News & EVENTS

This week we sent out a notice about the October 13th SAA workshop on “Privacy and Confidentiality Issues in Digital Archives.” And now we've recently learned there is a special discount for NEA members who are not already SAA members. If you are a member of NEA, but not SAA, you are eligible for $25 off of the SAA non-member workshop rate. Log into the NEA website to get the special promotional code to receive the discount when you register on the SAA website. The discount will be activated manually by SAA staff.

Early-bird registration ends September 13th, so take advantage of this workshop taught by instructor Peter Hirtle who is known for his expert knowledge on addressing intellectual property issues. This course covers privacy and confidentiality legal issues specific to archives of digital material. You'll examine the intersection of (and the tension between) privacy/confidentiality, free speech and freedom to research/write, and focus on how electronic records and the digital realm have altered the scene. You'll look at privacy and confidentiality issues in the context of third party rights, donors, special situations such as medical and education records, national security legislation, and the overriding impact of the digital world. Through case studies, you will examine specific situations pertinent to the work of archivists. While participants should be familiar with basic concepts of privacy and confidentiality, a brief review of the development of these concepts will be provided to ground the discussion. The focus of the day will be on how to think through and identify options for resolving the most commonly-encountered privacy and confidentiality legal issues around electronic records.

Workshop: Privacy and Confidentiality Issues in Digital Archives #1753 [A&D, DAS]
Instructor: Peter Hirtle, Affiliate Fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University
Thursday, October 13, 2016 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hampshire College | Amherst, MA

Dear NEA Community,

The New England Archivists' Membership Committee is seeking volunteers to help run our developing Mentoring Program:

Mentoring Administrator: We are looking for an individual to coordinate and manage the mentoring liaisons, mentors, and mentees. They will study the Mentoring Task Force report and, based on its recommendations, relaunch a formalized mentoring program; recruit, organize, and support the liaisons; and work with the Communications Committee to promote the activities of the program. The Mentoring Administrator serves for two years under the umbrella of the Membership Committee and will report all activity to the Membership Committee Cochairs and, when requested, to the NEA Executive Board.

Mentoring Liaison: We are looking for 2 or 3 Mentoring Liaisons to take on support roles in mentoring circles. Liaisons will provide program information to participants and assist mentors with logistical tasks, including scheduling meetings and acting as mediators when issues or concerns arise within a circle. Liaisons will help mentors brainstorm discussions and activities as requested. The Mentoring Liaisons serve for two years as members of the Membership Committee. They report directly to the Mentoring Administrator and keep the Membership Committee Cochairs and the NEA Board informed about circle activities.

Please consider nominating yourself for one of these rewarding opportunities. NEA's Mentoring Program has been in the works since 2013 when, with the support of several experienced NEA members, the Roundtable for Early Professionals and Students (REPS) leadership piloted a mentoring circle program for its members. In the pilot year, three mentoring circles were each led by a team of two mentors—members of the NEA community with differing levels of experience—with 4 or 5 mentees from the REPS membership participating. The circles were supported by liaisons from the REPS leadership, who were responsible for scheduling of meetings and communicating with participants.

This is an excellent opportunity to become involved in NEA, network, and build your professional resume. If you are interested in either the Mentoring Administrator or one of the Mentoring Liaison positions, please prepare a short statement of purpose and email it to the Cochairs of the Membership Committee by September 15, 2016.

After the deadline, we will review all statements and determine the most effective individual from the nominees. If you have further questions about the positions or the program, please contact the Membership Cochairs.

Thank you.
Membership Committee Cochairs
Pamela Hopkins (psmhopkins@gmail.com)
Heather Mumford (Heather_Mumford@hms.harvard.edu)

Going to the New England Archivist's Fall 2016 Meeting? Working towards earning your DAS certificate? Make it a long weekend and register for SAA’s workshop on “Privacy and Confidentiality Issues in Digital Archives” on Thursday, October 13th at Hampshire College. Take advantage of this workshop taught by instructor Peter Hirtle who is known for his expert knowledge on addressing intellectual property issues.

This course covers privacy and confidentiality legal issues specific to archives of digital material. You'll examine the intersection of (and the tension between) privacy/confidentiality, free speech and freedom to research/write, and focus on how electronic records and the digital realm have altered the scene. You'll look at privacy and confidentiality issues in the context of third party rights, donors, special situations such as medical and education records, national security legislation, and the overriding impact of the digital world. Through case studies, you will examine specific situations pertinent to the work of archivists. While participants should be familiar with basic concepts of privacy and confidentiality, a brief review of the development of these concepts will be provided to ground the discussion. The focus of the day will be on how to think through and identify options for resolving the most commonly-encountered privacy and confidentiality legal issues around electronic records.

