NEA taking the past into the future

PAST WORKSHOPS

Details of our past workshops are available below.  The workshops we offer are based on member interest (see NEA’s annual surveys  for more information) as well as instructor and location availability.  Would you like to see one of these workshops offered again or are you interested in becoming an instructor with NEA? Fill out our GoogleForm and a member of the Education Committee will be in touch.

Questions? Get in touch with the Education Committee at education@newenglandarchivists.org or visit NEA’s contact page for a full listing of Education Committee members. Individual contact information is available by searching for a committee member by name in the directory.

Visit our current and upcoming workshop page to learn more about our continuing education opportunities. Use the links below to browse our past workshops by year.

2019 | 2018 | 2017 |  2016 |  2015  |  2014  |  2013

 

Approaching Transition And Grief In Acquisitions Work 

APRIL 30, 2019

Description: Archival acquisitions often occur at times of difficult transition. A holistic understanding of a donor’s transition will aid archivists and other staff with acquisitions responsibilities in managing successful donor interactions. Techniques to handle difficult situations will lead to better outcomes for archivists and stewards of cultural heritage.

For the last three years, Mumford, Hayes and Ilacqua have explored the topics of transition, grief, and loss through interviews with professionals including palliative care workers, ombudspersons, and members of the clergy, as well as extensive research on medical perspectives of loss and grief.

Instructors: Heather Mumford, Carolyn Hayes, and Joan Ilacqua , Harvard Medical School

BACK TO TOP 

Oral History: Approaches, Technology, Preservation

APRIL 4, 2019

Description: Taught by Andy Kolovos, Associate Director and Archivist of the Vermont Folklife Center, this workshop will explore the fundamentals of an ethnographic approach to oral history research, including interviewing, audio recording and audio equipment basics, and will provide an overview of archival considerations and digital preservation best practices for oral history materials. The workshop includes a demonstration interview and hands-on time for participants to practice interviewing and recording in small groups.

Andy Kolovos holds a PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology and an MLS, both from Indiana University. He is co-coordinator of the American Folklore Society’s National Folklore Archives Initiative and member of the Society of American Archivists Oral History Section Steering Committee. He presents and consults widely on oral history and community ethnography, audio recording for ethnography and archival concerns in relation to these materials.

Instructor: Andy Kovolos, Vermont Folklife Center


Caring for Historical Records

APRIL 4, 2019

Description: Geared toward those responsible for the care of historical records or those interested in developing a historical records collection, this workshop will be especially useful for staff and volunteers working in libraries, museums, historical societies, or municipal governments who have little or no formal training. Through a combination of lecture, group discussion, and exercises, participants will get an overview of the fundamentals of archival organization, including the basic principles and practices of identification, acquisition, preservation, arrangement, and description of historical records. Topics of access, reference, outreach, and policy-making will also be explored.

Instructor: Rachel Onuf, Vermont State Archives

BACK TO TOP

Salary Negotiation for Archivists: An Online Workshop

March 23, 2019

Description: Looking for a job, or seeking a promotion, is tough and stressful—and getting that offer is something to be proud of! Now it’s time to negotiate your salary. Salary negotiations may be high stakes, but you already have all the skills you need to get results you want. Covering basic negotiation theory and advice, techniques for preparing and executing salary negotiations, and resources to help you become a more confident negotiator, this workshop is for any entry-level or mid-level librarians who may have a job search or salary negotiation in their future.

Instructor: Beth Ashmore


Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies Reading Group

December 11, 2018

Description: Meghan R. Rinn of the Barnum Museum will join us to discuss her article “Nineteenth-Century Depictions of Disabilities and Modern Metadata: A Consideration of Material in the P.T.Barnum Digital Collection.” Read the article and join us to discuss the issues of description and disability in archival collections. Article link: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/jcas/vol5/iss1/1/

Instructor: Meghan Rinn, Barnum Museum


Deconstructing Whiteness

AUGUST 6, 2018

Description: This workshop is designed for archives professionals who want to critically and constructively examine how dynamics of whiteness affect their work. Participants will reflect upon critical conversations in the archival profession, including #ArchivesSoWhite, M. Ramirez’s 2015 article “Being Assumed Not to Be: A Critique of Whiteness as an Archival Imperative,” and outcomes of the 2017 Liberatory Archives Forum in Portland, OR. Following an introduction to key concepts and definitions, trained facilitators will lead attendees in a series of participatory dialogues and exercises designed to unify theory and practice.

