Conference on disaster planning

Preparing for the Unexpected:
Protection and Security for Cultural Collections
Philadelphia, PA
May 12-13, 2008

Presented by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Register now.

Cosponsored and Hosted by: University of Pennsylvania Museum of
Archaeology and Anthropology

This two-day program will present information on assessing
vulnerabilities; disaster planning; crisis communication; fire
prevention, detection and suppression strategies; and evaluation and
mitigation of security risks.  In addition there will be interactive
sessions on the "exercising" of disaster plans and on emergency
recovery of paper-based materials.

This program is intended for staff charged with collections care,
including conservators, librarians, archivists, curators,
collections managers, and stewards of historic house museums, and
for staff responsible for the safety of collections, such as site
and facility managers and security and safety staff. To encourage
institutions to register staff involved in both collections care and
safety and security, CCAHA is offering half-price registration to a
second participant from the same institution.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Keynote Address

    From her unique perspective as Vice President for Emergency
    Programs at Heritage Preservation, Jane Long will address the
    value of disaster planning and highlight national programs and
    publications that help staff in cultural institutions organize
    disaster response functions and tackle common threats to
    collections.

Disaster Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness

    This session is designed to help institutions develop effective
    strategies to minimize the likelihood of a disaster, to mitigate
    damage to collections, and to be prepared in the event of an
    emergency. Program participants will learn how to conduct a
    vulnerability analysis and assess risks to their institution and
    its collections. A pocket response plan template will be
    introduced that can be used to compile or update an emergency
    plan, including setting collection priorities, key emergency
    preparedness roles, and practical decision-making skills during
    an emergency.

    Speaker:  Julie Page, Co-Coordinator, California Preservation
    Program (CPP) and User Services, Western States and Territories
    Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS)

Crisis Communication

    The ability to communicate effectively with staff, volunteers,
    patrons and media during an emergency is vital to institutions
    and their collections. This session, presented by a crisis
    communication expert, will provide participants with
    communication strategies to be utilized at the time of an
    emergency and will address the impact of media communication on
    public perception.

    Speaker: Michael Smith, PhD, Director, Graduate Program in
    Professional Communication, Department of Communications, La
    Salle University

Exercising the Plan

    In this interactive session, attendees will learn how to both
    exercise a disaster plan and determine its effectiveness using
    emergency scenarios. Tools for training staff and volunteers in
    the use of an institutional disaster plan will also be covered.

    Session Leader: Julie Page, Co-Coordinator, California
    Preservation Program (CPP) and User Services, Western States and
    Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS)

Recovery of Paper-Based Collections

    In the context of a simulated disaster event, registrants will
    have a hands-on opportunity to learn and practice emergency
    salvage techniques for paper-based materials.  Supplies to have
    on-hand, prioritizing item retrieval, and packing of items to be
    treated off-site or at a later date will be addressed.

    Session Leader: Abby Haywood, Book Conservator, Conservation
    Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Fire Safety: Risk Assessment, Detection, and Suppression

    Assessment and analysis of the hazards and risks faced by an
    institution are critical to making informed decisions on fire
    protection methods. This session will focus on the need to
    review current fire protection procedures and systems in
    historic and cultural institutions and will equip participants
    with current information in order to make decisions about the
    most appropriate systems and methodologies for their own
    institutions.

    Speakers:  Nick Artim, Director, Heritage Protection Group John
    (Jack) M. Watts, Jr., PhD, Director, Fire Safety Institute

Understanding Security Risks

    Without proper security procedures and systems in place,
    cultural institutions face risks to their staff, collections,
    and records. This session will provide participants with tools
    to evaluate their security risks and will include discussion of
    low cost solutions for improving institutional and collections
    security. The importance of technology security for business
    continuity will also be discussed.

    Speaker: Steven R. Keller, CPP, Principal Consultant, Steve
    Keller and Associates, Inc.

The fee for this two-day program is $185 for CCAHA member
institutions and $210 for non-members.  A second registrant from the
same institution, registering at the same time, can register for
$92.50/CCAHA members, $105/non-members.  Registration begins
immediately. Full speaker biographies, program and registration
information are available at
<URL:http://www.ccaha.org/workshop_cal.php>.

For more information, contact the

    Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
    215-545-0163
    pso<-a t->ccaha< . >org

Kim Andrews
Preservation Services Officer
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
264 South 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA  19103
215-545-0613
Fax: 215-735-9313


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:42
                Distributed: Tuesday, February 12, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-42-003
                                  ***