Reppert Gerber, Alison
Head of Preservation Programs
Reppert Gerber, Alison
Head of Preservation Programs
As the Head of Preservation Programs for the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA) in Washington, DC, Alison oversees preservation-related activities, which include collection need and risk assessment, preventive conservation tasks (such as environmental and pest management), budgeting and procurement, and long-term preservation strategies and initiatives. Since coming to the Archives in 2015, Alison has led a pan-institutional audiovisual survey and an audiovisual preservation readiness assessment for eleven participating Smithsonian units. She now directs the Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative (AVMPI) to catalog, digitize, and share SI's audiovisual collections. Alison also serves as a member of the Smithsonian's Preparedness and Response in Collections Emergencies (PRICE) team, focusing on logistic-related needs across SI.
Geographic Focus
Background And Education
Education And Training
- M.A. in Museum Studies, Johns Hopkins University , Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences 2012 - 2014
- B.A. in Art History, Chemistry, Seton Hill University 2005 - 2009
Awards And Honors
- Alan Stark Award, conferred by Association of Moving Image Archivists, 2020
- CRC Press Chemistry Achievement Award, conferred by Seton Hill University, 2007
Publications
Selected Publications
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Article
- Boretzky, Felicia, Forsberg, Walter, Hagan, Siobhan, Henry-Griffin, Kayla, Hockstein, Dan, Gerber, Alison Reppert, and Toth, Brianna. 2025. "Increasing diffusion: Rediscovering the Smithsonian’s media collections through the Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative." Journal of Digital Media Management, 13, (2). https://doi.org/10.69554/MHMH2220. 2025
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Chapter
- Reppert Gerber, Alison R. 2022. "Case A: A Pan-Institutional Approach to Audiovisual Collection Inventories." In Inventorying Cultural Heritage Collections: A Guide for Museums and Historical Societies. Vanderwarf, Sandra and Romanowski, Bethany, editors. Washington, DC: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2022
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Report
- Hix, Kelli, Reppert Gerber, Alison, and Sobers, Kira. 2017. Pan-Institutional Audiovisual Collections Survey. Smithsonian Institution. 2017
Presentations
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Presentation
- Reppert Gerber, Alison R. and Sobers, Kira. 2020. Using Data to Advocate for the Preservation of Audiovisual Collections [presentation]. Works in Progress, June 3, 2020. OCLC Webinar.
- Reppert Gerber, Alison R. 2022. What Lives in Your Collections? [presentation]. May 25, 2022. Smithsonian 175th Film Fest. Zoom: Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
Affiliation
Head Of
Member Of
- Association of Moving Image Archivists Member 2020 -
- American Institute for Conservation Member 2011 -
Contact
Location
- Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Department
Mailing Address
- PO Box 37012, MRC 507, Washington DC 20013
Shipping Address
- 600 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 3000 West, Washington DC 20024