Instructor: Samantha Winn, Virginia Tech

BACK TO TOP

Principled Archivists: How To Make The New Dacs Principles Work For You And Your Users

July 27, 2018

Description: The newly revised DACS principles provide an updated framework for archival description. In this workshop, participants will test the revised DACS principles against real-world researcher needs. This workshop provides a chance for archivists to learn more about the revision process and the rationale for revision and, most important, determine how to implement these principles to structure a descriptive program.

Instructors: Adrien Hilton, Harvard University And Maureen Callahan, Smith College

Documenting Dissent: How LIS Professionals Can Support Community Archives

June 23, 2018

Description: For the past several decades, community archives such at the Lesbian Herstory Archives, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project, and the Freedom Archives have been important sites of self-determination, memory, and inspiration for historically disenfranchised communities. In recent years, archivists and information workers have become increasingly interested in using their professional skills to support these projects. This workshop will discuss what community archives are and why they are important. We will consider some of the ethical considerations for professionals interested in supporting community-based projects. We will cover topics including record-keeping for activists, community archives and digital security, and the benefits and pitfalls of institutional partnerships. A variety of low-cost and practical tools will be introduced. Participants will leave the workshop with a theoretical grounding in the current activist and professional conversations around community archives and actionable knowledge about how LIS professionals can support this work.

Instructors: Maggie Schreiner, New York University Libraries and Marie Lascu, XFR Collective

BACK TO TOP

You're Hired! How to Navigate the Job Application Process

MARCH 22, 2018 

Description:  Whether you're new to the job market or returning after a hiatus, join Peter Carini, College Archivist at Dartmouth College, as he demystifies the job-seeking process by breaking it down into manageable parts. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about all aspects of the application process, from reading and assessing a job advertisement to navigating an interview and presenting yourself in a competent and professional manner. After reviewing and discussing ads, resumes, and cover letters, you'll have the opportunity to write a model cover letter and gain feedback from the instructor and the group, and to participate in (or observe) a mock interview.

Instructor: Peter Carini, Dartmouth College


Funding for Archives Work

March 23, 2017  |  full day

Location: The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis | 35 Scudder Avenue, Hyannis, MA 02601

Description: This grants workshop will provide attendees with a detailed look to the competitive archival grant programs at the National Archives and Records Administration, which are made through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The primary emphasis of this workshop will be on the Access to Historical Records grant program. Executive Director Williams will give participants an understanding of the grant application process, including the components of a good project summary, narrative, budget, and supplemental materials. The instructor also will discuss the review process, the response phase, and Commission recommendations. Attendees will have the opportunity to read and comment on two sample applications as part of the peer review process. They also will learn general tips that successful applicants have used to strengthen their applications.

The workshop also will offer attendees the opportunity to start designing their own project and application package: defining project scope, devising a budget, developing a work plan, and preparing an application.

Instructor: Kathleen Williams, National Historical Publication & Records Commission


Back to top ↑

Born Digital Access Bootcamp: A Collaborative Learning Forum

March 23, 2017  |  full day

Location: The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis | 35 Scudder Avenue, Hyannis, MA 02601

Description: This workshop will focus on building strategies to providing access to born-digital material.

Designed as an opportunity for practitioners and beginners to learn from one another, the workshop will take a collaborative approach with a morning of group discussions on relevant topics guided by workshop facilitators, following by a hands-on afternoon with demonstrations of born-digital access systems and breakout discussion sessions.

Topics will be selected through surveying workshop participants and through forum discussion, but will ultimately address how policies, copyright/risk assessment, user needs, reference interactions, processing workflows, donor relations, advocacy, and other archival functions affect how, when, and what we provide access to, with an emphasis on user-driven access throughout.

Instructors: Alison Clemens, Yale University & Jessica Farrell, Harvard University


Back to top ↑


Records Management in the Round: Re-purposing Your Archival Expertise to Start a Program

June 7, 2016  |  full day

Location: New England Historic Genealogical Society  |  Boston, MA

Description: As archivists, we're very familiar with one part of the "records lifecycle" – how can we leverage our knowledge to make records management happen? This workshop will help you to use your expertise and skills to fill in gaps. You will leave knowing how to analyze active records and records-keeping systems to help ensure that what should come to the archives actually arrives, and what doesn't need to be kept is disposed of appropriately by the right people, at the right time. Can you carry out risk mitigation that keeps senior management informed and supportive? Do you have a disaster plan not just for vital records, but for vital systems? Are you protecting privacy and intellectual property rights while making information available and useful? You will after this workshop!

