Tag: SAA

RFP: AI for Access

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Survey and Assessment Analyst to support an exciting new project funded by the Society of American Archivists (SAA) sponsored by the CLIR/DLF Born-Digital Access Working Group (BDAWG). The “AI for Access” project aims to assess how U.S. archival professionals are utilizing AI/ML tools to facilitate access to digital archival materials.

Project Overview: The “AI for Access” study is designed to explore the use of AI/ML in archival settings, particularly in the face of increasing digital collection demands. This two-part project includes a comprehensive literature review and a survey distributed to archival professionals to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on their use of and/or perspectives on AI/ML tools.

We are seeking a qualified Survey and Assessment Analyst to:

  • Review and refine our preliminary survey design.
  • Determine appropriate survey models and sampling methods.
  • Oversee the distribution and promotion of the survey.
  • Analyze and synthesize survey findings.
  • Prepare a final report detailing the results.

Key Details:

  • Contract Period: October 1, 2024 – January 31, 2024
  • Budget: $2,500
  • Deadline for Proposal Submission: September 26, 2024, by 4:30 PM EST
  • Proposal Submission: Proposals should be sent via email to Dara Baker at dabaker.research@gmail.com.

How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a proposal that includes a detailed description of how they will meet the RFP requirements, along with their qualifications and pricing information. Preference will be given to proposals that address all aspects of the RFP comprehensively.

Please review the full RFP document for additional details on the scope of work, evaluation criteria, and submission guidelines.

We welcome any questions regarding this RFP, which should be submitted in writing by September 10, 2024, at 4:30 PM EST. All questions and responses will be shared by September 20, 2024.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and potentially working together on this important project.

Best regards,

AI for Access Project Team–
Christina Velazquez Fidlershe/her/hersHead of Digital CollectionsThe Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley | Huichin Ohlone Land

New Issue: American Archivist

American Archivist 87.1 (Spring/Summer 2024)
Table of Contents

(Review access here)

From the Editor

Presidential Address

Theodore Calvin Pease Award Essay

Articles

Perspectives

Reviews

Call for Proposals: RAO Marketplace of Ideas 2024

The Reference, Access, and Outreach Section (RAO) of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) seeks proposals for the 2024 Marketplace of IDEAs to be held during the Virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 4pm EDT/3pm CDT/2pm MDT/1pm PDT.

Topics related to the sub-committee areas of Teaching with Primary Sources, Exhibits and Events, and Public Services Assessment are encouraged.
Proposals addressing topics or themes related to the following will also be prioritized:
– evolving the archival profession, public services, new ideas, fresh perspectives
– orienting reference, access, and outreach efforts as Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible
– collaborations/co-sponsorships with other Sections

Submission Due Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Submission Form: forms.gle/TaGwUREqpuarbJSGA

CFP: Archival Accessioning, special issue of American Archivist

The American Archivist editorial board invites submissions for a special section in American Archivist illuminating the wide-ranging spectrum of archival accessioning practices in the archives field today.

This special section will place dual emphasis on the process and output of the National Best Practices for Archival Accessioning Working Group (ABP), along with broader practical experiences and perspectives from folks actively working to implement a diverse range of accessioning labor throughout the archival lifecycle in different contexts. We strongly encourage submissions that are practical in nature, as well as works that explore contemporary accessioning theory and praxis.

Submissions can explore any of the many operational facets of contemporary archival accessioning, including:

  • pre-custodial engagement, donor relations, radical empathy and candor, and relationship building/maintenance
  • packing and transportation of collection material
  • foundational and/or iterative archival description
  • development of an accessioning program, particularly as it relates to operational impact and sustainable stewardship
  • born-digital accessioning
  • ethical concerns and lived experiences related to accessioning practices
  • physical stabilization, preservation interventions, space usage, and stacks management
  • sustainability and climate impact of accessioning practices
  • appraisal, deaccessioning, and reappraisal
  • management of and advocacy for accessioning labor
  • perspectives on the evolution of archival accessioning; critical analysis of foundational concepts; archival concepts (e.g., provenance, respect des fonds, appraisal) in relation to contemporary accessioning practices
  • post-colonial, post-custodial, reparative, and/or community-centered approaches to accessioning
  • applied theoretical frameworks (e.g., critical race theory, feminist theory)
  • perspectives on archival education and training for accessioning 
  • members of the National Best Practices for Archival Accessioning Working Group (ABP) are particularly encouraged to submit pieces that place the newly developed best practices into real world contexts or that expand upon aspects of the best practices

We seek submissions from authors with a variety of career experiences and diverse perspectives related to archival accessioning practices. The editorial team especially encourages submissions from first-time authors and early-career archives and special collections professionals, as well as from colleagues working in nonprofit organizations; HBCUs, AANAPISIs, and/or HSIs; public libraries; museums; and community archives.

