Preservation Needs Assessment

FAIN: PG-50095-07

Wethersfield Public Library (Wethersfield, CT 06109-2216)
Pamela Jean Kelly (Project Director: May 2006 to March 2010)

A preservation assessment of monographs, periodicals, photographs, microfilm, pamphlets, and other archival materials relating to the history of Wethersfield, one of the oldest towns in Connecticut.

Wethersfield Public Library will hire a preservation consultant to survey its local history collections. The consultant will assess possible risks to the collections from building- and environment-related problems, identify fire protection and security concerns, evaluate the library's policies and procedures for preservation, review the existing collection maintenance program, provide recommendations for improving storage and handling of local history material, and review the general condition of the library's paper-based material. The consultant will provide recommendations addressing these issues. Wethersfield Library has not had any preservation assessment of its collection and has no preservation plan or policy in place. This project is important and will enable the library to plan and budget for short-, mid-, and long-range preservation goals, which will ensure that the materials in the collection will continue to be available to all people.