Scope and Content Monthly ACA Newsletter
September 2023, Volume 4, Issue 9
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Click here if you are having trouble reading the newsletter.
Scope and Content will be published October 5, 2023. If you have any comments or feedback, please contact the Communications Committee.
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Welcome to Fall everyone! I hope you and yours were able to enjoy the last days of summer!
Well, there is lots to share in this month’s newsletter so I’m just going to dive right in.
Update from Eng Sangsavang re: Afghan Archivist and His Family
$43,633 raised of $50,000 goal!!
I am pleased to share with you an important update. In the last few months, the prospects for the Afghan family have changed, but nothing definitive has happened yet. The good news is that the Canadian government has already evacuated to Canada several groups of refugees from the center where the family is currently staying. The Canadian government is also processing the papers of the Afghan family, and the family is confident they will also be flown to Canada in the next few months. At this point, it seems that we will no longer need to rely on a Sponsorship Agreement Holder to bring the family to Canada. However, the date when the family will be flown to Canada is uncertain. We can only wait and hope it will happen soon. If and when it does happen - and we are sure that the family is being flown to Canada - I will update you again, and at that time, give you the option to either receive a refund, or to allow the family to keep your donation for their settlement and living costs in Canada. Thank you for your patience and support, as ever.
- Eng Sangsavang
For more information, please check out Eng’s Go Fund Me page here
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Planning & Priorities Meeting
Preparations for the Fall P&P (aka Planning & Priorities) Meeting have begun, and the dates have been set. Over the course of two days, October 20 & 21, Directors will meet with Chairs and members of ACA Committees and Working Groups to discuss priorities, address challenges, and encourage cross-committee collaboration. This important bi-annual meeting lays the foundation for the incredible work undertaken by our committees and working groups over the course of the following 12 months. If you’ve been thinking about putting your hand up to join an ACA committee, pre-P&P is the perfect time to do it!
Check out the current vacancies here. We’d love to have you on board!
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Volunteer Call
2024 ACA Virtual Conference Program Team – Chair / co-Chair Needed!
The ACA is seeking expressions of interest from folks who are interested in Chairing/co-Chairing the Program Team for the 2024 ACA Virtual Conference!
The Program Team Chair must be an ACA member in good standing, preferably with previous experience on the ACA Board of Directors, a Program Team, a Host Team, or other ACA-related project planning experience. The Chair must also be able to attend the conference they are planning.
To give you some idea as to what such chair/co-chairship duties entail, please review the Draft Terms of Reference for the Conference Host Team and the Conference Program Team. Any additional questions can be sent directly to Erica Hernandez-Read, ACA President, or Gillian Leitch. Volunteer forms can be found here. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, develop conference planning skills, and contribute to the development of the most exciting ACA event of the year!
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Conference Planning Committee - Members Needed!
Interested in gaining conference planning experience? Looking to make connections with amazing colleagues from across the country? Why not join the Conference Planning Committee? Through this committee not only will you be able to gain important event planning experience and meet fabulous new people, you will also be able to help guide the direction of the ACA’s future conferences!
For more information on the CPC’s Terms of Reference please see their ACA webpage. Any additional questions can be sent directly to Erica Hernandez-Read, ACA President, or Gillian Leitch. Volunteer forms can be found here.
Contact Me
As always, please feel free to email if you have any concerns about the ACA or any suggestions on how to make your association better. We always appreciate your feedback!
Warmest regards,
Erica Hernández-Read, ACA President
acapresident@archivists.ca
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The summer has gone by so quickly, and the deadline to have a message in Scope and Content has passed me by . . . twice . . . since I began my tenure as Vice-President. I would like to belatedly thank Anna Gibson-Hollow, who left big shoes to fill and who inspired me to be on the Board.
Being on the ACA Board always seemed such a daunting endeavour and a bit scary, if I am honest, but the first couple of months have been a wonderful learning experience, and everyone has been lovely to work with. I encourage ACA members, if they have the time, to volunteer for Committees, attend Special Interest Section meetings, and participate in other ACA events. It is a wonderful way to meet other members from across Canada and to have a voice!