Instructors: Sarah R. Demb, Harvard University Archives; Sarah A. Polirer, Cigna Corporation (Connecticut)



Planning Your Digitization Project: Getting the Most out of your Time, Resources, and Collections

May 5, 2016  |  half day
June 30, 2016 | half day

Location: National Archives at Boston  |  Waltham, MA

Description: This half day workshop will give participants an overview of the basics of digitization project planning—including determining project scope and budget, mapping intellectual goals to physical workflow, and planning for technology and staffing requirements—to get the most out of your newly-created digital assets. Strategies and resources for long-term digital asset management will be discussed to cover the entire life cycle of digital assets created as a result of digitization projects.

Participants will also walk through an “if/then” decision tree considering the essential questions of digitization hopes and needs, which can then be used in the development of a concrete, personalized plan.

Instructor: Maureen Jennings, Safdie Architects


Back to top ↑

Archivists & Active Learning: Fostering Student Engagement and Learning Opportunities in Archives

March 31, 2016  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2016 Meeting | By the Bay Conference Center  |  Portland, ME

Description: Archives and archivists can play a vital role in education across grade levels—from primary school to graduate programs. But simply placing students in a reading room with primary sources or showcasing “cool stuff” to a class does not necessarily facilitate student learning. Pedagogical design does. This full-day workshop will help you maximize your interactions with students, adapt your information literacy approaches, and develop mutually beneficial, collaborative relationships between archives and educational institutions. What skills and concepts do educators hope to cultivate in their students and how can working with archival materials help further pedagogical goals? How can archivists assess the effectiveness of these interactions? How do you develop relationships with educators and administrators that encourage deeper engagement with archival materials?

We will discuss emerging and innovative ideas and practices related to engaging students with archival materials, both in and outside of class assignments and how these archival activities should align with curriculum frameworks. Models of innovative projects will be presented as well as practical tips on building cross discipline collaborations between archivists, educators, artists and humanists. Participants in this workshop will have time to design an adaptable lesson plan based on a collection in their archive and should leave the workshop feeling confident in implementing this plan.

Instructors: Marilyn Morgan, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Marta Crilly, Boston City Archives; James Moran, American Antiquarian Society; Suzy Taraba, Wesleyan University



Oral History: Approaches, Technology, Preservation

March 31, 2016  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2016 Meeting | By the Bay Conference Center  |  Portland, ME

Description:  For over 30 years the Vermont Folklife Center has conducted ethnographic and oral history research in Vermont. At the heart of our work resides the oral interview—-a process rooted in empathy, respect and engaged, passionate listening. The morning and early afternoon will focus on the fundamentals of an ethnographic approach to oral history work, including theory, methods and ethics. The workshop begins with a demonstration interview and group discussion of the ethnographic interview process. Following our discussion, attendees will next break into groups and conduct interviews with one another using provided digital audio recording equipment. The first part of the workshop will conclude with reflection on interviewing and a discussion of project ideas.

For the remainder of the day will explore the theory, technology and methods of digital audio recording for interviews, including the fundamentals of digital audio, microphones for field recording, and options for audio recorders. We will conclude the day with an overview and discussion of fundamentals of digital preservation for oral history researchers.

Instructor: Andy Kolovos, Vermont Folklife Center


Back to top ↑

AV: 101

October 22, 2015  |  full day

Location: Massachusetts Historical Society | Boston, MA

Description:  In the 2015 NEA membership survey, one-third of NEA members indicated a desire to gain skills and expertise necessary to effectively manage, preserve, and provide access to their audiovisual collections. We’re excited to offer a day-long workshop focusing on the basics of moving image and recorded sound collections, taught by staff from the WGBH Media Library and Archives and Harvard Library’s Weissman Preservation Center. This workshop will cover the following topics: identification of analog and digital formats, basic care and handling, storage of analog and digital AV collections, inventorying analog collections, metadata for audiovisual materials, digitization best practices, characteristics of digital audiovisual files, rights and access, and digital repositories. Attendees will leave the workshop with confidence, knowledge and resources to ensure the preservation and access of the cultural heritage documented in their audiovisual collections.

Instructors: Casey E. Davis, Rebecca Fraimow and Elizabeth Walters



Career Development Strategies for Early Career Professionals

September 12, 2015  |  full day

Location: Simmons College | Boston, MA

Description:  This workshop aims to help new archivists navigate the job market, improve their prospects, and provide support during what can be a stressful and confusing experience. Whether you are just starting out, are trying to climb the ladder, or are transitioning career tracks, this workshop will try to give you tools to make these processes a little easier. Some of the topics we will cover include post-graduate career planning, tailoring your education, internships, and entry-level or part-time positions to further your goals, networking and finding mentors, and affordable methods of professional development.

