Learn Historical Values, Or Cemetery Rights

Determining Historical Value, a Documentary Heritage Program workshop, will be held in two locations this fall.

Participants may attend the class on Thursday, October 6, 2005 at the Clinton-Essex- Franklin Library System, Plattsburgh, or on Friday, October 7, 2005 at the Days Inn, Watertown.

Both classes will begin with sign-in from 9:00-9:30 a.m., and class time will be from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There is no fee to attend.

The presenters will be Eileen Corcoran, former South Central 3Rs Regional Archivist for the Oct. 6 class, and Susan Hughes, CRLC Regional Archivist for the Oct. 7 class.

During this course, students will learn to identify, appraise and select records with potential historical value for archival collections. Core terminology, concepts and standards used by the archival profession will be discussed. Participants will also learn about valuable tools for assessing the historical value of records currently in their collections.

Although there is no charge to attend, registration is appreciated.

Stone Strategies: Documentation, Stewardship and Conservation of Historic Cemeteries is new to the NNYLN line-up and will be held Monday, October 24, 2005 at the Network office in Potsdam.

Sign-in will be held from 9:00-9:30 a.m., with class time from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. The fee for the day is $15.00 for library/archives/DHP participants, and $59.95 for all others. Lunch will be included.

The presenters will be Dianne MacPherson & Erica Blumenfeld, Lower Hudson Conference; and C. R. Jones, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown.

The workshop will include a morning presentation with DHP archivists Dianne Macpherson and Erica Blumenfeld who will: identify laws and existing historical records signifying ownership and stewardship of historic cemeteries; explain where to get permission and access to cemetery properties and records; outline methods of documentation (transcription, mapping, photography) resulting in the creation of historical records; show how to plan/produce finding aids, and place documentary records in accessible formats and repositories.

This will be followed by an Introduction to Conservation & Preservation with Conservator C.R. Jones.

Following lunch, Mr. Jones will lead a conservation "walk-through" of the French/Grant Cemetery, Potsdam, guiding participants in practical methods they can take, as well as those they should avoid, in planning for historic cemetery preservation. Hands-on demonstrations of basic preservation practices will be done on-site.

To sign up for either of these classes, for more information, or a complete line-up of NNY Library Network classes through November, go to www.nnyln.org and click on "Training & Workshops."

The Network may also be reached by calling 315-265-1119 (locally), or 877-833-1674 (toll- free).