Angela Fornelli, ACA Vice President
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ACA-ASA Reciprocal Agreement For the past several months, the Board of Directors of the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Council of the Australian Society of Archivists have been working out the practical logistics of our reciprocal membership agreement. I’m pleased to announce that the ACA-ASA reciprocal membership agreement is now ready for implementation! Please read on for more information on how this agreement benefits ACA members and how you can become engaged in ASA activities. What does “reciprocal membership” mean for me? |
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Benefits for ASA Members:
- Access to all professional development opportunities offered by the ACA at ACA member rates
- Open digital access to ACA’s Archivaria journal, both archived & current issues
- Receipt of digital version of ACA’s monthly Scope and Content newsletter
- ACA member rates on the purchase of commercially produced Association publications
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Benefits for ACA Members:
- Access to all professional development opportunities offered by the ASA at ASA member rates
- Open digital access to ASA’s Archives and Manuscripts journal, both archived & current issues
- Receive digital version of ASA’s monthly newsletter
- ASA member rates on the purchase of commercially produced Association publications
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How do I take advantage of this reciprocal membership agreement?
Simply fill out the ACA-ASA Reciprocal Membership form.
Once filled and submitted, a copy of your application will go to offices of both the ASA and ACA. Within three (3) to five (5) business days, you will receive confirmation for membership and gain access to the members-only section of the ASA's website. You will begin to receive emails, correspondence, and invitations from the ASA. Also, be sure to watch for emails that may contain discount codes and other benefits of reciprocal ACA-ASA membership.
Is there an extra cost to participate in this reciprocal membership agreement?
Absolutely not! This reciprocal membership agreement was established as a benefit to membership for existing and future members of both the Association of Canadian Archivists and the Australian Society of Archivists.
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Reminder: Upcoming Changes to Membership Fees
With our early bird membership renewal campaign just around the corner, I thought it prudent to remind members of the upcoming changes to our membership fees for 2024. Please see the ACA’s new fee structures below: |
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Individual Membership Fees for 2024 based on salary bands
- $0 to $19,999 = $75.00
- $20,000 to $29,999 = $100.00
- $30,000 to $39,999 = $150.00
- $40,000 to $49,999 = $190.00
- $50,000 to $59,999 = $235.00
- $60,000 to $69,999 = $250.00
- $70,000 to $79,999 = $265.00
- $80,000 to $89,999 = $280.00
- $90,000+ = $295.00
- Student: $75.00 / 3 years
- Retired: $125.00
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Institutional Membership Fees for 2024 based on number of staff - 0-5 = $285.00
- 6-10 = $750.00
- 11-20 = $1,000.00
- 21-50 = $1,850.00
- 51-250 = $2,750.00
- 251-1000 = $16,000.00
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Congratulations, Joanna Aiton Kerr!
Joanna Aiton Kerr has been appointed Provincial Archivist of New Brunswick. She brings to this position a wealth of experience, including positions with the Sisters of Charity, University of New Brunswick, and the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. In addition, she has extensive experience in the archival community at the provincial and national levels. Formerly Chair of the CCA, she is currently chair of NAAB. A native of New Brunswick, she holds degrees from Acadia University and the University of British Columbia. Congratulations on your new position, Joanna! |
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ACA Hashtag Party
You’re invited to the ACA Hashtag Party! On the last Thursday of every month, the ACA Social Media Team organizes a hashtag party, which takes place virtually on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). There is a different theme for each month, which we announce on social media and Arcan-l in advance. On the day of the party, you can share materials in your collections related to that theme, tag us and use the hashtag, and we’ll re-share your post. The goal of the parties is to engage more with institutions across Canada, see what kinds of materials other institutions have, and promote weird, fun, and interesting items from your own collections.
Last month’s party took place on Thursday, August 31, and the theme was #ArchivesLabour! We loved getting a glimpse of labour history in Canada, as well as all the labour that goes into archival work. Thank you to everyone who participated!
