Illinois State Archives

MAYDAY: A CALL TO ACTION

Protecting historical collections is one of the fundamental responsibilities of archivists. Therefore, archives, libraries, museums, and historic preservation organizations across America are setting aside May 1 to participate in MayDay, a national effort to protect collections from disasters.

The Society of American Archivists (SAA) created the MayDay initiative in 2006 and promoted the idea to its members and allied organizations. Last year, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, with SAA’s help, expanded the concept to include all kinds of collecting institutions and historic preservation interests.

The goal of MayDay is for collecting institutions to take the time that day to discuss or highlight emergency response and disaster preparedness initiatives. MayDay is a day when archivists and other cultural heritage professionals can do something that can be accomplished in a day but will have a significant impact on an individual’s or a repository’s ability to respond to an emergency.

For a variety of MayDay activity ideas, visit the SAA’s A Call to Action on MayDay Web site or the Heritage Emergency National Task Force’s MayDay Web site. Do one thing that will make a difference in responding to an emergency.

You can make a difference!