Minutes for February 25, 2015 NJLA History & Preservation Section Meeting held at Rutgers University Scholarly Communication Center, New Brunswick, NJ

Event Co-Sponsors were MARAC NJ Caucus, Princeton Preservation Group. Rutgers University Libraries and SOURCE.

The meeting was called to order at 10:18 AM. In attendance were Section President Danny Klein, Vice President/President Elect Deb Schiff, Secretary Ken Kaufman, and Members at-Large E. Kim Adams, Sarah Hull, Laura Poll, and Gary Saretzky.

Also in attendance were Tom Ankner, Benjamin Beede, Kate Cordes, Carolyn Dorsey, Bob Egan, Elizabeth Ferry, Albert C. King, Joseph Klett, Linda Langschied, Christie Lutz, Nancy Madacsi, Mary Mallery, Paul Martinez, Alyssa C. Masotto, Joanne M. Nestor, Karl J. Niederer, Andrew Punk, Kim Reamer, Wendi Rottweiler, Susan Stanziano, Darya Zvanarova, Angela Zebrowski.

Introductions were made.

Minutes

Review of the minutes for October 8, 2014 and November 20, 2014 was tabled until the next meeting.

Committee Reports

Sarah announced that April 27th is the deadline for “the Chronicle” submissions. She would welcome stories on the NJLA and MARAC conferences.

Sarah reported on the progress made by the Social Media Subcommittee. A Facebook page has been set up since January and has generated 40 “likes”. Please visit and like it. She encouraged members to post information on the history happenings in their libraries.

Deb provided specifics on our four sponsored programs at the NJLA Annual Conference on April 21st. Jane Thoner will be presenting genealogy basics from 9:00 to 9:50 am. New Jersey authors, Leonard DeGraaf, Joanne Rajoppi, and Michael Gabriele, will be discussing their books on Thomas Edison, New Jersey Diners, and the “Brunswick Boys” from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Jackie Haun and Andrea Reidell will describe innovations for attracting students to special collections from 3:10 to 4:00pm. Keys to successful grant writing will be highlighted by Sarah Hull, Doug Baldwin, and Heidi Cramer from 4:10 to 5:00pm. For details on these and other conference events, visit the website at http://njlaconference.info/schedule.

Ken will submit the language to the membership proposing to change the by-laws review to biennial from annual. It will be added to new business at the subsequent meeting.
Danny reported that the Awards Subcommittee is accepting nominations for the Susan G. Swartzburg Preservation Award until March 5th.

Danny updated the group on the local history census initiative. Word has been sent to library directors throughout the state.

Announcements

Laura said that MARAC is looking to revise the Innovative Archives Award, which recognized smaller organizations. The New Jersey contingent is working to bring the Spring 2017 Conference to New Jersey, perhaps in Newark. Let her know if you have ideas for other potential host locations. They would also like to have more workshops in New Jersey, and are looking for potential venues among our membership organizations, which can support 30 to 40 people. The MARAC/NEA Boston 2015 Conference is set for March 19th through the 21st.

Joseph Klett introduced the work and mission of the New Jersey Cultural Alliance for Response (NJCAR). It is the information clearing house for cultural institutions on emergency preparedness and response. The group will be conducting an all day disaster response and recovery Program in Bergen County on 7/15/2015 and Camden County on 7/22/2015. They have scheduled a statewide summit on 9/9/2015. NJCAR is seeking a NJLA representative to serve on its committee. Danny said he will discuss NJLA participation with Pat Tumulty.

Karl J. Niederer reported on an initiative for assessing historical artifacts. This program would function like the CAPES program, but with a focus on “non-flat” materials.

John Beekman called for volunteer judges for the NJ National History Day competition. Regional events will be held on March 1st at Rutgers University, March 7th at Kean University, and March 28th at Princeton University. The statewide competition will be at William Patterson University on May 2nd. To volunteer please contact NJHISTORYDAY@wpunj.edu.

As part of Preservation Week, Gary will be presenting a program on preserving family photographs on April 30th at Monmouth County Library. If you are doing anything for Preservation Week, let Sarah know so she can put it in “The Chronicle”.

Nancy Madacsi mentioned two upcoming programs in Sussex County. First, the Sparta Historical Society is sponsoring a March 12th program on the archaeology of the Picatinny Arsenal . Second, Jeff Stoveken, creator of the Sussex excursions Facebook site, will be speaking on May 14th about the county of 100 years ago.

Certain municipalities will be commemorating their anniversaries. Carolyn Dorsey mentioned exhibits for the anniversaries of Morris Township and Morristown this year. Tom Ankner reported that Newark’s 350th anniversary in 2016 will be marked with programs and events.

Laura Poll announced a program tonight on Camp Evans in Monmouth County.

Kim Adams provided information on happenings at Rutgers University Special Collections and New Brunswick Free Public Library. The Special Collections exhibition, "New Jersey before the Revolution: Land and People", is ongoing here at Alexander Library. At the public library, the history of the Crossroads Theater was celebrated with a photo exhibit and panel discussion.

Ken Kaufman reported that the Somerset County Historical Society had a water pipe accident at the Van Veghten House in January. Although steps were taken to protect their collections, the Society remains closed until further notice.

Adjournment

Without objections, the meeting was adjourned 11:06 am.

The meeting was followed by presentations on map digitization by Kate Cordes, manager of the New York Public Library’s Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division and Linda Langscheid, Digital Projects Manager, Scholarly Communication Center of Rutgers University Libraries