Dates: Part 1 - Monday, March 27th, 2023 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Part 2 - Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Outline:
These two half-day on-line presentations will touch on the basic practices of preserving physical archive material. Part of managing an archive involves providing, to the best of your ability, a safe, secure space for the records with appropriate care and handling procedures and storage methods to prevent deterioration or irreparable damage. Subjects of storage and handling, maintaining a proper environment (Temperature, Relative Humidity Light and Air Quality) as well as the overall assessing needs and prioritizing to consider when pondering a preservation plan.
The subjects may vary depending on questions raised. Downloadable resources will be included for participants.

Format:
This workshop will be presented in an online format using Zoom Videoconferencing. Participants will be provided with a link and workshop materials a few days before the session.

Target Audience:
Any person working in an institution that may need help identifying and preserving a broad range of archival materials; has concerns about recognizing the agents of deterioration and wishes to learn about mechanisms of preserving the material.

Instructor:
Iona McCraith, Heritage Consultant

Upon completion of her undergraduate studies in anthropology and art history at York University in Toronto, Ms. McCraith completed a three year program to train as a conservator at Algonquin College, Ottawa. This was followed by a one year internship at the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa, where she focused on paper conservation. She also has a certificate from the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles in Care of Historic Photographs and a certificate in Preventive Conservation from ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) in Rome.

Iona held the positions of Conservator for the City of Toronto Records and Archives Division (1983 -1991) and Head Conservator at the Archives of Ontario (1991 – 1999). She also was on the faculty of George Brown College, Toronto and Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough for several years, teaching courses in archival conservation and preservation management.

Since 2000 Iona McCraith has maintained a private practice as a heritage consultant and archival materials conservator for governments, private sector corporations, non-profit organizations, heritage institutions and private collectors. During this time until 2022 she also worked part time for the Archives Association of Ontario, first as the Preservation Advisor, then as Archives Advisor.

In 2022 Iona was the recipient of the Alexander Fraser Award from the Archives Association of Ontario, presented for significant cumulative contributions to the advancement of the archival community in Ontario.

Minimum # Attendees: 10 Maximum # Attendees: 25 (Due to bandwidth)