Participation in this program requires a two-year commitment. In the first year, the institution will be assigned an assessor, who will work with the institution over the course of the program. The assessor will require access to institutional policies, procedures, plans, and other information. During the first year, the assessor will schedule a time to visit the institution and conduct a preservation needs assessment. The preservation needs assessment process encompasses a general evaluation of the institution's preservation needs for their collections and includes: environment (temperature, relative humidity, pollution, and light), housekeeping, pest control, fire protection, security, and disaster preparedness; collection storage, handling, exhibition, and treatment; and preservation planning. The site visit consists of a review of the facility conducted by a CCAHA preservation expert, an examination of the collections, and interviews with relevant staff. The written report provides observations, recommendations, and resources to serve as a guide in the development of a comprehensive preservation plan for the collections.
In the second year, the assessor will then work with the institution to develop a three-five-year preservation plan for their collections. A preservation plan provides a strategic framework for advancing preservation and collections care initiatives. The preservation plan will addressthe same range of collections care- and management-related topics as the needs assessment.