About

The North Carolina Preservation Consortium (NCPC) is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to the preservation of collections in libraries, museums, archives, and historic sites; monuments, memorials, and outdoor art; archaeological sites and collections; historic and cultural architecture; and private collections of family treasures. NCPC supports proper care and handling; storage and environmental control; disaster preparedness; conservation; and collection security. NCPC is committed to preserving tangible and intangible heritage for present and future generations.

The Consortium developed from a series of 1989 meetings of visionary leaders, including Howard McGinn, State Librarian of North Carolina; David Olsen, State Archivist of North Carolina; Dr. Benjamin F. Speller Jr., Dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University; Susan Nutter, Director of North Carolina State University Libraries; Ashley Jackson, North Carolina Newspaper Project Manager at Duke University Libraries; David Molke-Hansen, Director of the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Don Etherington, President of Etherington Conservation Services.

NCPC was incorporated in the State of North Carolina on March 12, 1990 and received permanent non-profit status from the IRS on August 17, 1994. Our preservation programs are made possible by the generous financial support of our institutional members, individual members, and corporate sponsors. Fees for the Annual Conference and workshops cover some event expenses. Grants and philanthropy supplement the NCPC budget.

Leadership for NCPC is provided by volunteers who serve on the Board of Directors, committees, and task forces. Governance for NCPC is documented in the consortium’s Bylaws and Policies.

NCPC offers free preservation information and consultations via phone or email with referrals to respected experts in the field. Resources are also available on our Web site with links to established preservation organizations and institutions.

The Consortium provides affordable continuing education workshops on a variety of preservation topics for personnel in collection institutions and students and faculty in collection disciplines. Workshops include preservation management; disaster planning and response; and basic, intermediate, and advanced book repair. Other workshops may be tailored to a specific audience.

Our annual conference addresses a selected preservation topic in depth. Past conferences have focused on book and paper conservation; preservation of recorded sound collections; photograph preservation; collection security; digital preservation; mold; and floods.

Each year NCPC awards preservation grants to assist North Carolina libraries, archives, museums, historic sites, and other collection institutions meet their preservation goals. Grants may be used for preservation and conservation assessments and consultations, improving environmental conditions, storage furniture and enclosures, conservation tools and equipment, conservation treatment, education and training, and preservation projects.

NCPC is a member of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, Heritage Preservation, and the United States Committee of the Blue Shield.

For additional information about NCPC please contact our Executive Director.