Preservation

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRESERVATION WORKING GROUP
DeWitt Wallace Library, Macalester College

In 1993, Macalester College agreed to send a library staff member to the 10 day seminar, "Preservation Management for College Libraries," sponsored by the Commission on Preservation and Access. By 1994, preservation responsibilities were added to the Serials Supervisor position. The Disaster Committee was established and a library disaster response plan was developed in 1995 with the assistance of the college Safety Office. The committee's goals were twofold: to develop a plan of action for responding to emergencies and stabilizing the Library after a disaster; and to compile and describe methods and equipment for recovery of library items. The original committee members were Gail Caligiuri, Terri Fishel, Ron Joslin, and Dani Roach, Chair.

The Disaster Committee became the Preservation Interest Committee in 1998, and in 2002 became the Preservation Working Group. The current members are: Joe Dolson, Janet Sietmann, and Dani Roach, Chair. While the name of, and membership of the library committee have changed over the years, the focus has always been on preservation-related issues for our college's Library.

Over the years, PWG has addressed and promoted awareness of preservation issues through the following initiatives and user education campaigns:

• Create, revise and maintain the Library Disaster Response plan (hotlink)

• Conduct annual review of disaster prevention strategies, e.g. inspect ReactPacs, update phone lists, etc.

• Create and maintain a notebook of Materials Safety Data Sheets for hazardous materials in the library

• Initiate and maintain an on-call emergency response staff rotation

• Initiate collection of, and update, library staff emergency contact information

• Test library public address system for audibility throughout entire library

• Develop, market, and revise library food and drink policies

• Promote user and staff awareness of preservation issues

• Provide training for new library student workers

• Provide incoming first-year students with library approved beverage containers

• Develop library preservation website and resource database

• Purchase supplies relating to preservation efforts, such as plastic sheeting for emergencies and oversized bookends

• Establish "super oversized" collection for library materials needing horizontal shelving

• Cooperate with and serve as a resource to library staff and other campus personnel on preservation related matters

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