Speakers & Panelists | Videos | Exhibits | Calendar

Have you ever wondered why newspapers turn yellow so quickly, or what you could be doing to preserve those family papers and photographs sitting in a shoebox in your attic? Are you curious about what libraries and archives are doing to preserve their paper-based and electronic collections? Participants were invited to come find out at the Smith College Libraries' Preservation Awareness Week, which took place March 29 - April 1, 1999 at Neilson Library. All events were free and open to the Five College community and to the general public.

Through a series of workshops, films, panel discussions, demonstrations and exhibits, this four-day program addressed the care and handling of personal and library collections. The calendar of week's events kicked off with an open house and book clinic, featuring demonstrations by and consultations with professional bookbinders and Smith College archivists. The public was encouraged to bring books, photographs and family papers to receive free advice on their care and storage.

Guest speaker Jane Hedberg '69, Preservation Librarian at Wellesley College, addressed the role of preservation in the overall misssion of libraries. Later in the week, Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, Preservation Specialist at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, discussed disaster preparedness and library security. For more information, contact Lisa Clark, Book Repair Technician, by e-mail at eclark@smith.edu or by telephone at (413) 585-2928.