Category Archives: FAIC

Preparedness for Hurricane Isaias

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As received from the Emergency Programs Coordinator at the American Institute for Conservation/Foundation for Advancement in Conservation:

Hurricane Isaias’ path is very uncertain and the storm may intensify, so we urge all those on the East Coast potentially impacted by the storm to take precautions and prepare now. It’s also important to consider how COVID-19 may impact your emergency plans. You can find resources on personal preparedness here: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
Cultural heritage institutions, the National Heritage Responders are available 24/7 for remote assistance: 202-661-8068. Please share the hotline information with colleagues in potentially impacted areas. NHR also offers tip sheets on response and recovery: https://bit.ly/2zbMLbi

In particular, take the time to review your plan now, before an emergency happens. If you don’t have a plan, please review the guidelines for personal protection and emergency planning on the Department of Homeland Security website:

Make A Plan (DHS website)

For your institution and collections, start exploring tips and streamlined guidelines on

AIC/FAIC Risk Evaluation and Planning Program

Stay safe!

Workshop Postponed to Spring 2021

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In light of the worldwide response to the COVID-19 virus and the possibility of TAMU restricting gatherings on their campus, the TX-CERA Board has made the decision to

postpone till Spring 2021 our April 17th, 2020 workshop
“Recovery and Salvage of Fire Damaged Cultural Collections.”  

We regret this change in planning, but we think it’s necessary to support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the health and safety of our participants, volunteers, and their communities.

Date and details will be announced.

Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe.

FAIC’s Emergency Response & Salvage Wheel

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The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) offers a tool to guide responders to an emergency that affects our cultural heritage. In case of an emergency, the most important action is to stabilize the artifacts to avoid further damage until they could be properly treated by a conservator.

A very useful tool to guide the first responders is the FAIC’s Emergency Response & Salvage Wheel. The two-sided-wheel lists on one side the steps of the emergency response, on the other side the appropriate action to stabilize 9 types of artifacts.

The cost is $10 ($5 if you buy 10 or more).
https://store.culturalheritage.org/site/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=FAIC-1

Emergency Response & Salvage Wheel from FAIC website

After stabilizing the artifacts, do not attempt treatment. It is very important that you contact an experienced conservator.
For a list of Professional Associates and Fellows of the American Institute for Conservation, please visit:
https://www.culturalheritage.org/membership/find-a-conservator

Before pests become an emergency…

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Two important websites to guide you in understanding how to prevent infestations or control and eliminate pests once they’ve unintentionally entered your collection.

  1. The MuseumPests Working Group was formed by collection managers, conservators, entomologists and other professionals for the implementation of integrated pest management in museums, libraries, archives, and other collection-holding institutions: https://museumpests.net/
    Main sections:

2.  What’s Eating Your Collection is a website by the Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery dedicated to integrated pest management with guidance to its implementation and to the identification of the insects that you may find with recommendations in case you need to take action.
http://www.whatseatingyourcollection.com/
(Note: this website requires Flash)

July 9 Free Webinar on HVAC

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The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) is offering a series of webinars through its Connecting to Collection Care program.

On July 9, 2 – 3:30 pm (EDT) the topic will be temperature and humidity control through heating, ventilation and air conditioning.  If you are considering upgrading your system or would like to gain a better understanding of the parameters you can modify to optimize your existing system, follow the link for additional information and to register:

HVAC Installation, Renovation, and Collections Environments – An Introduction

Discussion will include an introduction to updates in the 2019 American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Handbook – Applications, Chapter 24: Museums, Galleries, Archives, and Libraries.