Preserve the Past, Shape the Future: Inspiring the Next Generation.

April 27 - May 3, 2025

The Preservation Outreach Committee, part of the American Library Association's Core division, organizes and presents webinars annually for Preservation Week. The goal is to serve the needs of libraries, cultural institutions, and members of the public in two ways:

• by expanding access to preservation information relevant to the work of librarians and others working in collections holding organizations
• by providing content to share with the public during and after Preservation Week

These webinars are free to attend, but a separate registration is required for each. All webinars will be recorded and available to view on the Preservation Week website in early May.

Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future: Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservators
Tuesday, April 29th @ 1 p.m. CDT

How do you inspire a classroom full of 5th graders to see the world as art conservators? Join Balboa Art Conservation Center's Bianca Garcia and Dr. Elizabeth Salmon as they share their journeys in cultural preservation.

The Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective at the Atlanta University Center
Wednesday, April 30th @ 1 p.m. CDT

Learn about the Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective and how it prepares undergraduate students for careers in the visual arts. Housed within the Department of Art & Visual Culture at Spelman College, this innovative program aims to shape the future of the art world and position the Atlanta University Center as the leading incubator of African American professionals in these fields. 

Discussion with Mychal Threets and Linda Sue Park
Thursday, May 1st @ 1 p.m. CDT

Join Mychal Threets, library advocate and Honorary Chair, and Linda Sue Park, author and educator, for a discussion about preservation, libraries, and how one might inspire enthusiasm for preservation among young people.

In addition to these live webinars, the Preservation Outreach Committee invited preservation practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to submit recorded lightning talks on their journeys in preservation and why it's important to them. These will be shared throughout the week on the Core YouTube channel–subscribe now to see them as soon as they come out.