Scope and Content Monthly ACA Newsletter
August 2021, Volume 2, Issue 8
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Click here if you are having trouble reading the newsletter.
Scope and Content is issued the first Tuesday of each month. If you have any comments or feedback, please contact the Communications Committee.
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Welcome to August, everyone! Well, it may be the dog days of summer, but your ACA Board has indeed been busy.
Announcements
Carr McLean Sponsorship: As many of you may know, Carr McLean has regularly demonstrated its tremendous support for the ACA’s fundamental mission of representing and supporting the needs and interests of archives and records professionals throughout Canada through past conference sponsorship. The Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Carr McLean has decided to extend this support to the direct benefit of ACA members, which will provide all member categories with a 10% discount off all purchases!
10% ACA Member Discount Details:
- Overview: ACA members (individual & institutional) will receive a 10% discount off their Carr McLean purchases over the course of an entire membership year
- Conditions: This discount can be applied to any order $100 and over and is non-transferrable
- Distribution: Codes will be provided to members by the ACA Secretariat upon their annual membership renewal
- Initial Roll-Out: This discount will commence September 2021, and this code will remain effective until December 31, 2021. A new code will be provided for the 2022 membership year. You will receive your 2021 discount code soon via email from the ACA Secretariat.
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Endorsement of CHA Statement: After much research and informed deliberation, the Board has decided to endorse the Canadian History Association’s recently released statement regarding use of the word “genocide” when speaking of the history of violence against Indigenous peoples in Canada. This thought-provoking decision will result in the following actions:
1. A letter of support will be written to the Canadian History Association articulating ACA’s endorsement. This letter will be cc’d to the Boards of our provincial/territorial associations/councils, the CCA, LAC, the Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, the Metis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. 2. Any future ACA communication re: the history of violence against Indigenous peoples in this country will be referred to as genocide. No more sugarcoating. No more denial. 3. As part of our ongoing professional development, advocacy & awareness, and communications programs, the ACA will be providing members with resources and educational opportunities through which to learn about our nation’s horrific history, as well as highlighting ways members can contribute to the healing and reconciliation process on an institutional and even personal level.
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As always, the Board welcomes your feedback! If there is a program or service you would like to see developed or an initiative you would like the ACA to consider following, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or any one of your Board members. As a member-driven association, your Board is here for you. Warmest regards,
Erica Hernandez-Read, ACA President
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The audit of the ACA's 2020 financial statements was completed by Ouseley Hanvey Clipsham Deep LLP Chartered Professional Accountants in July 2021. At year end 2020, the ACA had gained a modest revenue of $762.00. Members are welcome to contact the ACA Treasurer, Andrea McCutcheon, at treasurer@archivists.ca and the Executive Director at executive.director@archivists.ca with financial inquiries at any time throughout the year. A full Treasurer's Report will be made available in the ACA's Annual Report The Bulletin in advance of the next Annual General Meeting.
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Thank you to the 105 respondents who took time to complete our ACA 2021 post-conference survey! Your helpful feedback and suggestions will be used to plan next year’s conference and beyond.
ACA 2022 is scheduled to take place at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus from June 15-18, 2022. Stay tuned for the call for submissions in September!
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The Professional Development (PD) Committee is seeking six new members to guide and support its expanding mandate. Acknowledging the imperative for the PD committee to better represent the needs and interests of the larger ACA membership, we encourage applications from archival professionals who are:
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Indigenous, Black or People of Colour, or from other equity-deserving groups;
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and/or students;
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and/or located outside of Ontario and Quebec;
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and/or who work in archives outside of a university setting (e.g., community, corporate, government, etc.).
For more information about the PD Committee's activities and to submit an expression of interest, please visit the ACA volunteer form.
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The Professional Development Committee has an amazing lineup of workshops planned for the fall and early winter. All workshops are listed on the ACA Workshops page. The cost for each workshop is listed below, but if you require support or subsidization to attend any of these workshops, please contact the ACA office.
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The Record that Dare Not Speak Its Name: Intimate Records in the Archives
September 22, 2021, 1:00-2:00 PM EDT, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Members $30.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $15.00 | Subsidized / ACA Supported Members $ 0 | Non-Members $60.00
Led by Faythe Lou and James Goldie
It's a quandary most archivists will face at some point in their careers: how best to handle ethical and privacy concerns when arranging and describing highly personal, sexual materials (what we are calling "intimate records") uncovered in an archives. What underlying assumptions inform our perceptions of these typically "taboo" records? How do we employ appropriate language in our descriptions of them? And how do we balance issues of privacy and access when we encounter such sexually intimate materials? While there is no definitive answer as to how archivists should properly manage materials that expose the most private parts of an individual - both literally and figuratively - this workshop will provide a space to explore these topics and hopefully work towards some best practices when it comes to working with intimate records. We will summarize and share some of the historical and archival literature on this topic, but most of all we are interested in creating a discussion space for archivists to talk about the ethical/representation issues inherent in dealing with intimate records. We want this workshop to be an opportunity for archival professionals to consider the unique challenges presented by intimate records and to share some of their own experiences dealing with them.
