Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York

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Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York

The Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts was selected to deliver these services to the community of historical records repositories in New York.

Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) is a program of the New York State Archives and New York State Library to provide service and support for archival and library research collections across the state. Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) is a collaboration between two long-running New York programs dedicated to service and support f

or archival and library research collections throughout the State: the New York State Archives Documentary Heritage Program and the New York State Library Conservation/Preservation Program. In 2016, the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education established DHPSNY to ensure consistent and comprehensive services to the vast network of organizations that safeguard New York’s records and make them accessible. Through DHPSNY, New York organizations holding historical records and library research collections will have access to essential training and services, including archival needs assessments, preservation and conservation surveys, guidance with strategic planning, and access to a variety of educational programs and workshops. DHPSNY makes these important services available to organizations across New York for free and tailors them to each one’s specific needs. Our goal is to improve each organization’s capacity to collect, preserve, and provide access to archival and library research collections according to professional standards and practices. We also strive to ensure that underrepresented populations and topics are documented in the historical record and to increase public awareness and use of New York’s historical records.

08/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Summer Practical Digitization: Planning, Handling, Imaging workshops!

Looking to attend another workshop series? Join us this fall for Red Flag! Identifying Preservation Needs While Working with Collections. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to recognize common preservation issues or “red flags,” in paper, book, and photographic materials. Participants will learn how to identify signs of physical damage, environmental concerns, and handling risks, and how to determine when action is needed.

📍All workshops take place from 10AM to 4PM:

🗓️ September 17 - Northern New York Library Network (Potsdam)
🗓️ September 29 - FDR Presidential Library & Museum (Hyde Park)
🗓️ October 20 - Lucy Desi Museum at the National Comedy Center (Jamestown)
🗓️ October 28 - Old Westbury Gardens (Old Westbury)

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/uanfxpj

Photos: Attendees at the Practical Digitization: Planning, Handling, Imaging workshop at the Greece Historical Society.

07/30/2026

Congratulations to DHPSNY's latest round of collecting organizations awarded Planning & Assessment Services! These services are designed to support organizations in improving and advancing collections-related program efforts and are offered comprehensively to eligible cultural collecting institutions throughout New York State. The 11 institutions selected are taking a big step to strengthen preservation efforts and achieve both short and long-term goals.

Read the full announcement and list of recipients here: https://bit.ly/4w9LQP6

Photo: The Carriage House Theater at the Cayuga Museum of History and Art in Auburn, NY.

Buffalo Naval & Military Park
First Unitarian Church of Rochester
Front Runners New York🗽
Millbrook Historical Society
UNWLA
Cayuga Museum of History & Art
SUNY Geneseo
Chautauqua County Historical Society
Mechanicville Library
Whaling Museum & Educ Center
Glo Lib

07/24/2026

Thanks to everyone who attended the first of our series of Practical Digitization: Planning, Handling, Imaging workshops at the Yonkers Public Library last week! Kaitlyn Pettengill, Digital Archives Specialist at CCAHA , presented best practices for safely handling and preparing collection materials for digitization.

There's still time to register for our upcoming Practical Digitization workshops:

July 30 10AM to 4PM - Saratoga Springs Public Library - Registration extended to 7/27!
August 11 10AM to 4PM - Southern Tier Library System (Painted Post) - Registration closes 8/4!
August 13 10AM to 4PM - Greece Historical Society (Rochester) - Last few spots!

Register for these upcoming workshops here: https://bit.ly/4eUZ7ED

07/22/2026

Working with donated shelving? Old wooden bookcases? Wire shelving in the basement? You're not alone.

Many libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies are making the best use of the storage furniture they already have. While replacing shelving isn't always realistic, there are simple, practical ways to reduce risks and better protect collections.

Our newest DHPS Tips blog explores collections shelving best practices, from choosing shelving materials and arranging boxes to improving housekeeping and reducing everyday preservation risks.

Read the full post here: https://bit.ly/4wUtRgb

07/16/2026

You may have noticed that DHPSNY has a new look!

As DHPSNY marks 10 years of supporting collecting institutions across New York State as a program of the New York State Archives and the New York State Library, we're excited to introduce a refreshed visual identity and redesigned website. The new DHPSNY.org makes it easier to explore our free preservation services, educational programs, resources, and expertise.

Explore DHPSNY.org and learn more about what's changed in our latest blog post: https://bit.ly/4ymYRqE

We'd love to hear what you think!

New York State Archives New York State Library

07/14/2026

As the heat climbs this week, a trip to the beach might sound perfect — but a tideline in your collections is a different story. 🌊

In preservation, the term tideline refers to a stain that forms when a liquid gets inside an object and dries, leaving a line where the liquid stopped. Dissolved material collects along the edge, creating a stain that usually appears darker than the original object.

Flooding from summer storms, leaky pipes, and condensation from air-conditioning systems can all lead to tidelines if moisture reaches collections. Keeping indoor conditions stable, checking storage areas regularly, and addressing leaks quickly can help protect collections.

🔗 Explore this term — and more than 400 others — in CCAHA’s Preservation Glossary: ccaha.org/PreservationGlossary (link in bio).

📸 Background image: Tideline on an original 1980 draft of a handwritten constitution by the Chinese Sportswear Workers Social Association, Heung Sang Tam, Museum of Chinese in America (Museum of Chinese in America): https://bit.ly/4aTVkGf

07/02/2026

In May, DHPSNY Program Manager Amanda Murray visited the Ulster County Historical Society for a Preservation Survey site visit. As the oldest county historical society in New York State, UCHS has an extensive collection documenting Ulster County's culture and history. During the site visit, Amanda toured the collection spaces, including the Bevier Stone House, a historic house initially built circa 1690. Highlights of the day included speaking with project staff and looking through collections stored at the Ulster County Hall of Records, including a large set of glass plate negatives depicting daily life in the early 1900s.

Looking for guidance around your collections? DHPSNY provides free Planning & Assessment Services to eligible New York organizations. The deadline for the next round of services is quickly approaching! Applications are due next Friday, July 10. Visit bit.ly/4weknvK for more information on how to apply.

06/25/2026

Planning on digitizing objects in your collections?

Digitization can mean very different things to different people. For some, it means scanning a few photographs to share on social media. For others, it means creating high-quality digital surrogates, building online access systems, or undertaking a large-scale project involving thousands of items. Whatever your intended outcome is, there are key things to consider before starting a digitization project.

This month's DHPS Tips takes a deeper dive into those key things to consider - prioritization, access, preservation concerns, rights and permissions, and more. A digitization project can be a powerful way to increase access, support preservation goals, and share collections with broader audiences. Before getting started, taking the time to define goals, establish priorities, and consider both preservation and access can set you up for success.

Build on your knowledge of digitization by joining us this summer for our workshop series Practical Digitization: Planning, Handling, Imaging. These workshops will cover best practices for safely handling and preparing collection materials for digitization - ensuring by the end of the session, participants will have practical skills to reduce damage during digitization and improve the quality and consistency of digital outputs.

Join us from 10AM to 4PM on these dates:

July 16 at Yonkers Public Library Yonkers Public Library
July 30 at Saratoga Springs Public Library SSPL
August 11 at Southern Tier Library System (Painted Post) Southern Tier Library System
August 13 at Greece Historical Society

Read this month's DHPS Tips and register for a workshop session here: https://bit.ly/4uRi4xA

Address

264 S. 23rd Street
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Telephone

+12155450613

Website

http://dhpsny.org/

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