This workshop is co-sponsored by the Simmons College Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SCoSAA).

Instructors: Annalisa Moretti and Silvia Mejia


Back to top ↑

Caring For Historical Records

August 24, 2015  |  full day

Location: Historic Northampton | Northampton, MA

Description:  This workshop is for those responsible for the care of historical records or those interested in developing a historical records collection. It is especially useful for staff and volunteers working in libraries, museums, historical societies, or municipal governments who have responsibility for archival materials but no formal training in archival practice. Through a combination of lecture, group discussion, and exercises, participants will get an overview of the fundamentals of archival organization, including the basic principles and practices of identification, acquisition, preservation, arrangement and description of historical records. The topics of access, reference and outreach will also be explored. This workshop will help participants develop policies, forms, and procedures to manage archival collections.

NEA thanks University Products, Inc. for its support of this workshop.

Instructor: Anne Ostendarp, Consulting and Project Archivist



Becoming a Better Manager

June 3, 2015  |  full day

Location: Trinity College | Hartford, CT

Description:  Designed for the new manager, this workshop will focus on the management of people and problems. We’ll talk about the role of the manager, managing up as well as down, hiring, performance management, evaluation, letting someone go, and managing yourself. The workshop will also cover methods for dealing with non-personnel problems. Please come to the workshop with your questions, and be ready to share scenarios and experiences with the best and worst bosses you’ve had, observed or heard about. Often discussing real life examples leads to solutions for others!

Instructor: Maria Bernier, Connecticut State Library


Back to top ↑

Arrangement and Description

March 19, 2015  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2015 Meeting | Park Plaza Hotel | Boston, MA

Description:  Intended for those with some archival training, this workshop will focus on day-to-day decisions one faces in arranging and describing archival manuscript collections that have minimal order. Topics covered include finding aid design, elements of finding aids, guidelines for establishing series and sub-series, basic conservation practices, and handling problem materials, with an emphasis on creating access to collections. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions about processing collections.

Instructor: Barbara Austin, Connecticut Historical Society


Back to top ↑

Caring for Historical Records: An Introduction

March 19, 2015  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2015 Meeting | Park Plaza Hotel | Boston, MA

Description:  Geared toward those responsible for the care of historical records or those interested in developing a historical records collection, this workshop will be especially useful for staff and volunteers working in libraries, museums, historical societies, or municipal governments who have little or no formal training. Through a combination of lecture, group discussion, and exercises, participants will get an overview of the fundamentals of archival organization, including the basic principles and practices of identification, acquisition, preservation, arrangement, and description of historical records. Topics of access, reference, outreach, and policymaking will also be explored.

Instructor: Anne Ostendarp, Consulting and Project Archivist


Back to top ↑

Project Management for Archival Processing

March 19, 2015  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2015 Meeting | Park Plaza Hotel | Boston, MA

Description:  In This workshop offers archivists introductory techniques and common tools for project management, focusing particularly on strengthening prioritization skills and workflow planning for processing projects. The workshop will also address interpretive projects such as exhibitions and digital initiatives. Attendees from any size repository, including lone arrangers, will learn how to define project goals and objectives, compose project objective statements, establish work breakdown structures, estimate project budgets, create project and communication plans, schedule and track tasks using Gantt Charts, and conduct a post-project evaluation. The workshop will show how standard project management terminology can be applied to common archives tasks, as well as give an overview of Earned Value Assessment.

Instructor: Vincent Novara, University of Maryland


Back to top ↑

Copyright Fundamentals for Archivists and Librarians

March 19, 2015  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2015 Meeting | Park Plaza Hotel | Boston, MA

Description:  In many institutions, the uncertain copyright status of some archival and special collection materials can make archivists and librarians uncomfortable. As repositories think about making more material available on the web, anxiety about possible copyright infringement increases. This workshop will explore what strategies special collections can follow to minimize the risks when reproducing and distributing unique and/or unpublished material. Topics covered will include an introduction to basic copyright law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; exceptions to copyright restrictions, such as fair use and the specific exemptions for libraries and archives; methods for assessing the copyright status of materials; and issues associated with particular formats. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how to work with senior administrators to address institutional risk.