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Conjuring the Spirits of Success – Heritage Wins the Day
September 29, 2021, 12:00-2:00 PM EDT, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $40.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $20.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members | Non-Members $60.00
Led by Dave Evans
A look at how to successfully develop heritage material from your archival collection. Focusing in on four types of organizations, we show how successful strategies are really a matter of knowing your customer and providing the convenience of access:
- Large collection, many partners
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Large collection, few partners
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Small collection, many partners
- Small collection, few partners.
Examples are taken from across North America, Europe, and Africa. Specifically how to maintain the balance with preserving the integrity of mission statement and collection with the needs of partners and our clients.
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Information Governance for Archivists
October 6, 2021, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM EDT, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 | Non-Members $75.00
Led by Dr. Lisa Daulby
The effective management and use of organizational records/information/data is necessary and remains a key objective of recordkeeping professionals. This course serves as an introduction to the field of Information Governance (IG) for Archivists not familiar with the construct. This course is designed to provide an overview of the theoretical principles, methodologies, and practical administration of an Information Governance program. The professional responsibilities of an IG professional working in today's business, government, academic, and nonprofit environments will be examined as well as the fundamental functions and proficiencies of the profession. The role and nature of record/information strategies, techniques, and technologies will be explored. Topics include the nature of records/information/data, the evolution of records management to information governance, risk management, strategy development, legal and policy matters, industry standards, and technology alignment. The course also examines emerging technology trends and their impact on the profession in an ever-changing digital environment.
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Description and Access for Anti-Black Archival Materials
October 22, 2021, 1:00-2:30 PM EDT, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 | Non-Members $75.00 Led by Melissa J. Nelson
This
workshop will address anti-Black racism in archival records by
providing methods on how to create inclusive descriptions and how to
provide access to these materials while minimizing harm. This workshop
will ask participants to think critically about the impact of
descriptive and access practices for racist archival records. The
workshop will include interactive activities and discussions with time
for reflection.
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International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF): What is it and Why Should my Archives Adopt it?
November 4, 2021, 1:00-3:00 PM EDT, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 | Non-Members $75.00
Led by Kelli Babcock, Rachel Di Cresce, and Jessica Barr
Many library, museum, gallery, and archives institutions invest resources to digitize and present their records online. This workshop will introduce an important standard when considering the presentation and delivery of digitized archives and special collections - the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF). IIIF (https://iiif.io) is a set of tools, standards, and a community of practice that make digital images interoperable. This workshop does not require a technical background or technical expertise. It will provide an introduction to IIIF and how it can be used in archivists' professional practice along with hands-on activities to learn about IIIF. The workshop will also provide context for archives that want to use IIIF by demoing its use at the University of Toronto, in addition to examples of other archives making use of this framework. The workshop will guide participants through hands-on activities such as manipulating IIIF images, modifying IIIF presentation manifests, and finding IIIF content. The workshop will provide details about the existing IIIF community, including the IIIF archives interest group. The workshop will close with a brief facilitated discussion about how archives can consider adopting the IIIF standard and the technology they can use to support this work.
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Making Movies for Archivists November 17, 2021, 1:00-3:30 PM EST, Zoom Meeting
Cost:
ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed
Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 Please note - this workshop is limited to ACA members only.
Led by Claire Williams
In this 2.5-hour work-along style workshop, participants will learn the basics of Shotcut (https://shotcut.org/) in order to create a short (ca. 1 min) film combining voice-over, background music, and still and moving images. No previous experience with Shotcut is necessary; however, participants will be asked to download Shotcut (free software download) ahead of time.
Best practices and tools for creating, editing, and sharing movies that are accessible for all audiences will also be discussed and practiced. Participants who wish to create a short film as part of the workshop will be asked to prepare a few materials ahead of time. A few ideas for videos participants might create include: Land Acknowledgement, Meet the Archivist, Favourite thing/Favourite fonds, What’s a Fonds?, Welcome to the Archives… although any and all video content will be welcome! Participants who just wish to follow along in the session without creating a video are also welcome in this workshop. |
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Advanced Workshop: Creating Online Exhibits for Digital Collections
November 24, 2021, 3:00 - 5:00 PM EST, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 | Non-Members $75.00
Led by Devon Mordell
Create next-level digital exhibits! In Part 2 of the Digital Exhibits workshop, we will use Omeka S to centrally manage a collection of exhibit websites. We will translate skills learned in Part 1 to the Omeka S environment and extend its functionality using modules. Lastly, we will use HTML5 to customize the appearance of your exhibit and add interactive elements to it.
