Tag: SAA

Call for Editor: Archival History Section Newsletter

As I’ve developed this blog, I’ve wavered about including calls and information about newsletters. My purpose in starting this blog is to promote and help with scholarship, so I generally do not incorporate archival newsletters. I’m posting this call (from A&A listserv) because a newsletter editor can develop skills and is a good way to start engaging in publishing.

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Dear colleagues:

SAA’s Archival History Section (AHS) is looking for an editor, or two, to help relaunch a newsletter for AHS members and other interested parties.

Founded in 1986 as the Archival History Roundtable, the AHS advocates for and promotes an understanding of the history of the American archival profession. Inspired by the work of other SAA sections (see, for example, the Lone Arrangers Quarterly Newsletter, https://lonearrangers.wordpress.com/about/), this digital newsletter will function as a dynamic space to keep members informed and up-to-date about people, activities, and events of importance to the history of our profession.

The newsletter editor will be appointed to a 2-year term. In partnership with the AHS steering committee (which is working to formalize the editorial structure), the editor’s duties will include:

  • Setting up an online presence for the newsletter via WordPress.com
  • Determining a publication schedule for the newsletter
  • Identifying content appropriate for the newsletter (i.e. news and announcements, feature articles, updates and photos of AHS activities, information about upcoming conferences and publication opportunities, member recognition, obituaries and oral histories).
  • Editing and proofreading content
  • Creating a marketing and social media strategy for the newsletter
  • Joining monthly AHS steering committee calls when needed to provide updates on progress with the newsletter
  • Work with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee libraries to ensure that the content of the newsletter is archived with the SAA archives on a regular basis.

Interested parties should respond with a one-page cover letter describing interest in the position, including how you would encourage original content and collect pre-existing content from a variety of online and print sources in order to build a cadre of authors to sustain the newsletter.  Also, indicate the amount of time you could devote each week to sustaining the newsletter over the next two years.

Please send all expressions of interest, or requests for additional information, to Eric Stoykovich, AHS Chair, EricStoykovich@gmail.com, by March 31.

Be a Part of My Book!

Be part of the Society of American Archivists’ new and forthcoming Archival Fundamentals Series! Cheryl Oestreicher, who is authoring the Providing Reference and Access Services in Archives and Manuscripts book, seeks real-world examples and photos that represent the wide variety of institutions, staffing levels, policies, and procedures that exist throughout the profession. Contributions need not be formally written as standalone pieces, as they will be integrated throughout the book itself. Send an e-mail, a couple of paragraphs, or a few sentences about a practice or experience that you found especially useful. Personal photos, website links, social media blurbs, and other online references are welcome. Copies of internal policies and procedures are helpful, and nothing will be published without your explicit permission. Contributions also can be anonymized upon request. Depending upon the amount of and types of suggestions, some may not be included in the final book.

Simply send an email to: ccoest@gmail.com with the subject line “Reference and Access Book Contribution.” Thank you for helping us to produce a better book!

The following is a list of potential contributions:

  • reading room photos
  • access policies
  • loan policies
  • accessibility of facilities/ADA compliance
  • virtual reading room
  • copyright, registration, reproduction, publishing, etc. forms
  • ethical decisions about access
  • dealing with difficult patrons
  • unusual patron types and experiences
  • unusual disciplines/research projects
  • how do institutional staff use/request records, what materials are they looking for and why
  • reference manuals
  • when archivists do research (beyond standard reference interactions)
  • reference training documents/procedures
  • copying/reproduction policies
  • internal metrics, tracking statistics
  • assessment of reference interactions; post-visit surveys
  • how do you staff reference services: rotation, designated reference desk, subject/curatorial specialists, etc.
  • marketing and outreach strategies (not examples of individual activities, but overall strategies)

Call for Nominations: Theodore Calvin Pease Award for Outstanding Student Research Paper

The competition now is open for the 2017 SAA Theodore Calvin Pease Award for outstanding student research paper.  Additional information is below.

The Pease Subcommittee consists of Gregory S. Hunter (Chair) (americanarchivist@archivists.org), Stephanie Bennett (bennetse@wfu.edu), and Lauren Goodley (lgoodley@txstate.edu). We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Theodore Calvin Pease Award
http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-pease

Purpose and Criteria for Selection:
Created in 1987 and modified in 2007 and 2012, this award recognizes superior writing achievements by students of archival studies. Entries are judged on innovation, scholarship, pertinence, and clarity of writing. Papers examining major trends and issues in the archives profession are preferred.

Eligibility:
Eligible entries are written by students enrolled in archival studies classes at either the master’s or doctoral level. A faculty member or instructor associated with the archival studies program must submit the entry to verify that the student paper was written within the context of an archival studies program and completed during the preceding calendar year. A faculty member or instructor in an archival studies program may submit one entry per award cycle. There is no cap on the number of papers than can be submitted by a school or program, provided no individual faculty member submits more than one paper.

