Welcome! My name is Melissa Dalton and have been working in the GLAMR (galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and records management) field for over a decade. I began my career in the museum world working with natural history and military collections. However, I have spent the last eight years in archives and records management, focusing on military and local government records. I have a firm understanding of best practices and industry standards, as well as experience with collection management database systems and preservation systems, such as PastPerfect, ArchivesSpace, and Preservica. I maintain active memberships with GLAMR professional organizations to stay abreast of current issue and events in the field.
Philosophy
I was raised to believe that knowledge and a commitment to education were important to ensure a good quality of life. Our family’s wealth was not in material goods, but in experiences. Our family trips revolved around archaeological, historical, and geological sites, and for us, libraries and cultural institutions were a path to a better and fuller life. We went to the library regularly and I spent many afternoons trying to find the next great book to read, but also “learning how to learn.” As a result, I gained an affinity for learning about the diversity of the world.
I adopted the idea that respect for our differences, and the diversity it creates, was key to understanding the world around me. Without diversity, we wouldn’t have the rich cultures, traditions, music, or art that so many of us enjoy. These different lifeways give us insight into our own past, and this is especially important to understand in our increasingly connected and digital world. My background in anthropology, public history, and information sciences, further instilled in me that concepts such as diversity and fair and equal access to information are vital to the growth of our communities. Access to information provides opportunities for learning and seeing beyond our own small world, and embracing the richness that a diverse world brings.
Let’s work together to ensure that our collective history is preserved and accessible for the future.
What People Say
You have to know the past to understand the present.
Carl Sagan
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
Maya Angelou
This memory is everything. Without it, we are blind. Without it, we leave the fate of our world to chance.
Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Preserve It, LLC 