Report from PLMS Preservation Education and Outreach Discussion Group

Excerpt from

The ALCTS PLMS Preservation Education and Outreach Discussion Group met during the ALA 1993 Annual Conference, New Orleans, in a discussion moderated by Julie Page, UC San Diego. The topic was "PLMS seeks comments, suggestions, and statements of need in preservation education and outreach, as part of its role in implementing the ALA Preservation Policy." Advance publicity encouraged those interested in instruction/outreach in public, school and academic libraries to attend the meeting.

Most of the meeting focused on a lively discussion of preservation education geared to children in public and school libraries. Cheryl Holland, Washington University, has presented education programs in public and school libraries in St. Louis, including inservice training for 100 school librarians, career fair demonstation for 8th graders on preservation and conservation, classroom and in-library instruction on care and handling of books, and use of videotapes appropriate to various age groups. She noted there is a real lack of video material for junior high ages.

Holland's efforts were enthusiastically endorsed by the attendees and ideas were suggested for turning her one-person campaign into one with nationwide application. The need was seen for:

• aggressive outreach to the American Association of School Libraries (AASL) and PLA, as well as state library and state school library associations to reach librarians who "teach kids"
• development of workshops for school librarians/teachers which can be made available through district educational service centers
• development of career fair information on preservation and conservation with demonstration materials
• preservation tie-in with computer and other media use and lending by school and public libraries
• outreach to Girl and Boy Scouts through their merit badge programs, and to summer reading programs in public libraries
• guidelines for ALA graphics so posters, bookmarks, etc. are not contrary to preservation concerns--e.g., don't show someone in a bathtub reading a book!

Proposals for follow-up activities between now and the Midwinter Meeting include 1) Cheryl Holland and Deborah Austin will draft guidelines for ALA graphics, which will also be applicable to library vendors who produce bookmarks, posters, etc.; 2) Pat Palmer will report on possibilities for Girl and Boy Scout merit badges on preservation and conservation and/or inclusion of these activities in existing badges; and 3) Development of a preservation "promotional kit" and more age- appropriate videos for children. Discussion to continue at Midwinter with possible recommendations to the PLMS Education Committee at that time.

By far the majority of PLMS members are from academic libraries. Sharlane Grant, Arizona State University, pointed out that as academic librarians we should be especially concerned about preservation education for children and young adults. By the time they reach college age they need to have learned the proper care and handling of library materials. With this early "education" perhaps we can begin to turn around the increasing vandalism and lack of concern for shared library materials which we witness daily.

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