The AAO’s Professional Development Committee presents the 2026 Pre-Conference Workshop
Care and Conservation of Paper-Based Collections
This year the AAO is pleased to announce that we will be offering two pre-conference workshops on the subject of paper care and conservation. Workshop A is intended as an introduction for those completely new to the topic, while Workshop B will present intermediate-advanced topics. Participants can register for Workshop A, Workshop B, or both, depending on their experience.
Workshop A: Introduction
In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of how to care for, and manage, the long-term preservation of their paper-based collections. The workshop will begin with an overview of how to safely handle a variety of paper-based items with instructions on identifying common condition issues that can affect safe handling. Through hands-on activities, participants will then learn how to carry out basic conservation treatments, including fastener removal, dry cleaning, and some passive flattening methods. The second half of the workshop will address preventive conservation concerns. Participants will learn how to select an appropriate housing for different types of collection items and will learn how to make a four-flap folder. The workshop will end with an overview of the ten agents of deterioration and a discussion of environmental standards for long-term collections care.
Learning Objectives
- Safely handle a wide variety of paper-based collection items.
- Know how to identify different types of damage to paper items.
- Be able to carry out basic conservation treatments and assess when a Conservator should be consulted.
- Choose appropriate housings for a variety of artefacts and construct a four flap folder custom sized to a specific item.
- Recognize hazards and protect oneself and others so you can safely work with collections.
- Understand the ten agents of deterioration and recognize how they can affect collections.
Workshop B: Advanced
This workshop is geared towards participants who already have a basic understanding and familiarity with handling paper-based collection items. In this workshop participants will learn more advanced paper conservation topics, beginning with condition reporting. Through a hands-on exercise participants will learn how to identify and correctly record complex condition issues. Proper techniques and materials for framing will be discussed and participants will practice creating different styles of safe mounting for exhibitions. Participants will then complete a complex unframing procedure which mimics the state in which many items are often donated to collections. The workshop will end with a discussion of preventive conservation and the ten agents of deterioration in storage and exhibit contexts.
Learning Objectives
- Complete different types of condition reports including the proper identification of complex condition issues.
- Understand proper framing and exhibition methods for paper-based collection items.
- Safely unframe paper-based materials, and know when to call a Conservator to assist with more complex issues related to incorrect matting and/or framing.
- Mount items safely for exhibition and be able to select appropriate methods for different item types and circumstances.
- Understand ideal environmental conditions for safe storage and exhibition of paper-based collections.
When: May 6, 2026, Workshop A: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Workshop B: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Room 105, John M. Kelly Library, University of St. Michael’s College 113 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON
Cost [per workshop]: $100 (AAO members); $70 (AAO student members); $140 (non-members)
Workshop pricing includes a $20 supplies fee.
Additional requirements:
Participants in Workshop B should have some prior experience in working with paper-based collections, or complete Workshop A if they are new to the field.
All tools and materials will be provided for participants.
About the instructor:
Laura Fedynyszyn is the Conservator at the E.J. Pratt Library at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. She specializes in book and paper conservation and also works as a Conservator in private practice at a variety of other GTA museums and galleries. She is a graduate of the Fleming College Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management program. After graduation she completed internships and contract positions in the conservation departments of many institutions including Library and Archives Canada, The Canadian Museum of Nature, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. In 2017 she was awarded the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Paper Conservation at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida where she completed significant treatments on historic Florida railroad blueprints, and Vigia Artist Books made in Cuba and housed within the University’s Cuban Heritage Collection.
Format: In person with a mix of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
Recording: This workshop will NOT be recorded.
Registration: A minimum of 10 participants and a maximum of 36 participants may register for this event. Institutional members can register three participants at the members' rate. If you require additional time to prepare payment, please contact aao@aao-archivists.cato set up an invoice.
Please be advised that this event is governed by the AAO’s Code of Conduct and is subject to the AAO’s Cancellation Policy. Questions about the workshop can be directed to the PDC chair at professionaldevelopment@aao-archivists.ca.
