- Digital archiving will help you organize, locate, reference, and re-use your collection
- Digital archiving will help you preserve a cultural record that is meaningful, accessible, and organized for future generations
- The American Institute for Conservation
- AMIA - The Association of Moving Image Archivists
- Archivists of the Houston Area
- Gaylor Archival
- Library of Congress Collections Care
- Library of Congress Personal Archiving
- Los Angeles Public Library: The Memory Lab
- Northeast Document Conservation Center
- Roberts Library DIY Memory Lab
- Smithsonian Institution Archives
You can use the free Ancestry Library Edition using one of the Perry Public Library computers. This is only available to patrons for use at the library and features many invaluable tools and resources for both family and personal history.
Find our Ancestry Library Edition in our E-Library Collection.
Even with digital preservation of personal history, you may want to care for physical items, such as diaries, photos, paintings, or other family keepsakes. These links offer information materials for caring for, maintaining, and storing private collections.
- Roberts Library: DIY Memory Lab Personal Archiving Supply List
- Smithsonian Institution Archives: Selected Vendors of Preservation Supplies
- Gaylord Archival Guide to Collections Care
- Archivists of the Houston Area Preserving Family Photographs: A Guide to Safeguarding Your Personal History
- Northeast Document Conservation Center Preservation: Caring for Private and Family Collections
- Northeast Document Conservation Center Preservation: Cleaning Books and Shelves
- Northeast Document Conservation Center Preservation Leaflet: Storage Enclosures for Photographic Materials
- Northeast Document Conservation Center Preservation: What's Behind Your Frame?
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - BOOKS
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - CERAMICS AND GLASS
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - FURNITURE
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - HOME VIDEOTAPE
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - PAINTINGS
- American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works: Caring for Your Treasures - PHOTOGRAPHS
- The University of Texas at Austin - Conserving Documents After a Flood
Summer Library Program 2026
Celebrating America’s 250th birthday this year helps us to appreciate the value of preserving our national, community, and personal histories. This includes photographs, journals, artifacts, and more. While preserving physical collections is important, space considerations and preservation challenges lead many people to explore digital archiving. As part of the Perry Public Library Summer Library Program 2026, we’ve created a Personal Digital Archiving information page on our website. This comprehensive page includes expert tips, downloads, information, and guides.