The next party will take place on Thursday, September 28, and the theme will be #ArchivesFashion! September is traditionally when several cities have their fashion weeks, and we thought, why not get archives involved too? We’re so excited to see the wildest, wackiest, and most beautiful clothing items in your collections. On the day, don’t forget to tag us @archivistsdotca on X, @aca_canada on Instagram, and @AssociationofCanadianArchivists on Facebook so we can see what you’ve got!
Here are the themes and dates for the hashtag parties for the rest of the year:
- October 26, 2023: #QueerHistoryMonthCanada
- November 30, 2023: #ArchivesActivism
Please note that the theme for October has changed from #ArchivesFavouriteFormats to #QueerHistoryMonthCanada in order to support an important initiative, which we will share more about in next month’s issue of Scope and Content and on social media. #ArchivesFavouriteFormats will take place in the new year. For any questions, email us at communications@archivists.ca. |
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ACA 2024 Virtual Conference - Program Team Volunteers Needed!
The ACA is still looking for volunteers for the ACA 2024 Virtual Conference to be hosted by the Province of Alberta. We are in need of that all-important Program Team Chair and Members to help us craft our theme, select presenters, session chairs and commentators, and oversee the delivery of program sessions over the duration of the conference. As the 2024 conference is virtual, no travel by Program Team volunteers is required, and the anticipated volunteer time commitment is between 2 to 2.5 hours per month. While still maintaining creative autonomy, the Conference Program Team will be supported in their work by the Conference Planning Committee – after all, a successful team is a group of many hands and one mind!
If you are an ACA member in good standing and are interested in participating on the 2024 Program Team, please contact Angela Fornelli, Vice President of the ACA, at vicepresident@archivists.ca or fill out the ACA Volunteer form here! |
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Call for New Co-Chair: The Technology and Archives Special Interest Section (TaASIS)
The Technology and Archives Special Interest Section (TaASIS) needs a new co-chair! The committee would like to give a big shoutout to thank former co-chair Andréa Tarnawsky for all the amazing work they did for TaASIS from 2020-2022!
ACA members who are interested in taking on this role or who have questions can reach out to TaASIS.Chair@archivists.ca. Your level of experience in digital archives or tech doesn't matter; all that is needed is a desire to become more engaged with like-minded practitioners and students who share the same interests as you. |
Nominations and Awards Committee (NAAC) Volunteers Needed
The ACA is looking for volunteers for the Nominations and Awards Committee to be a part of the process to recognize and celebrate ACA members.
The mandate of NAAC is to manage the ACA Honours and Awards program as well as to support the succession of qualified members to serve on the ACA Board of Directors and its committees by facilitating the transparent search, nomination, and election process.
If this sounds like something that would be of interest to you and if you are an ACA member in good standing, please contact Angela Fornelli, Vice President of the ACA (vicepresident@archivists.ca) or fill out the ACA Volunteer form here! |
ACA@UBC Student Chapter
Exciting news: The ACA Student Chapter at UBC has a new Instagram account! Follow them at @acaubc to learn about all the exciting initiatives that ACA students are undertaking, including the annual symposium in the winter. |
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Carr McLean Discount Available for 2023
The Carr McLean 10% discount is available for both Individual and Institutional ACA members for the entire membership year. This discount can be applied to any order over $100 and is non-transferrable. Contact the ACA Secretariat at executive.director@archivists.ca for the new discount code that will remain effective until December 31, 2023.
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Professional Competencies for Archivists Working Group (PCAWG)
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The ACA’s Professional Competencies for Archivists Working Group invites ACA members and non-members to participate in two virtual focus groups. The focus groups will provide feedback on the ACA’s draft Competency Framework.
What is a competency framework? A competency framework outlines skills required for a specific profession. The purpose of the ACA’s Competency Framework is to serve as a guide for career decisions and professional development planning, to assist employers in the recruitment process and training of staff, and to inform professional development curriculum.
