May Day 2011

The State Archives of North Carolina, part of the Division of Historical Resources, collects, preserves, and makes available for public use historical and documentary materials relating to North Carolina. Protecting these collections is one of our core functions. This year we are joining in the nationwide effort to draw attention to the importance of protecting historical collections, regardless of where they are kept. This May Day we want to remind private historical societies, individual citizens, and state and local government officials that it is never too late to protect vital records. Start on May Day by selecting one thing you can do to improve the protection of your vital records in the event of an emergency. Our state’s documentary heritage is too valuable to lose. Working together we can protect these resources and ensure they are around for generations to come. This May Day start a new habit, one that you continue each year. Do at least one thing that will make a difference when and if an emergency occurs.

• Create or update your emergency contact list
• Review your disaster response plan
• Conduct a disaster drill
• Survey your building for risks and take steps to mitigate them

Good disaster preparedness plans aren’t just for offices holding official public records. Individual citizens and private historical associations need to prepare to protect their vital and historical records as well. An ounce of preparation is easier and cheaper than trying to salvage damaged records after a disaster. To assist those seeking additional information on the protection of vital and historical records, please consult the following resources:

Information for Individual Citizens

Private Historical Associations

The State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) received a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) to provide disaster preparedness training across the state. Part of that grant included a redesigned website, with a section dedicated to disaster preparedness and emergency response planning. The full website is available now, and the disaster preparedness portion of the site is available here.

State and Local Government Officials

There are numerous resources available to public records custodians interested in vital records identification and protection. Our records analysts can assist agencies in utilizing standard records management tools to enhance emergency preparedness planning.

• Intergovernmental Preparedness for Essential Records in North Carolina initiative (IPER)
• State Agency Records Information
• County and Municipal Records Information
• Workshops, including on-line training opportunities

See also:

• You can visit the National May Day homepage for more information about this initiative.
• The Department of Cultural Resources podcast "Spring Has Sprung" (May 1, 2009) includes an interview with Sarah Koonts on the May Day initiative.