Cultural Collections Survey

Veterans Service Organizations:  We have been contacted by the California State Library regarding a program that is of interest to veterans orgs.  The State Library is concerned that many of the historical items owned and exhibited by smaller organizations may be at risk because of a lack of disaster response plans and long-term protection strategies for the cultural keepsakes in their care.  They contacted us because many vet orgs have military and historical memorabilia stored or on display in their halls, posts, and administration buildings.  The State Library has a survey they would like your organization and your posts to take.  They want to make sure you have the tools to let the next generation see and understand the history.  There is also a video introduction from the State Librarian.  

Deadline to complete the survey is February 21.

Take the survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSLSurveyRegistration

Watch the introduction from the State Librarian:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srqWTrFudtU

So far, the State Library has seen that:

• • More than 80% of early respondents do not have a long-term preservation plan.  Almost half have never completed a general condition assessment of their collection.
  • Approximately half of respondents do not have a written disaster plan, a significant need given the risks posed by fire, flood and earthquakes and threats from inadequate storage facilities and simple decay over time.
  • Three in four of the collections surveyed have not been digitized, a crucial concern for those organizations holding works on paper and other fragile materials.

Thank you,

Dana Nichol

Reeb Government Relations LLC

1107 9^th Street, Suite 620

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 558-1926

Author: Seth Reeb

Seth Reeb of Reeb Government Relations is veterans legislative advocate for the American Legion Department of California and a member of El Dorado Post 119.