The Professional Competencies for Archivists Working Group is hosting two virtual focus groups with a capacity of 15 participants for each meeting:
Tuesday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Wednesday, September 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Participants are expected to read the draft Competency Framework prior to the focus group and provide feedback during the virtual meeting. The virtual meeting will be recorded for note-taking purposes only. The recording will be deleted after notes are created. Identifiable information will not be included in the notes.
There will be additional opportunities to provide feedback on the ACA’s Competency Framework later in the fall. |
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Professional Development Workshops
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Practical Approaches to Ethical Oral History
What makes for an ethical oral history project/program and how can you use oral history in your museum? Pauline Tennent and Heather Bidzinski share their experiences using oral history in research, collections, and exhibition work while addressing some common challenges. This workshop explores what oral history is, guidelines and resources available, and how to create a balanced approach to collection management, community engagement, and programmatic needs.
Whether you are starting from scratch or dealing with historical collections, this session aims to answer some of the questions surrounding oral history projects, programs, and collections. October 18, 2023 1:00 - 2:30 pm (EST) / 10:00 - 11:30 am (PST)
Fees: Members $ 50.00, Non-Members $ 100.00, Students & precariously employed members $ 25.00, Subsidized / Supported ACA Members: $0 Speakers:
Dr. Pauline Tennent (she/her), Manager for the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR) at the University of Manitoba
Heather Bidzinski, Head of Archives and Special Collections at the University of Manitoba |
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Toward Community-Centred Reference
This workshop considers the challenges Black researchers face when consulting with reference services in archives. Participants will learn to think critically about their positionality and their current approaches to providing access. Practical suggestions will be offered to reference archivists to help them provide services that are community-centered. This workshop includes a small group activity and discussion with time for reflection.
In this workshop participants will:
- Learn how to unpack how white supremacy shows up in archives
- Learn how to identify and address oppressive practices in access and reference
- Learn how to minimize harm when providing reference services
November 2, 2023 5:30 - 7:30 pm (EST) / 2:30 -4:30 pm (PST)
Fees:
Members $ 80.00, Non-Members $ 150.00, Students & precariously
employed members $ 50.00, Subsidized / Supported ACA Members: $0 Workshop Instructor: Melissa J. Nelson is a second-generation Jamaican Canadian archivist, writer, and educator who is based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work and research interests include the preservation of Black cultural heritage and ethics of care in the preservation of anti-Black archival materials. Melissa explores her interest in history and archives in her blog melissajnelson.com. Melissa is currently an Archivist for the Archives of Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Carleton University and a Master of Information Studies from McGill University. |
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Person Centered Description for Private Records: Practitioner Workshop
In this workshop, participants will explore ideas around person-centred descriptive practices for private records and develop questions and considerations they can use to apply person-centred descriptive practices in their home archives. November 22, 2023, 1:00 - 3:30 pm (EST) / 10:00 am - 12:30 pm (PST)
Fees:
Members $ 75.00, Non-Members $ 125.00, Students & precariously
employed members $ 40.00, Subsidized / Supported ACA Members: $0
Workshop Instructors
Krista Jamieson (she/they) is a queer archivist and PhD Candidate based in Hamilton, Ontario. Krista's work centers around digital archiving, digital preservation, archival selection, and metadata (including, but not limited to description).
Daniela Ansovini (she/her) is an Archivist with the University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services (UTARMS) where she is responsible for the private records of individuals and organizations affiliated with the University of Toronto. She has worked in a number of academic, community and arts organizations with interests that include donor relationships, oral history, archival appraisal, and memory work.
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Merchandise: The Foundation is excited to say that we have added our purchasable merchandise to the ACA store! If you’d like some archives swag, the materials can be found here.
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The latest post from In the Field by Michael Carelse and Sophie Penniman provides insight into the 2023 ACA Conference from a student perspective. Carelse writes that he “found the conference program fascinating, with presentations ranging from new ideas and theories, to reports on current initiatives in the field.” Penniman reflected that “from formal to informal settings, the ACA Conference resonated with [them] as a way to imagine and reimagine archival work with other people who share this passion.”