Entries should be unpublished manuscripts of 5,000-8,000 words, must include an abstract, and should conform to the stylistic guidelines described in the editorial policy<http://www2.archivists.org/american-archivist/editorialpolicy>; of The American Archivist. Submit only the title with the paper. The name of the author, the program, or the faculty member or instructor must not appear on the manuscript.

Sponsor and Funding:

The Society of American Archivists Foundation, in honor of Theodore Calvin Pease, the first editor of The American Archivist.

Prize:
A certificate and cash prize of $100. The winning manuscript, after going through the editorial process with the editor of The American Archivist, will be published in The American Archivist.

First Awarded: 1988

Selection Committee:
Papers will be judged in a blind review by the Pease Subcommittee of the SAA Awards Committee.  The subcommittee consists of the current editor of The American Archivist, the vice chair of the Committee on Education, and a member of the Society of American Archivists with experience in archival research and literature appointed annually by the president-elect to serve a one-year term. The current editor of The American Archivist serves as the chair of the subcommittee and shall present the award. The current editor ofThe American Archivist also edits the manuscript and leads the student through the editorial process in preparation for publication.

Submission Deadline and Nomination Form:
All nominations shall be submitted to SAA by February 28 of each year. CLICK HERE to download the RTF application form.

Free copies of The American Archivist

Interested in free copies of past issues of The American Archivist for you or your SAA student chapter? Contact Abigail Christian at achristian@archivists.org with a mailing address and number of students within your chapter—we’ll send a surprise assortment of issues published in the last decade, courtesy of SAA. Peruse timeless articles, discover new ones, and enjoy having a good resource in hand.

ABIGAIL CHRISTIAN
Editorial & Production Coordinator
Society of American Archivists
17 N. State Street Suite 1425
Chicago, Illinois 60602
achristian@archivists.org

American Archivist Seeks Editor

Are you an avid reader of the professional literature? Are you a published author? Do you have experience as an editor? Do you get excited about nurturing new and veteran voices? Are you brimming with ideas for expanding this journal’s readership?

Established in 1938, The American Archivist is the leading publication in the archives field. Published semi-annually by the Society of American Archivists, this refereed journal is available online and in print. The journal features research articles, case studies, perspectives, and international scene pieces as well as reviews of professional literature, archival technologies, and resources.

SAA seeks a dynamic individual with excellent communication skills who will enhance the visibility of The American Archivist in the archives and allied professional communities, and grow the number of high-quality submissions. The Editor is responsible for the solicitation, selection, peer review, and final approval of articles, and features. She or he will use PeerTrack (an author- and reviewer-friendly manuscript submission and peer review system) to work with authors and prospective authors on necessary revisions. In addition, the Editor and works closely with the reviews editor, a copyeditor, an indexer, and the SAA staff (who handle journal production and business matters). The Editor also coordinates the activities of The American Archivist Editorial Board, serves ex officio on the Publications Board, and reports to the SAA Council. The position carries with it an annual honorarium.

Candidates should possess the following qualifications:

  • Demonstrated leadership skills that allow her or him to present a vision of the journal that places it at the center of the profession’s intellectual dialog.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and nurture relationships with authors, both established and newly emerging, to encourage them to explore interesting questions and submit material to the journal.
  • Ability to nurture intriguing but not completely satisfactory submissions to successful publication.
  • Ability and willingness to pay special attention to the need to develop ideas in emerging areas of the profession, support the thoughtful reexamination of past professional insights, and address issues of particular relevance to historically underrepresented populations.
  • Excellent personal communication and writing skills, including the ability to edit scholarly material, the ability to communicate successfully with those who make submissions, and the ability to report to those in SAA with oversight responsibility for the journal.
  • Sufficient financial and time-management skills to complete tasks in an acceptable manner and, most importantly, to publish the journal at appropriate and regular intervals as established within the annual budget work plan.

The term of the current Editor, Greg Hunter, expires on December 31, 2017. His successor, who will serve a three-year term, will begin work no later than January 1, 2018.

Interviews of finalists will be conducted in May 2017. Submit letter of interest and curriculum vitae by April 14, 2017, to saahq@archivists.org and in subject line state “Application for Editor of The American Archivist.”

Questions should be directed to SAA Executive Director Nancy Beaumont at nbeaumont@archivists.org or 312-606-0722.

Call for Participants/Presentations: SAA Research Forum

excerpt from Archival Outlook:

If you’re engaged in research, seeking to identify research-based solutions for your institution, willing to participate in the research cycle by serving as a beta site for research trials, or simply interested in what’s happening in research and innovation, then join us for the 11th annual SAA Research Forum: “Foundations and Innovations”!

Researchers, practitioners, educators, students, and the curious across all sectors of archives and records management are invited to participate. Use the Forum to discuss, debate, plan, organize, evaluate, or motivate research projects and initiatives. The event seeks to facilitate collaboration and help inform researchers about what questions and problems need to be tackled.

Read more: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=376049&p=18.

