of film…

Has your cultural institution hosted late night events with food and drink? Filmed TV or movie productions? Or perhaps had a motorcycle drive through the building that exhibit or store collections. Safeguarding collections can be a difficult task and determining which risks should be prioritized for mitigation is never easy. Compounding this, it’s becoming more…

What are Islamicate or Islamic Collections and how do we care for them within collecting institutions/ as collection care professionals? The answers are neither singular nor simple, including the vocabulary used to describe these collections. These collections can encompass the sacred and the secular, the utilitarian and the venerated, and multi-religious, multicultural and multiethnic landscapes.…

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the mental health movement in the workplace has been growing for several years. Beginning in 2022, AIC’s Health and Safety (H&S) Network has been working to better understand the mental stresses conservators face in the workplace and developing resources that meet the needs of the community. In…

Grooved audio media, such as wax cylinders, shellac discs, and vinyl records, can be found in many archival and museum collections at small and mid-sized institutions, often featuring significant historical moments and cultural expressions. However, these materials can be vulnerable to damage and deterioration if not properly cared for. In this webinar, we will explore…

Increasing awareness among museums, institutions, and tribal communities about the potential risks of pesticide contamination residues on cultural heritage collections is critical, especially with increasing Indigenous involvement in collection care and the formal repatriation of cultural heritage to Native communities. This webinar will include an overview, case studies, panel discussion, and an opportunity for participants…

Newspapers show up in almost every collection in some form or another: folded, bound, clipped, scrapbooked, or even used in artworks! At the same time, they are incredibly fragile, prone to disintegrating over time. How do we even begin approaching their preservation? This webinar will give you a place to start, explaining the reasons why…

Providing a safe environment for collections is one of the key tenets of preservation. This is because temperature and moisture have a direct impact on the condition of collections. Cultural institutions are often advised to collect temperature and relative humidity data to monitor the environment. The collection phase of this process is easy. Managing the…