‘Basics of Managing Museum Archives’ Workshops Planned in Montrose

Submitted Article 

The Endless Mountains Heritage Region and Lione Heritage Consulting, LLC are teaming up to conduct a series of workshops geared toward educating historical organizations and entities in Susquehanna County about the proper care and storage of historic artifacts and documents.

This three-part series of courses, known as “Caring for Collections – the Basics of Managing Museum Objects and Archives,” will provide training to staff and volunteers who work for various museums, historical societies and historic sites across the county, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools necessary to keep their priceless artifacts, documents and relics alive.

Each participant will receive guidance, training materials, and hands-on instruction on the proper documentation, handling, packaging and storing of heritage objects. Those participants who complete all three workshop sessions will also receive a “starter kit” of archival materials they can use to apply safeguards to the collections in their respective organizations.

The workshops will be held at the Susquehanna County Library in Montrose. The first workshop will be held on Saturday, March 26 and include information about general museum management and risk assessment, and begin the lessons on the handling, packaging, and storing of collections items. The second, scheduled for Saturday, April 9, will continue the topics from the first session. The third and final workshop on Saturday, April 23 will pertain to the documentation and cataloging of objects and archives. It will conclude with a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions about specific items and projects. In the event of inclement weather, an alternate date of Saturday, April 30 has also been scheduled. Each workshop will be held from 10 am to 3 pm, and lunch will be provided.

The cost for all three workshops is $25 per person (Organizations are welcome to register for the full series and have different representatives attend each session). Registrations for individual workshop sessions are available at $10 per person. Those interested can register online at emheritage.org/events or call the EMHR office at (570) 265-1528. Interested parties can also register by sending an email to cchamberlin@emheritage.org. Space is limited, so early registration is suggested.

The “Caring for Collections – the Basics of Managing Museum Objects and Archives” workshops have been funded in part by a Susquehanna County Marcellus Legacy Fund Grant, the Brooklyn Historical Society, and the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust.

Please note that these workshops are for Susquehanna County-based organizations only. The EMHR hopes this pilot program will be successful enough to bring to our other three counties in the future.

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