Sixty cultural heritage leaders from thirty-two countries, including representatives from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, Australia, Europe, and North America gathered in October 2009 in Salzburg, Austria, to develop a series of practical recommendations to ensure optimal collections conservation worldwide. Convened at Schloss Leopoldskron, the gathering was conducted in partnership by the Salzburg Global Seminar (SGS) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The participants were conservation specialists from libraries and museums, as well as leaders of major conservation centers and cultural heritage programs from around the world. At the end of the seminar, the Fellows unanimously endorsed a Salzburg Declaration on the Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage that affirmed the importance and value of cultural heritage to cultures and societies globally. Lonnie Bunch, the founding director of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, delivered the keynote address, "A Call to Remember: The Power of Preservation," which addressed the question "Why Preserve?" and noted the ability of objects to communicate complexity, pain, and memory to a wide array of audiences. The plenary sessions successfully combined presentations of general principles and case studies illustrating these principles and were followed by lengthy question-and-answer periods and further discussion. These plenary sessions are: (1) Advocacy and Public Awareness, moderated by Debra Hess Norris and presented by Simon Cane, Ch'ng Kim See, and Samuel Jones; (2) Education and Training, moderated by Vinod Daniel and presented by Kathy Dardes, Marcelle Scott, and Michele Cloonan; and Fireside Chat: Conservation in the Developing World, moderated by Vinod Daniel and presented by Alain Godonou, Faeza Hussain, Carolina Castellanos, Jasmin Simmons, and Loh Heng Noi; (3) Indigenous Communities, Access, and Cultural Rejuvenation, moderated by Vinod Daniel and presented by Miriam Clavir and Raseroka; (4) Emergency Preparedness, moderated by Debra Hess Norris and presented by Hanna Pennock, Franz Grupp, and Lawrence Reger; (5) Collaboration, moderated by Debra Hess Norris and presented by Tim Whalen, Catherine Antomarchi, and Wivian Diniz; and (6) Sustainability, moderated by Vinod Daniel and presented Jerry Podany, Cristina Sabbioni, and Anupam Sah. Working Group Recommendations List of Participants, Salzburg Declaration is appended.