Symposium on Preservation of Documentary Collections

1st Symposium on Preservation of Documentary Collections

Date

May 2-3, 2025

Location

Centro para Puerto Rico Sila M. Calderón

About the Symposium

The Symposium on Preservation of Documentary Collections, organized by the Centro de Conservación y Restauración de Puerto Rico (CENCOR) and the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), is a unique event dedicated to promoting dialogue, learning, and actions for the preservation of heritage collections in paper, books and photographic materials Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), this Symposium will take place on May 2-3, 2025, at the Centro para Puerto Rico, Fundación Sila M. Calderón in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. The event will bring together librarians, archivists, conservators, collections managers, researchers, emerging professionals, students, and stewards interested in managing and preserving documentary collections.

The program will address topics such as:

Preventive conservation
Education and training in documentary collections
Care and management of documentary collections
Public policies related to archives and libraries
Project case studies in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region

In addition, the Symposium will provide a space to share experiences, explore challenges, and present innovative strategies that strengthen the preservation of documents, art on paper, books, and photographic materials.

Official Hashtags:

#Preservation #DocumentaryCollections #CENCOR #Symposium2025

Call for Presentations

Professionals, scholars, collections managers, archivists, librarians, conservators, researchers, students, and anyone interested in preserving documentary collections are invited to submit abstracts for presentations.

This call seeks innovative and relevant proposals that enhance the dialogue on the conservation and management of documentary collections in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Selected presentations will be essential to the Symposium's program, fostering knowledge exchange among experts, emerging professionals, and the public.

Priority will be given to proposals that showcase innovative experiences, research, and conservation and management practices for documentary collections.

Submission Deadline

February 2, 2025, at 11:59 pm (Puerto Rico time)

Proposal Requirements

Abstract: Each proposal must include an abstract of up to 300 words.
Author Information: Full name, affiliation, email, and a brief professional biography (up to 150 words).
Language: Presentations can be in Spanish or English.

Benefits of Participation

Contribute to strengthening the preservation of the documentary collections community in the region.
Connect with experts, colleagues, and like-minded professionals.
Share innovative ideas, projects, and solutions that can have an impact on Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region.

For more information, please contact info@cencorpr.org.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this important conversation about the Preservation of Documentary Collections.

Themes

The Symposium will be developed considering the following topics:

Theme 1 - Education and training

This theme explores strategies, programs, and innovative methods for training professionals in the management, conservation, and preservation of documentary collections. It will focus on:

The creation of formal and informal educational programs.
Workshops, seminars, and specialized training in preservation techniques and principles.
Capacity building in emerging communities and professionals
Collaborative learning models between cultural, academic, and governmental institutions.

The objective is to identify best practices and foster the development of competencies that strengthen documentary preservation at the local, regional, and international levels.

Theme 3 - Public Policy for Archives and Libraries

This theme examines the fundamental role of public policies in the preservation and access to heritage collections. Among the issues to be addressed are:

The design and implementation of legal frameworks that support the management of archives and libraries.
Models of cultural governance that guarantee the preservation of and access to documentary heritage.
Case studies on successful public policies in other regions of the world and their applicability to the Caribbean context.
Current challenges in policy implementation that include, but are not limited to, funding, human resources, and long-term sustainability.

The discussions will identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration between institutions, governments, and communities to ensure that documentary collections are protected as an essential part of historical and cultural memory.

Theme 2 - Preventive Conservation and Management: Strategies and Actions

This thematic axis addresses the techniques, approaches, and tools used to ensure the long-term preservation of documentary collections. It will discuss:

Preventive conservation strategies that reduce risks before damage occurs.
Innovative methods for the management of collections, including inventories, assessments, digitization, and adequate storage.
Analysis of project case studies in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean region.

Use of new technologies and limited resources to implement practical preservation actions.

Submit your application here

Enter

Collaborators

¡Suscríbete a nuestro boletín!