The County of Bergen and the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, inpartnership with the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, offered a series ofProfessional Development Courses in Archives Management. The three seminars were hostedvirtually on Zoom, January-March 2023.

Proper archival procedures enable safe and effective management of collections,yet volunteers, historians, and those with archival responsibilities in addition toother duties may find themselves in the position of "archivist" without formaltraining in the profession. Topics covered during this webinar include thefundamentals of archival appraisal, acquisition, and processing. The presentationalso touches on some of the most common preservation problems found withpaper-based archival collections.

Digitization can be the final step in processing collections, facilitating access, andaiding in collections’ long-term preservation. Like other collections careendeavors, digitization should not be undertaken without an understanding ofbest practices, safe techniques, and the knowledge to make the right decisions.This workshop provides a basic overview of some of the considerationsinstitutions should have when digitizing materials, including establishing policiessurrounding copyright statements, prioritization and selection criteria, equipmentoptions, handling practices while scanning or photographing, storage concernsfor digital media, and digital preservation. This primer on establishing adigitization program is intended for collections staff and volunteers with very littleor no experience digitizing materials.

Social Media is an excellent platform for sharing information about yourorganization and highlighting the collections under your care. This webinaraddresses the basics of establishing a social media presence for your organizationon two popular platforms, Instagram and Facebook, and how the platforms canbe used to build audiences, share stories, and promote events.

Funding has been made possible in part through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Department of Parks, through a General Operating Support Grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.