MANALAPAN, NJ – To help mark Preservation Week, a free program and lecture on preservation techniques for family photos will be held on Thursday, April 26 by the Monmouth County Archives staff at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Dr.

“Preserving Family Photographs,” presented by Monmouth County Archivist Gary Saretzky, begins at 10 a.m. From 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., the public is invited to visit the Archives, located in the lower level of the library headquarters. Advance registration is not required.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to have up to three personal documents or photos professionally digitized and saved to a CD to take home at no charge. Archives staff will also be on hand to answer questions on how to use the Archives to research family history.

The program is part of the American Library Association’s annual Preservation Week, April 22 through 28. 

“Family history in written documents and photos should last a more than a lifetime and be passed on to future generations,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said. “Here’s a chance for residents to learn the how-to of keeping family photos intact and ready for viewing decades from now. The Monmouth County Archives does a great job preserving county history and can help residents preserve their family history as well.”

“We want to reach out to the community to let them know about the preservation work conducted by the library and the archives,” Saretzky said.

 Preservation Week is sponsored by the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services, a division of American Library Association (ALA). It is designed to raise awareness of the role libraries and other cultural institutions can play in providing ongoing preservation information.

For more information, call 732-308-3772 or 732-431-7220, ext. 7242.

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