Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates Preservation Week, a time to share events, activities, and resources that highlight the importance of preserving personal and shared collections. As part of this year’s Preservation Week (April 25-May 1), staff from Yale Library's preservation and conservation services are offering a series of talks and demonstrations that spotlight many important aspects of the library’s work. Most are open to the public. Please register at the links below if you’re interested in joining any of the events.
Introduction to Preservation and Conservation Services
Wednesday, April 28, 9:00 am
Join Christine McCarthy, director of Preservation and Conservation Services for a virtual tour of the department’s facilities at 344 Winchester Avenue, New Haven, and an introduction to the department's work and areas of responsibility. Open to the Yale community. Register.
Introducing the Yale Library Emulation Viewer
Wednesday, April 28, 2:00 pm
Join Seth Anderson, Yale Library's software preservation program manager as he introduces the new emulation service for the Yale community. The Yale Library Emulation Viewer makes old CD-ROMs from the library's circulating collection available in recreated computing environments that users can access from their browsers. Open to the public. Register.
The Ongoing Story of the Vinland Map and Related Manuscripts: New Analyses, New Evidence
Thursday, April 29, 11:00 am
The speakers for this panel include Richard Hark, conservation scientist at the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage at Yale; Marie-France Lemay, paper conservator and Paula Zyats, assistant chief conservator from Yale Library's Conservation & Exhibition Services.
The Vinland Map was introduced to the world in 1965, as a newly discovered mid-15th century map of the world, purportedly showing both Greenland and a part of the northeastern coast of the North American continent known as ‘Vinland’. Some viewed this as an exciting revelation that proved the Vikings were the first to reach America at least 50 years before Columbus. Others remained skeptical. Doubt over the map’s authenticity fueled decades of cartographical, historical and scientific research. This presentation will trace the known history of the Vinland Map and its relationship with its seldom mentioned companions, a 15th century copy of a portion of Beauvais’ Speculum Historiale, and a rare copy of a 13th century travelogue, the Hystoria Tartarorum. Multiple analytical and imaging tools were utilized to study the paper, parchment and ink of all three manuscripts allowing new discoveries to be made about the mysterious Vinland Map. Open to the public. Register.
Integrity of Digital Objects: An overview of methods throughout the data life-cycle
Thursday, April 29, 3:00pm
This talk by David Cirella, digital preservation librarian, will provide an overview of digital object fundamentals, failure modes and vulnerabilities in storage and transfer technologies, and the methods implemented to ensure integrity at various points in the data life-cycle. Open to the public. Register.
Box it! Housing Options for Collections
Friday, April 30, 10:00 am
In this presentation, Werner Haun, assistant chief conservator at Yale Library, will highlight the use of the Kasmake (aka Kasey) automated box cutting machine to create custom housings for a wide variety of collection materials. He will also discuss off the shelf products and standard housings employed by Collections Conservation and Housing unit. Open to the Yale community. Register.