Partner to Celebrate Preservation Week

Why Partner to Celebrate Preservation Week?

  • strengthen community
  • reach new audiences—increase participation
  • inspire others

Potential Partners

  • libraries
  • museums and historical societies
  • university, business, or other archives
  • K–12 schools or classrooms
  • graduate library or museum studies programs
  • local businesses
  • collector’s groups
  • community organizations

Tips for Successful Partnerships

  • Don’t begin by asking for money.
  • Start small; build relationships over time.
  • Develop a clear goal for this partnership—what will it achieve? What does each party bring to the table?
  • Meet face to face with partner decision makers to present your vision.
  • Use bullet points, simple language, and no more than 10 points to describe your vision and purpose.
  • Draw up a written agreement that details responsibilities and resolves questions—it may take a several meetings.
  • Meet regularly to discuss progress and perceptions with partners.
  • Keep all stakeholders informed (use e-mail, meetings, or another strategy).
  • Plan internally about next steps for the relationship.
  • No partnership is forever—plan for separation in advance.
  • Thank your partner—in writing, in meetings, in public, and often!

About Preservation Week

Memories and treasures should last a lifetime and be passed on to future generations. Preservation Week is a time to inspire actions to preserve personal, family, and community collections, in addition to library, museum and archive collections.
It also raises awareness of the role libraries and other cultural institutions can play in providing ongoing preservation information. Institutions are asked to do one thing in their communities to celebrate Preservation Week, even if the action or activity is small. Note: These tips on partnering with other groups is adapted from Patrick Moriarty, “Top 10 Tips for Successful Community Partnerships.” 

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