POTSDAM - For those wanting to learn more about digitization, managing large materials, how to become chartered, and a host of other topics - plan on attending the North Country Archival Conference.

The event is being sponsored by the Northern New York Library Network (NNYLN), and will be held on April 9, 2010 at the Cheel Center, Clarkson University, Potsdam. The fee to attend this all-day conference is $10.00, and includes lunch with keynote speaker Christine Ward, NYS Archivist. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the conference will conclude at 3:00 p.m.

The conference is directed toward those who work in special collections, archives, and historical repositories. The NNYLN hopes the range of speakers and subjects that are scheduled will provide attendees with an opportunity to hone their existing skills and learn some new skills.

Free Examination and Opinions of Historical Books, Documents, and Photographs - Ted Comstock of Saranac Lake and former curator for the Adirondack Museum, will be available starting at 8:30 a.m. and through the morning portion of the conference. Mr. Comstock will provide informal verbal appraisals of items such as books, documents, vintage photographs, and prints. Attendees are invited to bring items for appraisal - no more than three, please, and no artifacts.

The day will include the following programs:

9:30 a.m. Session A - The Basics of Planning a Digitization Project - This session will provide the basic knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and assess a digitization project. Learn how to think through project planning: choosing the items or collection to be digitized; scope and nature of the project; budget; process: steps to follow; and assessment and evaluation. The presenter will be Suzanne Preate, Syracuse University.

9:30 a.m. Session B - How to Manage Maps and Plans - This session will assist organizations having challenges dealing with large-format materials such as 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 organization. The session will also discuss modern electronic systems (GIS and CADD) that produce maps and plans, and will touch on preservation issues. This presentation will cover: analysis of problems involving the management of maps and plans; solutions to common problems associated with these records; and storage techniques, ways to improve access and retrieval, and preservation. The presenter will be Dennis Meadows, NYS Archives.

11:00 a.m. Session C - How to Become (and Remain) Chartered by the NYS Board of Regents - A charter is granted by the Board of Regents to a library, museum or historical society that wishes to organize as a nonprofit educational corporation. A charter request must satisfy Regents standards of organizational and educational quality, and to achieve them usually takes a period of development. For that reason chartering is a two-step process, from provisional to absolute. 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. The presenter will be David Palmquist, Program Manager, Chartering Program, New York State Museum.

11:00 a.m. Session D - The Documentary Heritage Program & North Country Digital History 2.0 & New York Heritage - These sessions will present information on the local Documentary Heritage Program, including the use of consultative visits, digitization projects, and more: North Country Digital History 2.0: unveiling the new digital history site and information on how local organizations can begin digitizing their collections for inclusion; NewYorkHeritage.org: an overview of New York’s digital collections harvester; and Documentary Heritage Program Onsite Technical Consultations - what they are, how they can help, and how to request assistance. The presenters will be NNYLN DHP Coordinator Pamela Ouimet, NNYLN Head of IT Thomas Blauvelt, and DHP Consultant Joseph Swinyer.

1:00 p.m. Luncheon Speaker - Christine Ward, New York State Archivist and Assistant Commissioner of Education for Archives and Records will discuss Preserving New York's Archival Heritage: the State Archives, DHP and Federal Initiatives. The Documentary Heritage Program in Northern New York State: the past, present and future. Ms. Ward will consider the role of the DHP in increasing citizen access to the historical collections of the North Country and the part North Country repositories play in supporting this and other programs that document and ensure access to historical records. Ms. Ward will also discuss the current funding situation for the DHP and the potential for PAHR to bring significant resources to New York.

1:30 p.m. Session E - How Will They Find Us If They Don't Know We're Here? or Promoting Your Archives, Archival Projects and Programs - Promotion and marketing are gaining more and more importance in a world where competition for resources grows every day. This session will explore methods that archivists can use to promote and market their collections, programs, and services to an ever-expanding globally connected community. During this session, attendees will be provided with examples of projects and promotions that can bring attention to their archives and historical collections. The presenter will be Mary Gladwin, Archivist, Ontario Association of Archivists.

For more information, or to sign up, go to www.nnyln.org and click on "Classes," or call 315-265-1119.