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Education Background:
Masters in Museum Studies from Cooperstown Graduate Program, BA in History from George Mason University
What was your professional background before your current position?
I worked primarily in retail, mostly CVS while going to school. I also interned at the National Anthropological Archives and GMU's Special Collections.
Describe your current position and what do you like best about it:
I am currently the Archives and Collections Manager for the Chenango County Historical Society in Norwich, NY. I work with our collections for everything from cataloguing and describing to accessions and deaccessions, and everything in-between. I also assist with exhibits when needed. What I like best is getting to discover the stories hidden in our possessions.
What has been your biggest professional challenge?
Prior to me starting, CCHS had not had a full time Collections Manager for a long time, so trying to work through the various projects has been a challenge, especially starting on the heels of the pandemic.
Have you seen any shifts towards sustainability in the workplace that you think would be useful in other libraries or institutions?
We are slowly starting to improve our sustainability, but as a small organization, we're starting small. Archival products are expensive, so we've been trying to reuse boxes and folders when they are clean.
How are you supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in your work environment?
We have been trying to highlight the stories of Chenango County's underserved communities in our new exhibits. This usually takes the form of expanding the scope of our exhibits so we can tell more of the story. Our digitization efforts also help with this as we can greatly expand the accessibility of our holdings.
What other organizations are you involved with?
I am a member of the Chenango Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association. I also have been a member of the Association of Public Historians of New York State.
What advice would you give to someone new to the field?
Don't be afraid to ask questions!
Are there any tips you would like to share that help you get things done?
If you're feeling overwhelmed, it can help to spread your tasks throughout the day, rather than cramming just one thing.
Favorite web tools or websites:
Graphics Atlas (http://www.graphicsatlas.org/)- great for identifying types of photographs.
What are you most proud of?
Helping people to find their stories in our shared history.
What is one thing you would you like to learn?
I've been wanting to learn bookbinding for a while. I'd also like to improve my sewing ability.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Going to see 'Weird Al' Yankovic in concert!
Thank you Zac!
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