As Philadelphia enters the Yellow Phase of the pandemic response plan, CCAHA is reopening today. Last week, a limited group of CCAHA staff were in the lab to prepare for the reopening in a way that ensures the safety of both our staff and clients. Throughout the shutdown, our building has remained safe and secure, and we look forward to accepting new materials in early July. You can read our complete update at ccaha.org/news .

Moving forward, the entire CCAHA staff remains available by email to answer your questions and discuss new and ongoing projects. We look forward to returning to the lab and continuing to serve you.
Resource Spotlight: Re-entering a Collection that was Closed by Covid-19

Last month, we shared a new resource on our website and social media compiled by CCAHA staff to help guide collecting institutions in reopening after an emergency closure. As more institutions across the country reopen this month after closures due to Covid-19, we wanted to share it again. Click here to download a PDF of this resource. View this and other Covid-19 resources on our Guides & Fact Sheets page.
New Webinar Series: Digitization 101

This month, CCAHA Manager of Digital Imaging Maggie Downing introduces Digitization 101 , a series of free webinars that highlight specific topics related to digitization project planning and completion. The first installment is Tuesday, June 23 , with a total of six sessions presented on Tuesdays in June and July. Learn more and register for upcoming sessions at ccaha.org/events or in our list of Upcoming Programs below.

Topics in the series will include prioritization of collections, metadata and file specifications, equipment selection, and more. Each webinar is intended to be 15-20 minutes. Sessions are recorded in order to be viewed as a series or according to specific subject relevant to you.
CCAHA Preservation Services Offers Remote Office Hours Through June

Date: Thursdays through June
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM (ET)
Contact: (484) 854-3420

Do you have questions about starting a preservation project while working at home or social distancing from your staff? Or a conservation concern during physical distance from your collections? If you have limited access at this time to email or the internet, or prefer a conversation with a CCAHA staff person, phone call-in office hours are available with CCAHA Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant Stephenie Schwartz Bailey , who can answer questions, refer you to educational resources, and connect you to other CCAHA staff as necessary.
Funding Opportunities: NEA and NEH

The second cycle of Grants for Arts Projects funding is currently open. The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting museum activity that demonstrates exceptional aesthetic investigation and meaningful community engagement. The nation's museums face a tall and challenging order, increasingly called upon to be civic anchors, community gathering places, and stewards of our most prized artistic and cultural heritage. Cost share/matching grants for museums will generally range from $10,000 to $100,000.

Deadline: Thursday, July 9

The NEH Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, use the previous guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.

Deadline: Wednesday, July 15, 2020


Thinking about applying for a project involving CCAHA? Email  Lee Price, Director of Development , to get started.
Upcoming Programs
At CCAHA, we understand that the COVID-19 crisis is causing many individuals and cultural institutions financial hardship. We're committed to making all of our online programming free during this time in order to ensure that you have access to valuable information, helpful resources, and opportunities to develop and grow, no matter your circumstances.
WEBINAR
Caring for Archives
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 12:00 PM MT (2:00 PM ET)
Presenter: A lan Barnett, Local Government Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service

In this webinar, Alan Barnett , Local Government Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service, will present on the fundamental principles of managing archival materials. Content will be geared toward training staff of museums and other institutions for whom archival collections may be an important but secondary function of the institution. The course will cover the function of archives, basic archival principles, organizing and housing materials, and providing access to materials.

Our Regional Heritage Stewardship Program (RHSP) brings vital preservation services to three regions of the country:
  • The Intermountain West: Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico
  • Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
  • The Deep South: Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities , RHSP was created in consultation with the American Association for State and Local History, which helped identify these regions as areas with limited access to conservators and preservation expertise. financial considerations.
WEBINAR SERIES
Digitization 101
Dates: Tuesdays in June and July, starting June 23
Presenter: Maggie Downing, Manager of Digital Imaging, CCAHA

Digitization 101 is a series of focused webinars that highlight specific topics related to digitization project planning and completion. Topics include prioritization of collections, metadata and file specifications, equipment selection, and more. Each webinar is intended to be 15-20 minutes and presented weekly through July (registration required). Sessions are recorded in order to be viewed as a series or according to specific subject relevant to you.

Digitization 101: Prioritization of Collections
Date: Tuesday, June 23
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The first webinar of Digitization 101 introduces prioritizing material for digitization, one of the first steps of a digitization program. This discussion helps this task feel less overwhelming and more manageable. Additionally, identification and selection of collections for digitization can assist with potential grant funding and advocacy.
Digitization 101: File Storage for Digitization
Date: Tuesday, June 30
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The second webinar of Digitization 101 focuses on digital file storage. It’s important to understand how to store and maintain files before investing time and funding to digitize collections. Discussion includes file storage best practices, types of file storage, and tips on how to estimate how much (server space? not to be confused with storage or processing space...) space you’ll need.
Digitization 101: File Specifications for Digitization
Date: Tuesday, July 7
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The third webinar of Digitization 101 discusses best practices in deciding specifications for master and derivative files. This session covers specifications including file types, image resolution, bit depth, color space, cropping, and file naming for a variety of archival materials.
Digitization 101: Metadata for Digitization
Date: Tuesday, July 14
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The fourth webinar of Digitization 101 provides an overview of metadata practices for digitization projects. This discussion reviews different types of metadata and ways to associate this important information with your digital files.
Digitization 101: In-House vs Outsourcing and Quality Control
Date: Tuesday, July 21
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The fifth webinar in Digitization 101 combines two related topics: Determining where to conduct your digitization project and maintaining quality control. This session discusses the pros and cons of digitizing in-house at your institution vs. outsourcing the project, what to look for in a vendor, and how to establish a quality control program.
Digitization 101: Equipment Selection
Date: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 2:00 PM ET

The sixth webinar in Digitization 101 reviews various types of digitization equipment and how to select tools that balance the needs of your materials, staff expertise, and budget.
WEBINAR
Integrated Pest Management
Date: Thursday, July 16
Time: 12:00 PM MT (2:00 PM ET)
Presenter: Emma Ziraldo, NEH Preventive Conservation Fellow, CCAHA

Identifying museum pest species and the risks they pose to collections is an essential component in protecting environments and detecting materials damage. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a preventive method of control that utilizes careful observation and monitoring to keep pests away from your institution.

Join Emma Ziraldo for this free webinar. She will offer recommendations for developing an IPM plan in museums, galleries, libraries, and archives and address pest identification, monitoring and eradication treatments.

Our Regional Heritage Stewardship Program (RHSP) brings vital preservation services to three regions of the country:
  • The Intermountain West: Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico
  • Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
  • The Deep South: Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities , RHSP was created in consultation with the American Association for State and Local History, which helped identify these regions as areas with limited access to conservators and preservation expertise. financial considerations.
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) Program Updates

The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education contracts with CCAHA to deliver statewide services supporting organizations that safeguard New York's historical documents and library research materials.

Join DHPSNY on Monday, June 22, for the webinar Common Collection Conditions: Assessing the Condition of Your Collection's Housing. In this third presentation of the series, CCAHA Housing Technician Benjamin Iluzada will discuss common housing issues found within an institution's collection, as well as recommendations for how to address them both in-house and externally. Learn more and register at dhpsny.org/webinars.
Founded in 1977, the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a one-stop shop for every conservation and preservation need. CCAHA specializes in the treatment of works on paper, photographs, and books, as well as state-of-the-art digital imaging services. CCAHA’s preservation services staff present education programs and conduct preservation assessments nationwide. CCAHA also offers conservation fellowships, fundraising support, disaster assistance, and more.
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