Webinars
The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) and the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) work with heritage professionals and institutions to help build their capacity for conserving and preserving objects and collections. CCI and CHIN offer the following webinars, which cover a variety of topics and appeal to a broad range of individuals. The webinars are designed to encourage questions and interaction between the presenters and participants. Webinars offered will vary from year to year, based on staff expertise and availability.
Each webinar may consist of two or more sessions of one to two hours in length. The webinars incorporate presentations from CCI and CHIN staff, discussion and sharing opportunities as well as question periods. The webinars provide introductory-level information designed for staff and volunteers working in heritage institutions, unless a target audience is otherwise specified in the description.
Webinars available in 2023–2024
Webinars
This is a complete list of webinars developed by CCI and CHIN. For current webinar offerings see Webinars available in 2023–2024.
Basic Handling and Care of Books
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
Bug Bites
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.
Digital Preservation
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.
Introduction to Exhibit Lighting
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.
Introduction to the Care of Metals in Museum Collections
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.
Introduction to the Care of Outdoor Metal Collections
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.
Introduction to the Care of Textiles
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.
Introduction to the Identification and Care of Photographic Materials
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.
Photography on a Dime: Thrifty Tools and Free Software for Heritage Professionals
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.
Products Used for Display, Storage and Transportation
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.
Webinars available in 2023–2024
- Basic Handling and Care of Books
- Digital Preservation
- Introduction to Exhibit Lighting
- Introduction to the Care of Metals in Museum Collections
- Introduction to the Care of Outdoor Metal Collections
- Introduction to the Care of Textiles
- Introduction to the Identification and Care of Photographic Materials (French only)
- Products Used for Display, Storage and Transportation
Host a webinar
Institutions must complete the Apply to host a training or learning activity form. Please submit applications by December 19, 2022; we will make selections by January 30, 2023. Preference is given to applicants who can demonstrate a broad benefit to the heritage community in their region rather than to a single institution. CCI and CHIN will be offering these webinars for free to host institutions.
The following criteria are used to select hosts:
- your reason/rationale for hosting the webinar,
- the scope of the audience reached and
- our need to balance offerings among different types of institutions across different regions in Canada.

Region 1: British Columbia and Alberta
Region 2: Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Region 3: Ontario
Region 4: Quebec
Region 5: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island
Region 6: Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon
Indigenous communities and organizations
Eligible institutions
The primary client groups for these webinars are provincial museum associations, provincial archival associations and Indigenous organizations, as the aim is to provide training in different regions across Canada. However, on occasion, museums or other heritage institutions may also host webinars if their involvement allows CCI and CHIN to more effectively reach the museum professionals of a particular region.
Promoting the webinar
Hosts must promote the webinar externally to appropriate target audiences. CCI and CHIN may help with this as needed.
Managing participant registrations
Hosts are responsible for determining registration fees and for processing all participant registrations. Due to the nature of these webinars, we strongly recommend a maximum of 25 participants per webinar and a maximum fee of CAN $30 per participant.
Cancellations
Please note that CCI and CHIN reserve the right to cancel a webinar, if the minimum enrolment requirement of 10 participants is not met.
Providing training materials
CCI and CHIN will provide all related training materials electronically to the host prior to the webinar. The host can forward these materials electronically to participants.
Register for a webinar
Consult our Training and learning activity calendar to view webinars offered from April 1 to March 31 each year.
These webinars are hosted by partner institutions in collaboration with CCI and CHIN. Institutions are responsible for handling participant registration and inquiries, while CCI and CHIN are responsible for delivering the content.
To register, please contact the host identified on the calendar. Please note that registration fees are determined by the host.
To receive email updates about webinars, please subscribe to CCI's eNews and CHIN’s eNews. You can also follow us on Facebook.
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