Webinars

This webinar series is an introduction to the care of books with a focus on handling books of significance to collections. Unlike many objects held in heritage collections, books are typically objects of use and are not meant merely to be displayed. As structural objects that are almost always designed to move, they are subject to stress and damage related to that use. Damage can occur due to the quality of the materials, the strength or weakness of the binding, the type of handling and the environmental conditions.

Upon completion of this series, participants will

• understand basic care and handling procedures for bound books,
• know how to practise safe handling and support of a book when it’s in use,
• identify the agents of deterioration that can impact a book’s longevity and
• recognize how historic evidence is inherent in a book’s physical structure

This series focuses on integrated pest management (IPM), including how to identify pests and understand their capacity to endanger objects and evade control. Participants will learn to evaluate effective ways of reducing pest numbers through specific control methods available to heritage professionals and the risks these methods may pose to collections. Participants will also review how to develop an IPM plan. The target audience is staff and volunteers of cultural facilities who are responsible for the physical integrity, research or exhibition of cultural property collections, which may all be impacted by pest activity.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• recognize and identify organisms that are detrimental to the longevity of collections,
• respond to the discovery of pests by choosing from a suite of options and
• assess cultural property for pest risks and propose an IPM plan to mitigate them.

This webinar series is offered in three two-hour sessions over three days and outlines best practices for preserving digital information. Topics covered include appropriate selection criteria for physical carriers as well as tools for taking stock of existing digital assets and for developing digital preservation policies, plans and procedures. Software and hardware solutions for digital preservation in small to medium-sized heritage institutions are also recommended.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• identify digital assets in their institution and assess the risk and impacts of losing access to these assets;
• develop a digital preservation policy, a plan and procedures;
• understand the factors relevant to the choice of physical carriers; and
• install and use hardware and software for the purpose of preserving digital assets in smaller heritage institutions.

This three-part webinar series will provide an overview of exhibit lighting for museums and galleries. The presentations will highlight preservation and visibility considerations for lighting, such as object light-sensitivity, illuminance levels and light dose management. Differences between illuminant types will also be discussed, particularly through comparisons of LED lighting technology and incandescent sources. The series is suitable for anyone who contributes to lighting decisions in museums, galleries and archives.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• assess the risks associated with illuminating objects, considering their light-sensitivity and future exposure conditions;
• analyze the visibility and aesthetic aspects of lighting design; and
• understand the different illuminants available, with a focus on LED technology.

This webinar series provides a general overview of metal objects found in museum collections. Included is information about

• the properties of metals and how to identify them,
• common causes of deterioration,
• how to recognize corrosion products and
• how environments can cause corrosion, even indoors.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• identify a wide variety of metals commonly found in museum collections,
• identify corrosion problems associated with metals,
• use this knowledge to create basic condition reports and
• provide basic care for common metals found indoors.

This webinar series provides a general overview of metal objects, such as public art and architecture, that are usually found outdoors. Included is information about the properties of metals and how to identify them, as well as a discussion of common causes of degradation, corrosion products and outdoor environments that cause corrosion.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• identify a wide variety of metals used in outdoor applications,
• identify corrosion problems associated with metals,
• use this knowledge to create basic condition reports and
• provide recommendations for the basic care of common metals found outdoors.

This three-part webinar series is an introduction to the care of costumes and textiles commonly found in Canadian collections. Fundamental information about fibres, structures and manufacturing processes that affect the long-term stability of textiles is provided. Both inherent and environmental agents of deterioration and typical signs of damage are described. A wide range of preventive conservation topics specifically related to textiles is explored. Basic conservation interventions are presented, and issues in ethical decision making are addressed.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• carry out safe handling and documentation procedures for textiles;
• prepare textiles, costumes and accessories for storage and display;
• recognize agents of deterioration and understand how they degrade textiles; and
• implement preventive conservation procedures for textiles.

This two-part webinar series will discuss how to use distinguishing features to differentiate and identify a select range of photographic processes. Proper storage and handling techniques for photograph collections will also be covered. This course, offered in French only, will put a particular emphasis on French vocabulary and the English equivalent in order to give participants the basic knowledge necessary to use English-language resources accessible online for free.

In this webinar, CCI photographers will

• share ideas on how to fabricate studio equipment from common household items when working with a small budget,
• highlight valuable open-source software programs and demonstrate their key features for editing cultural heritage images and
• discuss the inexpensive tools that they use in the CCI studio.
• This webinar will also be an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas.

Target audience: Those who are currently or will be involved in photodocumentation projects within a heritage institution. Participants are expected to have a fundamental knowledge of camera settings and functions (such as ISO and aperture) and a basic understanding of lighting equipment as this information will not be reviewed in the webinar. Participants should also possess practical computer skills.

This three-part series provides an overview of products commonly used to display and store museum objects. Products covered include woods, papers, paints, sheets, foams, gaskets, etc. The series is suitable for staff and volunteers involved in collection management, including storage and exhibition.

Upon completion of this series, participants will be able to

• understand the interactions between products and objects,
• select products that are suitable for use in museums or archives,
• understand the properties of many types of products available on the market and
• verify information or test products for compatibility with objects.