The Research Forum will be Tuesday, July 25, 9 am-5 pm, Oregon Convention Center.

Resource: Bibliography of American Archival History

Thanks to SAA’s Archival History Section for this great resource!

Bibliography of American Archival History October 2016

© This is a select edition of a bibliography first released online in March 2015, and revised in May 2015, August 2015, and August 2016. The online version was a group effort of the Society of American Archivists’ Archival History Roundtable (now Section), which included steering committee members: Alison Clemens, Lorraine Madway, Cory Nimer, Krista Oldham, Kelly Kolar, Robert Riter, and Eric Stoykovich. Dr. David B. Gracy II contributed syllabi which provided many of these bibliographic entries.

New SAA Book: Appraisal and Acquisition Strategies

Edited by Michael J Shallcross & Christopher J. Prom; featuring modules by Megan Barnard , Erin E Faulder , Geoffrey A. Huth  and Gabriela Redwine

Appraisal and Acquisition Strategies is another installment in the series Trends in Archives Practice and consists of the following three modules:

  • Module 14: Appraising Digital Records
    by Geof Huth
    Provides practical tools and resources for conducting and documenting an appraisal of digital records.
  • Module 15: Collecting Digital Manuscripts and Archives
    by Megan Barnard and Gabriela Redwine
    Demonstrates how to integrate digital archives and manuscripts into collection development policies and strategies, build strong relationships with creators and colleagues, appraise born-digital materials prior to an acquisition, and prepare for the challenges of collecting digital manuscripts and archives.
  • Module 15: Accessioning Digital Archives
    by Erin Faulder
    Presents digital preservation best practices and standards for developing policies, procedures, and infrastructure to accession born-digital materials.

As Michael Shallcross of the Bentley Historical Library notes in the introduction, “an essential point in each module is the continuity of practice between the acquisition of traditional materials and digital content. The differences lie in the skills, knowledge, and tools required to identify potential preservation and access issues.” These modules cover that and more.

SAA Book Publishing Survey Results

Last spring the Publications Board conducted a survey to assess members’ needs to strategize the future of publications. This survey assessed topics of interest, as well as how members want to receive and read books. The latest issue of Archival Outlook has an article describing the results of the survey. About 1,600 people responded, and the results are quite interesting. SAA book publications are important not just to advance the profession, but to help fund the organization. As the article states, “Books published by SAA help our members increase their sum of professional knowledge and to partake in a shared vision for archival practice.”

Ebooks have been a bit slow to take off in the profession, but is likely to grow over the next few years; more than half indicated they prefer print but close to half predicted they would access an ebook in the future. Personally, I like both. Ebooks allow me to search and sometimes I find it easier to use them when I’m writing. I can copy/paste quotes, and also don’t need to balance a book and my laptop while reclining comfortably on my couch. However, I still like seeing them on my bookshelf and find it easier to quick grab a book to look something up or hand it to an intern or staff member to read.

More than half indicated interest in a subscription model, which I’m intrigued by. I like the idea of being able to search across publications and easily access literature. For me it would serve a dual purpose: quickly finding multiple sources for answers, as well as the ability to read/review books prior to purchasing. And, of course, fewer books to check out from the library or order through interlibrary loan.

As a current book author, I constantly think about what information archivists need to grow in their jobs and how my book will be used. Reference, access and outreach ranked 5th out of the 10 topics assessed. However, my interpretation is that topics ranked higher – digital records/digitization, arrangement and description, preservation and conservation – all lead to access. While my book will not go in-depth about those areas, I discuss them in relation to reference and access.

I look forward to seeing how SAA publications evolve and develop based on this survey.

New Coordinator of SAA Reviews Portal

Last December, Alexandra Orchard wrote a post about the SAA Reviews Portal. SAA just announced a new Coordinator, Gloria Gonzalez. I was excited to hear about Gloria’s appointment because of her participation in last year’s SNAP issue of Provenance. She was the reviews editor for that issue, and did a great job of thinking outside the book-review box and brought in reviews about three books, a digital platform, software, the Margaret Sanger Papers Project, and the 2015 Midwest Archives Conference.

The SAA Reviews Portal is a great opportunity to share perspectives  about non-book resources. Writing reviews is a great way to practice writing, and there are a plethora of opportunities with the Portal to explore technology and other resources pertinent to archivists. Give it a try!

from “In the Loop”

New Coordinator for The American Archivist Reviews Portal
Please welcome Gloria Gonzalez as the new Coordinator of the Reviews Portal! Gloria is the library strategist at Zepheira, helping academic and public libraries, archives, and rare book libraries incorporate principles from linked data into their work. Gloria succeeds Alexandra Orchard, who was recently named editor of Archival Issues. Interested in reviewing digital collections, websites, or other archival technology for The American Archivist Reviews Portal? Contact Gloria at gloria@zepheira.com or follow her on Twitter at @InformaticMonad to stay up-to-date on new tools and resources.