2025 Preservation Kits for Ohio Cultural Heritage Institutions

 

Supporting Preservation in Ohio’s Cultural Heritage

The Ohio Preservation Kits project is a collaborative initiative between Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board (OHRAB) and Ohio Preservation Council (OPC), designed to empower small cultural heritage organizations, such as historical societies, community archives, and smaller libraries, with essential tools and resources for preservation.

Each kit includes a curated selection of basic conservation tools, product samples, educational materials, and references to support everyday preservation needs, such as:

• pH Pen
• Flat stapler remover

• Product samples

Funding for the kits was provided by National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) as well as a donation from the Ohio Preservation Council. We also extend a thank you to Gaylord for donating some materials for the boxes.

 

Kit

In October 2025, the pilot program was launched to distribute 40 preservation kits on a needs-based, first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for the project was October 31, 2025 and kits will be mailed out in November.

Organizations not selected in the initial round will be added to a waitlist for a potential future distribution. Each kit also includes information about the generous partnering organizations that helped fund and support this initiative.

Educational Support

Recipients of the kits will be invited to attend an educational webinar in early December 2025, where a preservation expert will walk through the kit contents, demonstrate proper use of included tools, and share best practices for collections care.

The session will also feature an open Q&A to address specific questions from participants.

Supplemental Resources

Downloadable guides and tool instructions

• American Institute of Conservation (AIC) Preventative Care website- https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Preventive_Care
• AIC Book and Paper wiki- https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Book_and_Paper_Group_Wiki 
• Gaylord preservation resources- https://info.gaylord.com/resources/home
• Flat staple remover tool demo- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYB8_GTVAYM
• pH Pen information- https://ptlp.com/en/bookkeeper/deacidification/abbey/

Links to preservation webinars and training materials

1. NEDCC (Northeast Document Conservation Center)

• Offers live and on-demand webinars on topics like photograph preservation, digital preservation, and emergency preparedness.
• Example: Fundamentals of Photograph Preservation – a six-session online course covering identification, deterioration, and care of photographs.
• Explore NEDCC Training Programs [nedcc.org]
• Fundamentals of Photograph Preservation Course [nedcc.org]

2. Connecting to Collections Care (C2C Care)

• Free webinars and courses tailored for small to mid-sized institutions.
• Includes a searchable archive of over 175 webinars.
• Visit Connecting to Collections Care [connecting...ctions.org]

3. Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)

• Offers workshops, webinars, and customized training for institutions.
• Topics include collections care, disaster recovery, and preservation planning.
• Explore CCAHA Education Programs [ccaha.org]

4. Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY)

• Free webinars and online courses on collections care, digital preservation, and emergency preparedness.
• DHPSNY Webinars & Courses [dhpsny.org]

5. International Institute for Conservation (IIC)

• Offers free online training and webinars, including paper preservation short courses.
• Preserving Paper Collections Short Courses [iiconservation.org]
• Webinar on Paper Preservation Materials [iiconservation.org]

6. Library of Congress Preservation Workshops

• Free public workshops during Preservation Week and the National Book Festival.
• Topics include care of books, paper, photographs, and digital files.
• Library of Congress Preservation Workshops [loc.gov]

7. Conservation OnLine (CoOL)

• A comprehensive platform with publications, discussion lists, and resources on conservation topics.
• Visit CoOL [cool.cultu...ritage.org]

8. Society of American Archivists – Preservation Section

• Curated links to preservation websites, including disaster preparedness, conservation standards, and more.
• SAA Preservation Links

OHRAB and OPC are committed to building a sustainable, community-driven model for preservation support across Ohio.