Caring for modern and contemporary collections is a continually evolving challenge. The 20 ^th and 21 ^st centuries presented a vast array of new materials which have left collections staff in uncharted territory as they address unprecedented preservation problems. Colors change and fade, structures lose their integrity, and material components become obsolete. Libraries, museums, archives, and other collecting institutions must understand the long-term preservation needs of these items in order to determine appropriate priorities for conservation, storage, exhibition, documentation, and digitization. This two-day conference will explore ways to anticipate, plan for, and address preservation concerns in modern and contemporary collections.

This program is intended for collections care staff responsible for modern and contemporary materials in museums, libraries, and archives.

The Center for Jewish History

 15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

Center for Jewish History and partner collections span a thousand years, with tens of millions of archival documents (in dozens of languages and alphabet systems), more than 500,000 volumes, as well as thousands of artworks, textiles, ritual objects, recordings, films, and photographs. The Center’s experts are leaders in unlocking archival material for a wide audience through the latest practices in digitization, library science, and public education. As one of the world’s foremost research institutions, the Center offers academic fellowships , symposia, conferences and lectures as well as a wide array of cultural, educational and genealogy programs for the public.