For many years, people have kept their precious mementos—letters, photo albums, home movies and paper documents—as a link to their past, and a recognized tradition is to pass along these family treasures to future generations.
In celebration of Preservation Week 2012, April 22-28, the Library of Congress is sponsoring activities to share preservation strategies that help people care for their personal materials—and thereby pass them on.
Preservation Week Events
- Monday, April 23, from noon to 1 p.m., “Film: Investment in the Future:” A 35-minute photofilm (a film made from still images) from the 1980s explains the history of library preservation through the activities of the Library of Congress at that time. With interviews and images from the Library, the film focuses on the value of preserving the Library’s collections for the future. Associate Librarian for Library Services Roberta Shaffer will introduce the film and a discussion will follow the viewing. Dining Room A, on the sixth of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
- Tuesday, April 24, from noon to 1 p.m., “Caring for Your Digital Photos: Strategies to Help You Organize and Save Your Digital Memories:” Increasingly, people create and share photographic memories in digital form. Staff from the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program and the Prints and Photographs Division will provide basic, practical tips for organizing and saving digital photos. Pickford Theater, on the third floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. Download the flyer (125 KB) for this event.
- Tuesday, April 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., “Save Your Digital Stuff: Practical Strategies for Preserving Your Digital Materials:” A majority of the items created today are in digital form. Staff from the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program will provide some basic, practical tips for preserving personal digital collections. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial D.C. Public Library, 901 G St N.W., Washington, D.C. Download the flyers for this event: flyer1 (550KB) and flyer2 (133KB).
- Wednesday, April 25, from noon to 1 p.m., “Caring for Your Books, Documents and Works of Art on Paper, and Photographic Prints:” Conservation specialists from the Preservation Directorate will discuss and demonstrate basic preservation measures one can do at home to care for personal collections. Pickford Theater on the third floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
- Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Webinar. "Saving Cherished Memorabilia: Preservation Tips for Family Historians:" Staff members from the Library's Preservation Directorate and the Local History & Genealogy Reading Room host a free webinar with tips and recommendations for preserving family memorabilia. To participate in this webinar, send an email at least three days prior to the event to Mark Wilson ([email protected]). 'Webinar "seats" are limited and will be filled in the order in which the requests are received.
- Thursday, April 26, at 2 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Webinar: “Preserving Your Personal Digital Photographs:” The National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program will present information about learning to care for digital photos. Hosted by the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services. Free; registration required at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/666813208.
- Saturday, April 28, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., “Save Your Digital Stuff: Practical Strategies for Preserving Your Digital Materials:” Basic, practical tips for preserving personal digital collections. Arlington Country Public Library, Central Branch, 1015 North Quincy St., Arlington. Download the flyers for this event: flyer1 (550KB) and flyer2 (133KB).
- Throughout the month, Young Readers Center Open House: The center will feature lively presentations and a book display introducing aspects of preservation to its young visitors and their families. The Young Readers Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Room G29 on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.
Preservation Week, a joint initiative of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), the Library of Congress and IMLS, encourages libraries and other institutions to connect our communities through events, activities and resources that highlight what we can do, individually and together, to preserve our personal and shared collections. Visit the Preservation Week 2012 website for more information or how you can get involved.
Download the flyers listing the events. Flyer 1 (PDF, 124 KB) and Flyer 2 (PDF, 675 KB)
A full list of national activities can be seen at Preservation Week’s online map and followed on Twitter via @PreservationWk. And if you tweet, don't forget to use the Preservation Week hashtag: #preswk.
