Connecting to Expertise

This panel demonstrated numerous ways of reaching out for expert help to save collections. Help can come from a conservator who travels far to visit a collection or from a colleague at a neighboring institution.

Connecting to Expertise was moderated by H.T. Holmes, Director, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, who said, “Hurricane Katrina taught us many lessons, but one of the most important and which is most relevant to our discussion today also, is that one must be vigilant all the time about making and maintaining connections with one’s regional libraries and records repositories and museums and with conservations experts. Because in the case of a disaster, you’ll have no time to begin the process of reaching out to people in institutions who either may need help or may be able to offer you help.”

Conservator Wendy Jessup explained how independent conservators can help collecting institutions with not only treatment but also assessment, planning, and other broad collections care issues. She said, "In almost 20 years of private practice, working exclusively in preventive conservation, most of my work has been with small, collecting institutions. I was tapped for this panel because I represent the independent, individual conservator that is working collaboratively with our clients. And I think it’s really important to stress the word collaboration, because these are your collections. We are your hired—not necessarily paid—assistants, but we do provide you with a lot of guidance and can provide you with a lot of expertise. "

Julie Reilly, Associate Director and Chief Conservator at the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, talked about the Regional Alliance for Preservation (RAP) and the services offered by the fourteen regional conservation centers RAP comprises. She remarked, "I’ve been involved with RAP for a little over eleven years now, and what I find special about the group is that we are truly interested in creating networks to facilitate solutions for the common needs we see in all of our clients."

Julie Page, who coordinates the California Preservation Program, addressed the three key steps in recovering from a disaster: having a disaster plan and staff trained to carry it out; maintaining clear communications with staff, emergency responders, and others; and building relationships with emergency responders before a disaster strikes. She said, "How well you have prepared for the unthinkable to happen will dramatically affect how successful a recovery you have."