Raptor Rescue Presentation, Wednesday, Oct 30, 3:30pm

Ruidoso Public Library hosts Hawks Aloft, Wednesday, October 30 at 3:30pm, for all ages.  Kids are out of school Wednesday afternoons; why not fill that time with this one-of-a-kind experience?  To help introduce your students (grades 3-8) to raptors before the talk, visit http://hawksaloft.org/education/for-educators/ for lessons and handouts on science, math, or geography topics related to the presentation.  Try a lesson before to build interest and another after Halloween to continue the connection.

Hawks Aloft is an Albuquerque non-profit focused on conservation, avian research, education, and mitigations.  What are mitigations?  When birds and businesses use the same space, the Endangered Species Act, among other laws, outlines how to protect the livelihoods of all parties.  Learn more about this, how to seek their assistance, and how to help Hawks Aloft during this presentation.  You may have seen Hawks Aloft at the Festival of the Cranes in Socorro in past years.  

Hawks Aloft recruits citizen scientists to help observe local raptor populations through HOOT (Hawks & Owls Observation Tracking Report) and raptor surveys.  Check with the experts after the presentation at Ruidoso Public Library.

The Lincoln County Bird Club generously sponsored this visit by Hawks Aloft.  HawksAloft.org lists their ambassadors online if you wish to preview them, though who will visit that day remains a surprise.  The avian ambassadors are rescued, non-releasable raptors, often rehabilitated here in New Mexico. 

Ask a librarian for assistance finding more information about raptors in the online Grzimek’s Animal Encyclopedia or bird identification books on the shelves.

How to preserve your digital footprint

This is a 2-minute audio file from the Marriage of Figaro, Mozart's opera.

The file is from Wikimedia Commons.  It came from a wax cylinder recording at The University of California, Santa Barbara. It is one example of digital preservation.

What is a digital footprint?  It is the zeros and ones of your social media accounts, emails, Wikipedia edits, ebooks, etc.  Maybe you have posted "I miss you" on the Facebook account of a deceased friend.  The links below might help you understand what your digital footprint encompasses, as well as plan ahead to help friends and family know what to find, look for, or close down upon death.

The US Library of Congress lists 50 (fifty!) activities to select for exploring your digital footprint.
http://blogs.loc.gov/digitalpreservation/2013/05/fifty-digital-preservation-activities-you-can-do/

If time and training are not part of your current plans, this link is a single page of minimal precautions anyone can be aware of when first considering vintage or extant items.
https://www.heritagepreservation.org/PDFS/SaveYourTreasures.pdf

A Book Conservator at the US National Archives

The US Library of Congress is reliable resource for information on preservation.  Whether you are techno-savvy and ready to watch a video or want to print the PDF to share with a techno-avoider, try these resources.

This is a page of videos, how-to sheets, and webliographies (more websites):
http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/personalarchiving/padKit/handouts.html
I was impressed with the breadth of coverage, including how to preserve emails, digital videos, digital photographs, and other sorts of personal digital records.

This page is the launching point for three different aspects of preservation:
http://www.loc.gov/preservation/family/index.html
If you are visiting family, these provide useful talking points for heirlooms or activities to help younger generations connect with elders.  The three areas are

• Collections Care, 
• Emergency Preparedness, and 
• Make a Family Time Capsule/Scrapbook/Album.  

AIC logo

If you are ready to jump into the deep end of the conservation pool, the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has guides for you. http://www.conservation-us.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=497&parentID=472
This list offers printable (or web-enhanced) instruction based on the type of material, format, media, or content, from architecture to fiber, furniture to glass.  This site also refers conservators to do the work for you.

Let us know if you have any questions about preserving your family history.

Preservation Week @ Your Library

The fourth annual Preservation Week (April 21-27, 2013) happens across the country at academic, public and special libraries. Activities include lectures, presentations, demonstrations and workshops, as well as three free Preservation Week-sponsored webinars.

New for Preservation Week 2013: a preservation advice column – Dear Donia.  What “Dear Abby” was to personal relationships, Dear Donia will be for all your preservation conundrums!  

How do I store my grandfather’s letters home from the front?  

What should I do to preserve my family color snapshots that are fading? 

How can I preserve my child’s baby quilt made by her great-grandmother?  

To launch the column on Friday, April 26  at 11 am EST, Donia Conn will host a one hour live chat  to help answer your preservation questions.  In the meantime, feel free to send Donia questions via the Preservation Week’s Facebook page.

If you are interested in quick tips to get started with your own heirlooms, start here. If videos are are in order, several are available here, from cockroach invasions to water damage.

Recognizing the critical role libraries play in preservation, the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) in partnership with the Library of Congress and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is proud to bring Preservation Week to libraries across the country. This national awareness campaign was developed to promote the understanding and importance of care for personal and community cultural heritage collections, such as books, documents, photographs, textiles, paintings, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts.  ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.