Spring 2010

Table Of Contents
Registration Now Open! NNYLN Archival Conference
Archival Conference Guest Speaker Ward
The Network Is Interested In Microfilm Collections
Scanning Projects On The Rise At NNYLN
North Country Digital History 2.0
NYA Conference To Be Held In June

Registration Now Open! NNYLN Archival Conference

The Northern New York Library Network will be hosting its first-ever North Country Archival Conference on Friday, April 9, 2010 at the Cheel Center, Clarkson University, Potsdam. This one-day event will give archival, museum, historical, and library personnel an opportunity to get caught up on what’s going on in their fields.

The conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run through 3:00 p.m. Topics to be addressed include:

The Basics of Planning a Digitization Project - This session will help participants think through project planning--from choosing the items or collection to be digitized, conceiving a final product, providing the basics of planning, and choosing staff and equipment and executing a project. The presenter will be Suzanne Preate, Syracuse University.

Managing Maps and Plans - This session will assist organizations having problems dealing with large-format records like maps and architectural plans. The storage and retrieval of these records is often less than perfect, even though many of these records have long retention periods and are essential to the running of the organization. The session will also discuss modern electronic systems (GIS and CADD) that produce maps and plans, and will touch on preservation issues related to them. The presenter will be Dennis Meadows, NYS Archives.

Chartering - This presentation will include discussion of the types of charters organizations achieve, the standards that apply, what must be done to maintain the charter, how to apply and more. There will be time for questions, so be sure to bring yours. The presenter will be David Palmquist, Program Manager, Chartering Program, New York State Museum.

The Documentary Heritage Program & North Country Digital History 2.0 - This session will present information on the local Documentary Heritage Program, including the use of consultative visits, and the Network’s North Country Digital History digitization project.

The luncheon speaker will be Christine Ward, New York State Archivist and Assistant Commissioner of Education for Archives and Records. She will discuss Preserving New York's Archival Heritage: the State Archives, DHP and Federal Initiatives. (Learn more about Ms. Ward in the following story.)

How Will They Find Us If They Don't Know We're Here? or Promoting Your Archives, Archival Projects and Programs - Participants will explore methods that archivists can use to promote and market their collections, programs and services to an ever-expanding globally connected community. The presenter will be Mary Gladwin, Archivist, Ontario Association of Archivists.

The fee is $10.00 for all attendees, and lunch will be provided. To sign up, go online to www.nnyln.org and click on "Classes," or call 315-265-1119.

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Archival Conference Guest Speaker Ward

Christine Ward is the New York State Archivist and Assistant Commissioner of Education for Archives and Records. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of the New York Archives Partnership Trust, the fundraising arm of the Archives.

Throughout her career, Ms. Ward has published and lectured extensively on topics concerning the archives profession and has provided expert advice to organizations around the country on the management of preservation programs and administration and strategic development for cultural organizations.

As State Archivist, Ms. Ward is an ex-officio trustee of the Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York and the New York Freedom Trail Commission and serves as Historical Records Coordinator for the State of New York.

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The Network Is Interested In Microfilm Collections

Does your archive have material on microfilm?

Microfilm is a fine archival medium, but access to the material on the film can be a problem. New technology allows the microfilm to be scanned into digital format for easier use. Once it has been scanned, users often prefer viewing the digital images rather than the filmed copy.

Any institution interested in converting some of its microfilmed material to digital images is asked to let the NNY Library Network know what you have. The Network will respond and explain the options available.

Please fill out the following form and send it to Tom Blauvelt by faxing: 315-265-1881, emailing: blauvelt@nnyln.org, or mailing: NNY Library Network, 6721 US HWY 11, Potsdam, NY 13676.

Material on Microfilm

Name:

Organization:

Address:

Telephone:

Please explain briefly what microfilmed material you might wish to convert to digital form. Indicate the number of microfilm reels.

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Scanning Projects On The Rise At NNYLN


An envelope to Paris, which is part of Paul Smith’s College Brownell Collection.

Over the past several months the Northern New York Library Network has assisted regional organizations and colleges by scanning and inputting data of their collections.

The first project the Network undertook was for the Town of Volney History Center. A total of 2,630 images were successfully scanned from 19 binders. Information from three of these may be found on the North Country Digital History website at history.nnyln.net, and includes the "Volney Muck Farming" scrapbook, a town timeline from 1655 to 1982, and information on Historian Florence McDougall.

The NNYLN also scanned 4,242 images from Paul Smith’s College Brownell Collection. Many of these images dated back to the 1800s, and some even from the 1700s. The collection includes maps, ledgers, surveys, correspondence, land agreements, field notes, listings of properties, and even some letters in French.
A portion of the Paul Smith’s project is also slated to be placed on the North Country Digital History site.

The Network is currently in the process of scanning more than 80 yearbooks for St. Lawrence University. The first edition is from 1880, and will continue on through 2009. The "Gridiron" was not, however, published every year in the very early years.

Again, these books will be available online once they are completed.

Institutions interested in scanning their own items may use the equipment available at the NNYLN office in Potsdam. For more information about the project, contact Pam Ouimet at 315-265-1119, or pouimet@nnyln.org,

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North Country Digital History 2.0

The Network’s North Country Digital History website is undergoing an update. New software and design will be used to give users a better experience.

The new site will be unveiled at the upcoming Northern New York Archival Conference on April 9, 2010 at Cheel Center in Potsdam.

The libraries, archives and historical documents repositories in the region are invited to contribute materials to the North Country Digital History project. There is no charge to participate, and training is provided.

For more information, contact Pam Ouimet at 1-877-833-1674.

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NYA Conference To Be Held In June

The New York Archives Conference (NYAC) will host their 2010 Annual Conference at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, on June 2-4, 2010.

This year's conference will be a joint meeting with the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York.

The conference program will include a day of workshops, a plenary speaker, and a number of conference sessions of diverse content and interest selected by both organizations. A Thursday evening reception, Friday luncheon, and tour offerings will also be included.

On-campus housing will be available at an inexpensive cost. Scholarships for attending the conference will again be offered by both organizations this year.

Keep watch for updated information at www.nyarchivists.org.

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