There is still time to register for this full day workshop on the care, handling, storage, and exhibition of paintings and fine art with Montserat LeMense, paintings conservator at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center.  The workshop will be held at the Connecticut Historical Society and all participants will have an opportunity to visit their new, state-of-the-art paintings storage area.  Registration is $15 and includes morning refreshments, lunch and resource materials.  The workshop is from 10:00am-3:00pm.  Please email Sandy Elgee at sandy@clho.org.

Conservation ConneCTion is partnering with the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) to present the Connecting to Collections Workshop Series: Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Workshop, which will give cultural institutions the tools and training for disaster planning and response.  This three-part workshop series, led by NEDCC preservation services staff, is designed for staff and volunteers at museums, historical societies, libraries, and archives.  This workshop series is funded through an Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collection’s implementation grant.

Conservation ConneCTion is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a 2010 Institute of Museum and Library Services Connecting to Collection’s implementation grant. Connecticut is one of only five states to receive funding.

As part of this grant Conservation ConneCTion will present two workshop series, one on disaster planning and response and the other on the care and storage of historic collections. These topics were identified as high priorities by Conservation ConneCTion’s statewide survey (2009).

The Connecting to Collections Workshop Series: Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Workshop will be presented in collaboration with preservation service staff from the Northeast Document Conservation Center. As part of this three-part series

Conservation ConneCTion and the Connecticut State Historic Records Advisory Board are pleased to announce that four preservation professionals have been hired to conduct the on-site assessments as part of the Archival Assesment Program. These assessors are extremely well qualified and bring a wealth of  knowledge and experience to this project.

The four assessors are:

Sixty-one museums, historical societies and public libraries with local history collections have been selected to participate in the Archival Assessment Program. This program is funded by the National Historic Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC) and was awarded to the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board, in collaboration with Conservation ConneCTion. Participating institutions will receive at no cost, on-site assessments of their archival collections by a preservation professional. Assessors will spend a half day on-site reviewing how the archival collection is cared for and managed. The assessors will provide a short report on their
observations and recommendations which will serve as a planning tool for the long-term care and conservation of the archival collection.

The participating institutions include:

Amity and Woodbridge Historical Society
Archbishop O’Brien Library
Avery Copp House
Bristol Public Library
Buley Library, SCSU

Thank you to all the institutions and their staff members and volunteers who completed the "Connecting to Collections Statewide Survey" this year. Of 600 museums, libraries, historical socities and archives in Connecticut we received responses from 151! Your responses have already helped us develop programs and workshops that will be funded by future grants and bring you the assistance you requested.

If you have not yet responded to the survey, we still want to hear from you. Please follow the link provided. Connecting to Collections Statewide Survey.

Participants Needed for Archival Assessment Program – 60 museums and historical societies will receive on-site surveys of their archival collections at no cost!  Conservation ConneCTion is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for museums and historical societies in Connecticut with archival collections. The National Historic Publications & Records Commission (NHPRC) has awarded the Connecticut State Library, on behalf of the Connecticut State Historical Records Advisory Board a grant for a pilot program, which will provide on-site archival collection surveys to 60 museums and historical societies in Connecticut at no cost to the participating institutions. This grant project is being done in collaboration with Conservation ConneCTion.

Thank you to everyone who completed Conservation ConneCTion's Connecting to Collections statewide survey.  Your responses are helping us develop programs and outreach to assist the museum and library communities in caring for their collections.  If you have not filled out the survey, we still want to hear from you.  Your information is important to us.  Please  take the online survey!