Submissions may take any of the following forms:

  • Research Articles: analytical and critical expositions based on original investigation or on systematic review of literature. (Suggested length: 8,000 words)
  • Case Studies: analytical reports of projects or activities that take place in a specific setting and offer the basis for emulation or comparison in other settings. (Suggested length: 3,000 words)
  • Perspectives: commentaries, reflective or opinion pieces, addressing issues or practices that concern archivists and their constituents. (Suggested length: 2,000-2500 words)
  • Professional Resources: can be annotated bibliographies, other items designed for practical use within the profession, or essays that review the developments (as opposed to the literature) in specified areas in a way that describes particular initiatives and places them in the context of broader trends. (Length varies)

American Archivist is the peer-reviewed, semi-annual journal of the Society of American Archivists. Established in 1938, the journal seeks to reflect thinking about theoretical and practical developments in the archival profession; the relationships between archivists and the creators and users of archives; and cultural, social, legal, and technological developments that affect the nature of recorded information and the need to create and maintain it. 

Submissions will be reviewed by the editorial team, following American Archivist editorial policies. All submissions selected for inclusion in this special section will go through the American Archivist peer review process, the rubric for which can be found here. 

Inquiries and submissions can be sent to: accessioningspecialsection@gmail.com 

The deadline for submissions is October 1st, 2024.

Editorial Team

Rosemary K. J. Davis
Head, Archival Accessioning
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library 
Yale University Library

Rachel Searcy
Accessioning Archivist, Archival Collections Management
New York University Libraries

Audra Eagle Yun
Head of Special Collections & Archives
University Archivist
University of California, Irvine Libraries

Call for Applicants: Associate Editor for SAA Case Studies on Teaching with Primary Sources

The Teaching with Primary Sources sub-committee of the Reference, Access and Outreach Section of the Society of American Archivists is accepting applications for the role of Associate Editor for the Case Studies on Teaching With Primary Sources series. For more information about the series, visit: https://www2.archivists.org/publications/epubs/Case-Studies-Teaching-With-Primary-Sources.

The Associate Editor works with the Editor to maintain the Teaching with Primary Sources Case Studies as a contribution to the professional scholarship and illustration of the application of the Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy. The position, in collaboration with the Editor, coordinates the review process and works with peer reviewers. The Associate Editor role shall become the Editor when their term expires, requiring a two-year commitment. The expected start date for the Associate Editor is July 1, 2024.

Duties:

●       In consultation with the Editor, identify potential authors and solicit proposals

●       Assist in coordinating the peer review process, and work with peer reviewers to provide timely feedback

●       As directed by the Editor, communicate reviews and feedback to authors

●       Promote recently published case studies to the RAO membership and broader community of practitioners

Applications will be accepted to twps-casestudies@archivists.org until June 7, 2024. Applicants should submit a statement of interest explaining their experience editing; their ideas for including more diverse voices, institutions, and/or case studies; and a resume/CV. Questions may be addressed to current editors, Mary Feeney and Kara Flynn, at twps-casestudies@archivists.org.

American Archivist Generative AI Statement

Introduction:

In Spring of 2023, American Archivist editors learned that authors had used artificial intelligence (AI) platforms such as ChatGPT in submissions to the Reviews Portal. This sparked a conversation within the Editorial Board about the ethical use of AI in American Archivist content. As ChatGPT and other AI programs are becoming ubiquitous, the American Archivist Editorial Board is endorsing the following Norms and Recommendations for AI use within our publications. 

The Editorial Board recognizes that the technological landscape is rapidly evolving with regard to AI in scholarship and journal publication. We recognize that AI has great potential to contribute to archivists’ professional work, including creating summary documents for finding aids and facilitating data analysis for large projects. The American Archivist Editorial Board recognizes the opportunity to engage AI for scholarship and professional growth.

For the integrity of the journal, our goal is to define standards for the journal and the reviews portal, and to encourage authors to be transparent about their use of generative AI platforms, including ChatGPT, in content they submit. While the Editorial Board will not reject a piece solely based on the use of AI, we want to be clear about how AI is used in any context in American Archivist. We value an ethical approach to publishing and transparency for our professional membership and our readership.

We recognize that there is a distinction between using AI for assistance with spelling and grammar, and using AI to generate content. Multiple disciplines are voicing concerns about generative AI, and as a journal representing one arm of the allied information professions, this is what concerns us most. First, generative AI may pose substantial issues for copyright and intellectual property: generative AI uses other publications and writings that appear online, and these may not be appropriately attributed for copyright purposes. AI generated content may also reproduce biases from existing online content, and spread misinformation. In addition, our own editorial experience has shown that AI generated citations may produce references to articles that simply do not exist.[1]

In an effort to discourage the spread of misinformation, in an effort to maintain integrity of the journal, and to value our responsibility to authors, Society of American Archivist (SAA) members, and readers, the American Archivist Editorial Board is setting forth these Norms and Recommendations for the use of AI in our publications.

Norms and Recommendations:

These Norms and Recommendations represent an ethical agreement between authors submitting content to the journal and portal, and the Editorial Board. They are intended to encourage transparency in the use of AI in the research and publication process. They are not strictly enforced, nor do they purport to be a legally binding agreement between SAA, American Archivist, or the authors submitting content. The Editorial Board will review these norms and recommendations on an annual basis.

