Call for Proposals ACA 2012: In Search of Archival Gold Whitehorse, Yukon 7 - 9 June 2012

Gold is undoubtedly a valuable and precious commodity, and has been for centuries.  People have travelled around the globe in the hope of finding it, just as they did in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. This influx of people had a profound impact on the indigenous First Nations and on the development of the Yukon Territory.

Within Canadian archives is another form of gold, one that is in many cases “priceless” simply because it is unique and irreplaceable:  archival records.  These archival records are the foundation of Canada’s rich and vibrant documentary heritage, much of which is gathered and protected by dedicated and enthusiastic archivists eager to fulfill their key role in determining society’s collective memory.

Over the past several years, we have examined archival theory and core functions, our community and its relationship to other heritage and user communities, the impact of an increasingly digital world, and the uses of archives. 

Now it’s time for us to celebrate and highlight that “archival gold,” and to discuss the opportunities, issues and challenges that these records present, in the same year that the Yukon Archives in Whitehorse is celebrating its fortieth anniversary.  Traditional textual manuscripts, government records, photographs, sound and moving images, maps, electronic records, artwork, architectural plans– all of these things are our treasures.  As Dominion Archivist Arthur G. Doughty famously said,

Of all national assets archives are the most precious; they are the gift of one generation to another and the extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilization.

The 2012 ACA Program Committee invites proposals from all areas of archival theory and practice that focus on records in any and all media.  Topics might include:

·      Examinations/highlights of archival fonds/collections (e.g., “studies in documents”);

·      Eureka! moments in archival history and their impact on current practices;

·      What exactly is archival gold? (e.g., cultural definitions, societal priorities, community perspectives, including First Nations);

·      Where and what is the gold in the digital age? (e.g., social media, collaborative workspaces, cloud computing);

·      How do archivists know something is “gold” and what do they do when it turns out to be “fools gold”? (e.g., appraisal, reappraisal);

·      How do we share our hidden gold with others? (e.g., dissemination, use, accessibility);

·      Do we search for and preserve archival gold on our own, or do we work with partners, or both? (e.g., relationships with creators, users, other professionals and communities).

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS:

The 2012 Conference Program Committee invites contributions, of either a practical and/or theoretical nature, in a variety of formats including:

1. Traditional session: formal presentation of papers; approximately 20 minutes per speaker, with questions to follow as time allows.

2. Panel discussion: abbreviated presentation of papers; approximately 10-15 minutes per speaker, with discussion to follow.

3. Roundtable: brief 5-7 minute presentations with open discussion

4. Focused Debate on a specific topic: brief presentations with open discussion & debate to follow

5. Poster session: information is summarized using texts and images, presented in a poster format

Use the “Call for Submission” button on the ACA website at http://www.archivists.ca/.  Submitting your session proposal in electronic form using this link is strongly encouraged.

The deadline for these proposals is: Friday, September 23^rd, 2011

For 2012, ACA will use the “Call for Submission” button for any workshop proposals that will be associated with the Annual Conference; these submissions will go to the Professional Learning Committee, which will make its decisions in mid October 2011. 

Workshop is defined as a full 1-day or 2-day event, generally combining presentations, group discussions and hands-on activities for a group of about 25 – 30 participants.  Workshops can cover any topic/subject, and may not be related directly to the conference theme.

Note: Please be advised there will be a Call for Student Papers as well as a Call for Posters later this year, with submission deadlines early in 2012.

Please feel free to direct questions to:

Catherine Bailey
Chair, ACA 2012 Conference Program
c/o Library and Archives Canada
550 blvd de la Cité
Gatineau, QC K1A 0N4
Telephone:  819-934-7332
Fax: 819-934-6800
catherine.bailey@lac-bac.gc.ca
archivists.ca/content/annual-conference

InForum 2011: Communicate : Collaborate : Innovate 11-14 September 2011, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin Northern Territory, Australia

InForum 2011: Communicate : Collaborate : Innovate

11-14 September 2011, Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin Northern Territory,

Australia

Hosted by Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIM

Professionals Australasia) the theme for inForum 2011 “Communicate :

Collaborate : Innovate” is about working together to innovate in the face of

constant pressure to build knowledge, develop methods, learn new

technologies and justify an organisation’s needs. What are we doing already?

What are we, or should we be, doing differently to move forward for

tomorrow’s challenges?

inForum 2011 is all about how the information sector is, or should be,

working together and innovating for the future. External pressures will not

go away, but neither will we:  innovation, communication and collaboration

are the keys to success.