Check out their post here. |
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Introduction to Digital Records
The Archives Association of British Columbia (AABC) is leading a two-day, hands-on workshop that will lead students from standards and the development of policies and procedures through to the practical elements of acquiring, processing, and preserving digital records. The workshop will examine both the theoretical aspects of digital preservation, as well as provide an opportunity to use a number of the tools available to work with digital collections.
Date: September 18–19, 2023
Time: 9:30 am–4:00 pm PT
Location: Online via Zoom
Registration fee: AABC members $350.00 / Non-members $500.00 CAD
Registration deadline: September 11, 2023 Visit the AABC website to
register.
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ICH-Archives Symposium
The Canadian Advisory Committee for Memory of the World is delighted to host a one-day virtual symposium on September 19, 2023, of key stakeholders in intangible cultural heritage (ICH), archives, and research. Their goal is to foster an open, collaborative conversation on the theoretical and practical issues associated with the acts of “making, keeping, and using” ICH and the resulting documentary products, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
The symposium will include presentations and participation from leading thinkers and practitioners on the following themes:
- Concepts and theories: What is intangible cultural heritage? What is its value to “makers” or owners? What is the role of archivists (“keepers”) in the preservation of the documentary products of ICH? How do researchers (“users”) understand and use ICH and related archives? What are the gaps, overlaps, or intersections across these different perspectives?
- Applications and practices: Who is or should be collecting ICH? How do existing practices – e.g., acquisition, preservation, access – support or hinder the care and use of ICH and archives? What cultural, legal, and practical challenges enhance or limit the making, keeping, or using of ICH and archives?
- Intersections and connections: How can ICH and related archives be understood not just as “source material” but as evidence of individual and community culture and identity? How can “makers,” “keepers,” and “users” work together to strengthen relationships and achieve sustainable outcomes? Where do we converge or diverge? How can we build connections and forge alliances?
Click here for more information and here for registration! |
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NAAB Masterclass: Register for the Saskatoon session!
The National Archival Appraisal Board (NAAB) & the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) are pleased to announce that registration for the Practicing NAAB Appraiser (PNA) Masterclasses is open, with seats filling up quickly!
The Masterclass training is intended for experienced mid-to-late career archivists, librarians, museum curators, dealers or other experienced heritage professionals. Participants must meet the minimum requirements specified on the registration page.
Masterclasses are delivered by experienced professionals in archival monetary appraisal and designed to leverage your extensive archival and heritage expertise, leading you through the process required to undertake NAAB monetary appraisals, independent archival monetary appraisals, and internal monetary appraisals for your institution.
The Saskatoon Masterclass is now offered as a hybrid session! Participants can register as in-person or remote attendees. Attendees will benefit from the expertise of Brian Hubner and Brock Silversides, two seasoned appraisers with years of experience on NAAB Panels.
When: October 16 to 19, 2023
Where: University Archives and Special Collections, University of Saskatchewan
For more information, and to register, visit: https://naab.ca/Masterclass
Registration is limited and preference given to those with archival experience (acquiring and processing records). Sessions will be delivered in English only, at this time. |
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Call for Submissions: A Special Issue of Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada
The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada is seeking submissions for an upcoming all-BIPOC issue!
This special issue is an extension of the keynote panel “Finding Another Country in the Stacks: Decentering Whiteness Within Special Collections, Bibliography, and Book History” for the Bibliographical and Book Studies Canada's 2022 Conference.
This keynote session examined approaches to remediating the lingering effects of systemic racism all while shedding light on the radical inclusivity work occurring across Canada in book history and special collections work. This special issue will deepen the panel’s initial reflections on race, alongside systemic hierarchies associated with educational, professional, and citizenship status.
