Preserving the Collection: Disaster Planning, Response & Recovery

This lecture series, "Making the Most of Your Assessment", was originally offered in 2019 as a live course, and is now available for free on the AIC/FAIC website as free self-study material. The presenters discuss how to conduct a general preservation assessment, and how to use that assessment to work toward funding goals and creating a preservation plan for your collection. https://learning.culturalheritage.org/products/making-the-most-of-your-assessment#tab-product_tab_overview

This NPR article discusses the research of a group of scientists who studied the long-term effects of wildfire smoke with data from California between 2008-2018. It provides advice for people in high-risk groups, such as pregnant women, children, and people with chronic lung conditions. https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/07/26/nx-s1-5049828/wildfire-smoke-health-risks-safety-air-quality-index

When temperatures drop, some pests, like rodents, may try to find a way into your nice, warm building, and the effects may not be noticeable right away. Monitoring for pest activity is essential, and if you find yourself in the middle of an infestation, be sure to hire a reputable pest control professional. Museumpests.net has a great page of resources: https://museumpests.net/mice-and-rats/

The 1966 flood of the Arno River had a devastating effect on the city of Florence and its people. It also had a huge and lasting effect on the field of conservation, and on disaster planning and recovery. In 2015, the University of Michigan held a symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the event, and the proceedings are were published and are currently available to read for free online at the link below. We would like to call particular attention to the section titled "Theme Panel: Disaster Preparedness and Response" which provides an interesting look at the effect of the flood on the development of emergency response. Flood in Florence, 1966: A Fifty-Year Retrospective - https://www.fulcrum.org/concern/monographs/08612q99n