The multiple stream program is complemented by special interest group

meetings, networking opportunities, an optional breakfast session on leading

cross-generational teams, optional workshops, social events and a Trade

Exhibition featuring leading industry providers of relevant software,

products, storage, education, careers, training, consultancy, preservation

and recovery, safety equipment and legislative and advisory bodies. Many of

the leading industry consultants and vendors will be available to you to

consider and lobby for improvements in your own processes, systems or

services.

inForum 2011 provides an avenue to share the same challenges and concerns in

the records and information management profession by networking with others

from across the globe. The Convention program promises to be challenging and

diverse and will feature Australian, New Zealand and international speakers

including Australia’s new Information Commissioner, Professor John McMillan,

Australian Computer Society President Anthony Wong, Yadi Sumrahyadi,

Director of Accreditation and Records Management Profession, Arsip Nasional,

Indonesia and Shadrack Katuu from University of South Africa discussing the

management of public health records. Steve Bailey from the United Kingdom

will be joining the convention via video streaming. Kim Sadler, also from

the United Kingdom will be discussing the electronic integration of forensic

evidence and Brooke Wooldridge from Digital Library of the Caribbean, USA

will explore new partnerships that emerged in the effort to re-establish

community identify and memory after the Haitian earthquake, a topic that

continues to touch us all.  H. Larry Eiring CRM, FAI, a former President of

ICA Section on Archival Education and Training will explore the world of

digital natives and the ICA-Req project will examine how global functional

requirements can be applied at a local level.

>From educational tracks to tutorials to showcases, and more, this convention

offers expert-led practical information you will put to immediate use as

soon as you return to work. inForum 2011 for also the venue to engage with

other information and records management professionals to make contacts with

new acquaintances and forge invaluable professional alliances.

To view or download the registration program or the topic abstracts and

speaker biographies, or just to find out more about the convention go to the

inForum website at: www.inforum.net.au

Best wishes and hope to see you there.

Marian

Dr Marian Hoy MRIM

Professional Development & Education Officer

RIM Professionals Australasia

Phone:  + 61 (0) 419 213 843

Email:     marian.hoy@rimpa.com.au

inForum: www.inforum.net.au

IAM: www.informationawarenessmonth.com.au

Call for Applications - Digital Preservation Management: Short-Term Solutions for Long-Term Problems

Call for Applications
We are very pleased that our colleagues at the University at Albany, SUNY will host the five-day
Digital Preservation Management workshop this June in Albany, New York.  Application Form available on April 13, 2011 at 1:00pm ET at http://www.regonline.com/DPMworkshop-Albany2011.

Digital Preservation Management: Short-Term Solutions for Long-Term Problems
Location:  Albany, New York, USA
Dates:  June 5 – 10, 2011
Tuition:  USD $ 950.00

 Who Should Attend?
The intended audience for the workshop series is managers at organizations of all kinds who are or will be responsible for managing digital content over time. The workshop begins on Sunday evening with an opening session, continues Monday -Thursday 9am - 5pm, and concludes on Friday at noon. 
Additional information about the workshop content and instructors is available at:
http:// www.icpsr.umich.edu/dpm/workshops/fiveday.html.

Instructors and Keynote Speaker
Nancy McGovern is the lead instructor for the workshop and will be joined by three topical instructors.  The Keynote speaker for the Albany June 2011 workshop is Theresa Pardo, the Center Director of the Center for Technology in Government.

Application for Registration
Workshop applications are reviewed before a formal acceptance and registration for the workshop may occur – a two-step process.  The application system will be available at 1pm ET on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 and will remain open until the workshop is full (24 participants).  We have already had a very high level of interest in the workshop and encourage early application. Apply online at: http:// www.regonline.com/DPMworkshop-Albany2011

Please Note: Applicants will be notified within five (5) business days if they are accepted to register for the June Albany, NY workshop. Until then, all applicant status will be ‘pending’.  Persons accepted to register will be able to do so at the beginning of May when the registration and tuition payment system will be made available.

About the Workshop
The Digital Preservation Management Workshops, a series presented since 2003, incorporate community standards and exemplars of good practice to provide practical guidance for developing effective digital preservation programs. The workshops were initially developed at Cornell University beginning in 2003 under the direction of Anne Kenney and Nancy McGovern.  Since 2006, McGovern has continued curricular development and directing the workshop from ICPSR at the University of Michigan. This has included development of Special Topic advanced workshops and a Train-the-Trainer program.  Through 2010, the workshop series was developed with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. 
 If you have questions, please contact us at: digital-preservation @ icpsr.umich.edu 

Nancy Y McGovern
Director, Digital Preservation Management workshops

http:// www.icpsr.umich.edu/dpm/workshops