To further the critical scholarship on book history, bibliography, and special collections (including institutional archives) taking place across North America, this issue will solely feature work by Black, Indigenous, and other Scholars and GLAM1 Practitioners of Colour in Canada. By opening up to the diversity of viewpoints amongst BIPOC, this issue deliberately makes space for voices and stories that are less represented in Canadian bibliographical scholarship and related cultural heritage work. The issue will prioritize these voices that are propelling hopeful resistance against racist and otherwise hegemonic power structures, demanding social justice.
They are looking for critical discussions on:
- Special collections or archives found in universities, government archives, community centres and other places of gathering, prisons, public libraries, publishing houses and presses, bookstores and other book-selling arenas, galleries, and museums. This list is not exhaustive.
- Book and otherwise textual objects, which – along with the traditional codex – include book bindings, collections of type, book illustrations, textiles, artists’ files, audiovisual records, notebooks, photographs, ephemera, personal narratives not contained in traditional records, oral histories, performances, and artworks.
- The ways in which these documents preserve, transmit, and offer commentary on the diverse histories of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Colour in Canada. These include, but are also not limited to, family and community histories, immigration narratives, stories of incarceration and liberation, as well as histories of books and printing, reading, and other forms of memory work in and of themselves.
- Critical and reparative frameworks for bibliographic, book historical, and archival research, as well as cultural heritage work.
Submissions are welcome in either French or English by September 29, 2023. Make a submission through Papers/Cahiers’ open journal system (OJS) platform. Successful proposals will be notified by October 31, 2023. |
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Access Conference 2023
Tickets for Access Conference 2023 are now on sale!
Access is Canada's leading library technology conference, taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the Prince George Hotel, October 23-25, 2023. It's a must-attend event for librarians, technicians, developers, programmers, and managers from all library sectors. The conference offers a single stream experience, including a variety of keynotes, presentations, panel discussions, lightning talks, a Hackfest, and pre-conference workshops. Connect with peers, learn about the latest library tech, and join the conversation. Learn more and purchase tickets here. |
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Digital Museums Canada Funding
Calling Canadian museums and heritage organisations...
The countdown is on! There are less than three months left to submit your proposal for Digital Museums Canada funding.
The call for proposals closes on December 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Learn more about the investment streams here.
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2nd Global Audiovisual Archiving Conference: Exchange of Knowledge and Practices
The biennial Global Audiovisual Archiving Conference is an opportunity for scholars, archivists, artists, curators, filmmakers, students, and film enthusiasts from across the world to gather and explore contemporary professional, artistic, and socio-political issues affecting audiovisual heritage today. The aim of the conference is to broaden the knowledge and connections within the global archival community, leading to new insights into the material and cultural resonances of archival approaches to sound and moving image in different parts of the world. The conference will take place from July 12-14, 2024.
The conference invites papers and presentations in a variety of formats that address the challenges and generative opportunities afforded by diverse media archives, from those that are publicly/privately funded to those surviving on very little support. Of particular interest are marginalised audiovisual archives, whether collections vulnerable to disappearance and inaccessibility or archives that are invisible and need to come into being. Click here to submit a proposal.
Deadline for submissions: Sunday, October 1, 2023
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Do
you know a member who's made big news? Is there something going on that
you think the Canadian archival community should hear about? Don't
hesitate to forward stories to the Communications Committee, and we'll help spread the word.
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As shared by Heather Gordon, Reuben Ware passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.
Many of you working in government archives in Canada will know Reuben as the father of ARCS and ORCS. He began his career as an archivist in the 1970s with the then Provincial Archives of British Columbia but made his mark as Director of Records Management, leading early development of BC's Administrative Records Classification System (ARCS) and early versions of the records classification system that became the local government standard in BC. He developed a similar integrated classification and retention schedule system as Director of Nova Scotia Records Management from 1991 to 1995, and the model spread to other provinces, including New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and PEI. He brought the idea to Harvard University as the University Records Manager from 1996 to 1999 and then to the City of Vancouver, where he served as the Director of Records and Archives and City Archivist from 2004 until his retirement in 2007. Reuben was a passionate defender of RM and archives and will be missed. |
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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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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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