Familiarity with HTML5 is an asset, but completion of Part 1 of the Digital Exhibits workshop is a strongly recommended prerequisite.
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A Simple and Cheap Digital Preservation Workflow
January 14, 2022, 12:00-3:30 PM EST, Zoom Meeting
Cost: ACA Member $50.00 | ACA Student Members and Precariously Employed Members $25.00 | Subsidized / Supported ACA Members $0 | Non-Members $75.00
Led by Mary Grace Kosta
This workshop will provide the essential knowledge needed to set up a simple digital preservation workflow for those new to digital preservation. Participants will download open-source software tools in advance and be given an opportunity to try out tools during the workshop. This workshop is ideal for small and under-resourced archives and lone arrangers.
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In The Field has two new blog posts this month.
The first,"Working from Home at the Fisher Library: Improving Accessibility and Discoverability," is by Kyle Pugh, Archivist Assistant at the Wellington County Museum and Archives and Academic Library intern in the Archival Unit at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. Kyle writes about improving accessibility and discoverability of archival holdings and the work he has undertaken at the Fisher Library during the closure.
The second, "Mapping Transnational Activism: Challenges of Historical Research and Archives on Timor-Leste," is by Juliana Brito Santos Leal, Émilie Labbé, and David Webster. The article discusses the development of the Timor International Solidarity Archive, under the leadership of David Webster, History professor at Bishop's University.
Have something to say? Consider submitting to the ACA blog. In the Field is place to discuss the scope of archives, archival education, and archival interventions. In line with the ACA's Strategic Plan and Progress toward A Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan, the ACA blog focuses on publishing posts that explore "frameworks, strategies, initiatives, programs, and actions” undertaken across the archival realm to “address issues of inclusion, access, diversity, multiculturalism, and regional, national, global, and intercultural engagement."
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Congratulations to Ferrin Evans, the 2021 recipient of the Theodore Calvin Pease Award given
by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The award recognizes
superior writing achievements by a student of archival studies, and
entries are judged on innovation, scholarship, pertinence, and clarity
of writing. Evans’ paper, “Love (and Loss) in the Time of COVID-19: Translating Trauma Into an Archive of Embodied Immediacy,” will be published in the American Archivist 85, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 2022). |
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Congratulations to Dr. Tom Nesmith, who was recently honoured with the title Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba. Arriving
at UM from the National Archives of Canada in 1990, Dr. Nesmith founded
archival studies within the Joint Master’s Program in History, making
UM only the second university in Canada to offer a degree in archival
studies at the graduate level. His award-winning publications
fundamentally shifted how scholars, archivists, and archival users
understand the nature and meaning of archives and archival work. |
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Do you know of a member who has made news lately, or maybe you have? Please let us know by contacting the Communications Committee.
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Library and Archives Canada has launched the Price McIntosh Bursary to support diversity in Canada's libraries and archives. This
funding opportunity provides financial support to Indigenous persons
(First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation), persons with disabilities, and
members of visible minorities who wish to pursue studies in fields
related to libraries and archives. All eligible students are invited to submit their applications for the 2021-2022 academic year by October 15, 2021. Guidelines, eligibility criteria, and the application form are available on the Price McIntosh Bursary web page.
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The following five archival fonds and collections have been added to UNESCO's Canada Memory of the World Register. Congratulations to all involved in these successful applications! -
Alvin D. McCurdy fonds - Archives of Ontario
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Violet Archer fonds - University of Alberta Archives
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Métis Nation River Lot Settlements Maps - Library & Archives Canada
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Viola Irene Desmond Court Records - Nova Scotia Archives
- Gwich'in Tribal Council - Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute fonds - NWT Archives & Gwich'in Tribal Council
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Submit your job opportunity here and it will be posted to the ACA website. We will also share this opportunity on our social media channels.
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Archivist, City of Coquitlam
Deadline: August 15, 2021 |
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Archives Interns – BIPOC Narratives (2 positions), Museum of Dufferin
Deadline: August 27, 2021
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Do you have news you’d like the ACA to share via its social media channels? The Communications Committee has created a form you can use to give us the details!
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Contact Us
Suite 1912-130 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4
Tel: 613-234-6977
Email: aca@archivists.ca
www.archivists.ca
The ACA office is located on the unceded, unsurrendered Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial.
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