Online workshops

In this online workshop, you will learn about the objectives of emergency response and the key components that make up a plan suitable for heritage institutions. The workshop provides an engaged, interactive learning experience in which to learn about and make progress on preparing or updating your emergency response plan. You will receive an emergency response plan template to assist with plan preparation, and you will develop a suitable plan for your institution with support and feedback from experts and peers. You will also learn how to test your plan using simple tabletop exercises.

Modules

Developing an emergency response team for heritage institutions

• Decide on the size and structure of an incident management team for your institution.
• Select individuals with the expertise and skills suitable for incident response management roles, and add their contact information to your emergency response plan.

Developing immediate emergency response procedures for heritage institutions

• Complete a simple risk assessment of the emergency hazards that could impact your institution and collection.
• Prepare suitable immediate response procedures for hazards in your institution that should have them, and add them to your emergency response plan.

Developing all-hazards response procedures for heritage institutions

• Identify all-hazards actions that meet the emergency objectives for emergency response.
• Prepare all-hazards response procedures suitable for your institution, and add them to your emergency response plan.

Collections salvage and recovery strategies for heritage institutions

• Identify salvage priorities for your collection.
• Prepare procedures for your emergency response plan to guide salvage and recovery.
• Conduct a damage assessment, and prepare an emergency response action plan using a scenario exercise.

Providing Resources for Effective Emergency Response

• Determine supplies and equipment that your institution may need for emergency response and list them with sources in your Emergency Response Plan.
• Prepare floor/site plans and add them to your Emergency Response Plan.
• Conduct a simple emergency scenario exercise with your Emergency Response Team.

Duration

The online workshop comprises twelve 60-minute sessions, grouped into five highly interactive modules. The modules will be scheduled over a period of five to six months. Participation in the online workshop will involve

• attendance at all sessions for all five workshop modules,
• reviewing workshop resource materials prior to each module (15–30 minutes) and
• completing exercises between the sessions for each module (1–2 hours).

Language(s)

English

Enrollment limits

Since the emergency planning process benefits from multiple perspectives, we encourage participation by up to three people per heritage institution. Ideally, the participants are responsible for emergency incident management. Due to the interactive nature of this online workshop, attendance in the online sessions is restricted to 10 institutions. The minimum enrollment requirement is five institutions.

Target audience

This workshop is well suited for heritage professionals who are responsible for writing and implementing an Emergency Response Plan, especially those in heritage institutions that have no plan or an outdated plan.

Special requirements

Mandatory equipment and software:

• computer with audio and video capabilities
• desktop version of Zoom

This online workshop provides in-depth training over multiple sessions on still image digitization of reflective objects and small transparencies. While various means of scanning are covered, demonstrations focus on flatbed and slide scanners. Topics include digital imaging concepts, equipment selection criteria, verification of specifications claimed by vendors, software selection and use, general considerations for archiving and publishing, digitization workflow, project planning and project management.

Technical demonstrations include setting colour profiles, image capture, metadata inspection and post processing. Workshop participants are encouraged to follow along with demonstrations using their own equipment or to practise at their own pace between sessions. Exercises, activities and case studies not requiring special equipment will also be included throughout the workshop. This workshop adheres to FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) technical guidelines.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this online workshop, participants will be able to

• determine what equipment is appropriate for various still image applications, and select and evaluate materials for scanning;
• prepare a digitization workspace, and develop a digitization policy and plan;
• define detailed steps in digitizing and in post-processing images as well as the quality review processes;
• locate the main internal components of flatbed scanners, understand a scanner’s key specifications and independently verify them;
• resolve common scanning issues (such as poor signal-to-noise ratios, skew, image artifacts and moiré); and
• distinguish key activities in cataloguing and documenting metadata including key consideration for managers overseeing digitization projects.

Duration

Four online sessions over the course of one month, two hours per session. Additional activities of up to one hour may be given prior to all sessions.

Target audience

This workshop is well suited for those working in cultural heritage institutions who are seeking basic training on still image scanning practices and standards. While some managerial tasks are covered, focus is given to hands-on digitization.

Language(s)

English and French

Enrollment limits

Minimum 10, maximum 20

Special requirements

Mandatory equipment and software:

• Computer (demonstrations will be run on PC)
• Gimp (free open source image editing software)

Optional equipment and software (for participating in scanning demonstrations):

• CCD slide / film scanner (do not purchase one for this workshop, as we will discuss scanner acquisition)
• Flatbed scanner (do not purchase one for this course, as we will discuss scanner acquisition)
• IT8 Colour Targets (R1 or RF will be used in the demo)
• VueScan Pro (CAN$120) (Please note that the pro features are essential in the demonstrations given.)