Instructor: Peter Hirtle, Harvard University


Back to top ↑

Being Resourceful: DIY supports and enclosures

November 11, 2014  |  half day

Location: Providence Public Library | Providence, RI

Description:  Are you a Do-It-Yourselfer at home? Want to bring some of that resourcefulness to your library or archive? Learn from a preservation professional about some tricks of the trade.

“Being Resourceful: DIY Supports and Enclosures” will discuss basic tools, tips and techniques on how to create many of the supports and enclosures needed in your repository and save your organization money on buying off the shelf items. You’ll learn what tools you’ll need in order to create a variety of supports and enclosures and gain some tips on how to pull those together from non-traditional library sources. Topics covered will include making custom wrappers and enclosures, sewing book cushions, covering bricks, measuring sticks, making weighted cubes and snake weights, sewing encapsulation and more. You will also craft a simple enclosure that can be adapted to a range of sizes and materials.

Instructor: Erica Saladino, Book Repair and Conservation Technician, Brown University Libraries


Back to top ↑

Introduction to Records Management

March 20, 2014  |  full day

Location: NEA Spring 2014 Meeting | Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel | Portsmouth, NH

Description:  The focus of this workshop is on the concepts and techniques of records management programs. Participants will receive a general overview of best practices, current developments in the field, and special topics relating to the dual functions of archives and records management. This workshop is intended for students interested in learning about the elements of records management and professionals looking to direct or establish a records management program at their institution. This program will provide basic knowledge of the principles and practices of RM. Special emphasis will be given to the records of government offices, particularly municipalities, as well as to agencies tasked with developing their own schedules and procedures.

Instructor: Daniel McCormack, Town of Burlington, Massachusetts


Back to top ↑

Day of Mindfulness

March 20, 2014  |  half day

Location: NEA Spring 2014 Meeting | Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel | Portsmouth, NH

Description:  Mindfulness can be defined as awareness of our experience in the present moment. Some would add without judgment. So often we approach ourselves from a place of criticism, lack and negativity that getting to the place of non judgment and self acceptance is a practice. This practice benefits everyone – some people come to the practice to transform habits of anxiety and depression, others to deal with chronic pain, others to unlock their creative potential and still others to engage in a spiritual practice. Please join us for an overview of Mindfulness and a morning steeped with practices. You will walk away with both a cognitive knowledge of Mindfulness and the experience of how this practice benefits you in all aspects of your life.

Instructor: Patricia Howard


Back to top ↑

Metrics for Special Collections

March 20, 2014  |  half day

Location: NEA Spring 2014 Meeting | Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel | Portsmouth, NH

Description:  What is the difference between an output and an outcome? What do granting agencies mean by demonstrating effective change through evaluation? How can we foster and embed a culture of assessment in our repositories, regardless of the types of collections we hold or number of staff? How can we demonstrate the effective use of project staffing and funds? And what kind of data should we be trying to capture anyway?

This half-day workshop is designed to introduce participants to the national metrics conversation: why archivists need to think beyond user statistics; how assessment can improve project management and practice; and the value of metrics not only as a reporting mechanism for management, but as a way to advocate for staff and dynamically change workflow and patron interaction. At the end of this course, you will understand key metrics-related terminology and avenues for evaluation, and discover what tools and models are available to archivists to facilitate data collection.

Instructors: Kathryn Hammond Baker and Emily Novak Gustainis, Center for the History of Medicine, Countway Library, Harvard Medical School; and, Adrienne Pruitt, John J. Burns Library, Boston College


Back to top ↑

Now What? Networking and Goal Setting for Archivists

October 5, 2013  |  full day

Location: New England Historic Genealogical Society | Boston, MA

Description:  Whether you’ve landed your dream job in archives or you’re just getting your career started, we can all benefit from thoughtful and intentional goal setting, finding ways to grow personally and professionally, and developing a network of people who can inspire, support, and guide us.

In this personalized, career development-oriented workshop we will focus on identifying and setting professional goals, making an actionable plan, building your networking skills and developing a mentoring circle to help you reach the next level in your career.

This will be an interactive, personal and career focused workshop. We hope participants will feel comfortable sharing career aspirations and participating in group brainstorming/networking sessions. Participants will leave with a new network of professional peers, an individualized plan that includes actionable career goals for the short term, and a map of their developmental network.

Instructors: Darla White and Jessica Sedgwick, Center for the History of Medicine, Countway Library, Harvard Medical School


Back to top ↑
   Contact Us  Donate to NEA  Policies  
  Facebook icon Twitter icon Linked-in icon Vimeo icon Pinterest icon  

© New England Archivists. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software