• No article will be summarily rejected because of the use of AI.

• Articles containing purely generated AI content are prohibited. 

• Authors must disclose the use of AI when a manuscript (review or article) is submitted. This includes, but is not limited to, AI generated content and data analysis. For maximum transparency, this disclosure should appear at the beginning of the article—in an author’s note, the abstract, or a statement prior to the article’s introduction.

• All content—regardless of the use of AI—will go through normal review channels (double blind peer review and/or editorial review, as appropriate).

• Editorial decisions are made based on peer/editorial review, quality of writing, and content. 

• Editors reserve the right to request AI transcripts from authors as well as additional information about its specific use, including where and how AI was used in the piece.

• Editors reserve the right to provide AI transcripts to peer reviewers as context for the piece.

Adopted February 15, 2024

Next scheduled review: February 2025

[1] Why does ChatGPT generate fake references? – TECHE (mq.edu.au) 

Read other submissions guidelines here. 

Call for Nominations: AHS Archival History Article Award

The Archival History Section (AHS) is seeking nominations for its annual AHS Archival History Article award. The prize encourages and rewards an article or other short piece of excellence in the field of archival history, regardless of subject, time period, or national boundaries. Stand-alone chapters in edited essay collections or anthologies will also be considered. Nominations may include works by archivists as well as by others writing scholarly works on the history of records and archives. The work must be published in English during the previous calendar year (January-December 2023).

To be considered, please submit your article or short piece to Dane Flansburgh (dflansbu@syr.edu) by May 15, 2024.

Best Regards,

Dane Flansburgh, Chair, Archival History Section steering committee

Call for Participants and Presentations: SAA Research Forum

Call for Participants and Presentations

Society of American Archivists 

2024 SAA Research Forum

hosted by the Committee on Research, Data, and Assessment

July 17 from 12:00 – 4:00 pm CT

July 24, 12:00 – 4:00 pm CT

Virtual Meetings

MAY 1 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS FOR THE SAA RESEARCH FORUM 

On behalf of the 2024 Research Forum Program Committee, we invite you to submit abstracts (of 300 words or fewer) for either 10-minute platform presentations or 3-minute lightning talks. Topics may address research on, or innovations in, any aspect of archives practice or records management in government, corporate, academic, scientific, or other settings. 

The 2024 Research Forum will be conducted as two Zoom-based virtual sessions, each four hours long, on July 17 from 12:00 – 4:00 pm CT and July 24, 12:00 – 4:00 pm CT. 

The Committee is pleased to announce format changes to the Research Forum in response to feedback from the last year’s Forum. The 2024 Research Forum will be made up of 10-minute platform presentations, extended from 8 minutes, and 3-minute lightning talks, which will replace the poster presentations. A limited number of presentations will be accepted to allow for longer presentation times, extended Q&A periods, and opportunities for discussion between attendees. An abstract submission rubric will be used by the Committee to evaluate submissions. The 2024 Research Forum webpage provides additional information about the schedule and links to past Forum proceedings.

We invite presentations on research results that may have emerged since the 2023 Joint Annual Meeting Call for Proposals deadline, as well as reports on research completed within the past three years that are relevant and valuable for discussion as defined by the rubric. On the submission form, please indicate whether you intend a platform presentation or a lightning talk. See the full call here: https://www2.archivists.org/publications/research-forum.

The Research Forum Committee and CORDA encourage submissions on a range of topics, which may include:

  • Global challenges and their implications for archives and archivists, such as climate change, armed conflicts, environmental disaster, and human rights; 
  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EDISJ) as a core value for archives and archivists; 
  • Collaborating across domains—archives, libraries, galleries, and museums; 
  • Repository-level data: how archives measure their output, outcomes, and activities over time;
  • Centering users in the design of archival systems for discovery; and/or, 
  • Building audiences to increase the impact of archives on society. 

These themes can be found in the CORDA Research and Innovation Roadmap (v1.4). 

Abstracts will be evaluated by the 2024 Research Forum Committee convened by Sarah Pratt Martin (Harvard University) and Chris Marino (Stanford University).

Deadline for submission of abstracts: May 1, 2024. You will be notified of the Committee’s decision by June 1, 2024.

Proposals should be submitted here.

Call for Graduate Student Program Proposals: SAA Annual Meeting

The Student Program Subcommittee is accepting proposals for two special sessions dedicated to student scholarship during ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2024. Proposals may be for a presentation (presented in-person) or a poster (presented in-person or virtually). Work from both master’s and doctoral students will be considered. Proposal submissions are due March 15.

Call for Nominations: SAA Publications Awards

The Society of American Archivists is in search of excellence! Do you know of an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the archives profession? Or promoted greater public awareness of archives? Have you published a groundbreaking book, written an outstanding article, or developed an innovative finding aid? Click on the links below to learn more about the below awards and nominate a deserving colleague—or yourself! Please consult the specific award for submission requirements and nomination form. Note that you can apply or be nominated for multiple awards in a single cycle, but may only receive one. The deadline for nominations is February 28.