2023 Annual Meeting: Library and Archives Conservation Work Flow Through a DEI Lens: Before, During, and After Treatment

LADG - Library and Archives Conservation Work Flow Through a DEI Lens: Before, During, and After Treatment

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2023 Annual Meeting: LADG - Library and Archives Conservation Work Flow Through a DEI Lens: Before, During, and After Treatment
06/06/2023 at 1:00 PM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 07/26/2023
06/06/2023 at 1:00 PM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 07/26/2023 2023 AM: LADG Library and Archives Conservation workflow and best practices for conservation documentation are not neutral. As we learn from each other and from other cultural heritage fields, we can collaborate to reexamine our workflow using a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) lens. The Library and Archives Discussion Group (LADG) co-chairs will be asking our colleagues to think about, present on, and discuss conservation work flow issues using a DEI lens, both broadly in the context of the mission of our work and at a day-to-day conservation work flow level. We will put out a call, inviting speakers who may have experience to share in these areas: As library and archives conservators, how do we flag sensitive items before they get to the lab or workplace? Does our institution have a way to warn staff and researchers about known violent, sexual, or racist content before items come into our work flow? As library and archive conservators, does our department or private practice have a mechanism for conservators, conservation technicians, and others to say no to working on cultural heritage materials they would rather not work on? Is there a pathway for others in the workspace, who feel OK about working on a treatment, to take on a treatment instead? Is there a pathway for those who want to take on materials with difficult content to have mental health time away during a treatment or to speak to others about their feelings during a treatment? As library and archives conservators, how will we handle conservation documentation for sensitive materials? Can we collaborate with our colleagues in other departments or with owners to update item records or collection records with appropriate documentation of sensitive content? As library and archives conservators working on exhibit loans, do we have a responsibility to tell others if we find sensitive content during our work-- content that we suspect the borrower and or curators involved may not be aware of? Larger work flow issues are bound to come up in this discussion. For example, we may want to talk about what voice we as conservators have in institutional grant, exhibition, or digitization priorities. For those in private practice, how feasible is it to turn away work you find disturbing? The co-chairs understand these are sensitive issues and will strive to make this a well-constructed discussion space for colleagues to share their ideas.
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