Preservation education of staff and users was given high priority at UC San
Diego by the Preservation Program Task Force. The Preservation Librarian and
the Associate University Librarian (AUL) for Collections developed a 1-1/2 hour
preservation orientation session which all library staff, including librarians,
are required to attend. Attendance at the sessions fulfills a new "Skills
and Knowledge" requirement added to most staff job descriptions. As of
Fall 2001, over 500 staff and student employees have attended a session which
are presented annually, or as needed to accomodate new staff.
A videotape of the 2001 training session is available
for purchase from the UCSD Preservation Department.
The focus for the orientation sessions is the role and responsibility of each staff member in the UCSD Libraries Preservation Program. An overview of the Preservation Program, collections, and types of materials is presented, and the "natural enemies" of materials (e.g. heat, moisture) and "human abuse" (e.g. photocopying, book returns) are discussed. Sessions are informal and participatory, with table displays and handouts. Staff awareness of preservation issues is enhanced, which lays the groundwork for preservation education of library users.
In 1990, the UCSD Libraries endorsed the preservation training program, as outlined below, for all library staff. The orientation sessions were co-presented by the Preservation Librarian, Julie Page, and the Associate University Librarian for Collections, George Soete. Since 1994, the preservation librarian and the heads of the Acquisitions Department or Special Collections have conducted the training.
All staff members are required to attend a session. As a means of reinforcing the importance of preservation, there are two statements in staff job descriptions indicating their responsibility for preservation:
- "Handles all library materials according to accepted library preservation practices as presented in library training sessions."
- "General knowledge of library preservation principles."
For additional information on this training program, see "Preservation Orientation for Library Staff," C&RL News 55, no. 6 (June 1994):358-360.
Audience: All full time and part-time staff.
Frequency: Quarterly until all staff have participated. Annually or semi-annually
for new staff and as needed for "refresher".
Length of presentation: One and one-half hours.
Content: As outlined, with frequent use of actual examples and display of
materials..
Handout: Care of the Library Collections: Your
Role as Library Staff
I. Introduction
A. Objective of the orientation program is to increase awareness of preservation issues
and suggest actual techniques to employ.
B. The value of our collections is intellectual, cultural, and monetary.
II. The Nature of Library Materials:
They are both durable and fragile. Treated well, they will last a long time.
A. Natural enemies
B. Human abuse
III. What UCSD is Doing in its Preservation Program
A. The Library's Preservation Program
B. Your part in the Preservation Program - you have control over these preservation
actions
C. Additional ways you can assist the Preservation Program
Return to Preservation Guidelines.