Early bird registration ends September 13th. For more information and to register, visit http://saa.archivists.org/events/privacy-and-confidentiality-issues-in-digital-archives-1753/725/

Workshop: Privacy and Confidentiality Issues in Digital Archives #1753 [A&D, DAS]
Instructor: Peter Hirtle, Affiliate Fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University
Thursday, October 13, 2016 |  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hampshire College | Amherst, MA

BRIDGING THE GAPS

Registration is now open for the New England Archivists' Fall 2016 Meeting on Friday, October 14th at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.  This year's meeting, "Bridging the Gaps" will explore ways the archival profession can reach across divisions and work with stakeholders to expand access to collections and document underrepresented communities and issues.

-- Hear Yiddish Book Center founder and president Aaron Lansky speak about his ongoing work to rescue and make accessible the endangered literature of Yiddish-speaking people
-- Attend a panel discussion on promoting access across boundaries created by language, gender, and differing abilities
-- Finish up the day with a series of short presentations by NEA members.

Explore NEA's new website design and find out more about the Fall Meeting program.

Tours of the Yiddish Book Center and the Hampshire College Archives and Special Collections will be offered in the morning before the meeting begins. And this year, for the first time, NEA will offer a chartered bus to provide a greener and more affordable travel option from Boston to Amherst.

Take advantage of our early-bird rates and register online today.

NEA Fall 2016 Meeting
Bridging the Gaps
Friday, October 14, 2016 | 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Yiddish Book Center | Amherst, MA
Registration opens August 22nd

EARLY-BIRD RATES:
     NEA members: $45 ($70 with bus)
     NEA members bridge*: $34 ($59 with bus)
     Student members: $22 ($47 with bus)
     Non-members: $60 ($85 with bus)

* Bridge rates are reserved for NEA members in good standing who self-identify as un- or under-employed

See you in Amherst!

Two weeks ago the New England Archivists sent out a letter of appeal to help save funding to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and the Massachusetts Center for the Book.

VICTORY!  Funding was restored after State House lawmakers overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s 55% budget cut. Thank your legislators! Read more about the restored budget on the Boston Globe.

NEA President, Jennifer Gunter King received a thank you email from MA State Senator, Stan Rosenberg:

Jennifer

Thanks for your email regarding Governor Baker’s FY17 vetoes to the Legislature’s budget. Earlier this month, the Legislature passed a balanced budget reflecting its priorities including investments in education, the arts, and assisting those who are in need of a helping hand. I am pleased to inform you that over the last two weeks, the Legislature was successful in restoring funding for many of these important programs. Included in these overrides was the restored funding for the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), a program I have passionately supported for many years. We also restored funding for our libraries and important literacy programs such as the Center for the Book. The Legislature was also successful in restoring funding for programs supported in line-item 4512-0200 which provides important addiction treatment services. As the Commonwealth continues to endure an opioid addiction epidemic, it is important that we remain committed to supporting these critical services. We were also successful in restoring language that requires health insurance companies to cover treatment for chronic Lyme disease, ensuring those suffering from this debilitating disease can receive the treatment they need to live normal lives.

The Legislature continued its commitment to helping those in need with restored funding to several programs assisting those that are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. Included in overrides was line-item 7003-0102 funding Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, and line-item 7004-3036 which funds programs for assistance to homeless Individuals. Finally, the Legislature restored language for Municipal Retiree Health Insurance Premium Freeze to protect retirees from increases in insurance costs. Since all overrides must originate in the House, several important issues were never debated in the Senate. For a complete list of budget overrides please visit our website.

Thanks again for taking the time to weigh in on this issue. I appreciate hearing from constituents on matter of importance to them. Please do not hesitate to contact my office, should you have any additional questions, comments, or concerns. For more information on issues affecting our district and the Commonwealth as a whole, please visit my website at: www.stanrosenberg.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatorstanrosenberg or follow me on Twitter @SenStan.

Stan

It's been a long time coming, but the New England Archivists is getting a new website! We've worked hard to make our new site friendly, intuitive, organized, and informative. Over the next few weeks, you'll see some changes as we work on transferring the site over.

We invite everyone to explore the completely updated site on August 22nd as early-bird registration for the NEA Fall 2016 Meeting opens. Contact the NEA Web Administrator, Kelli Bogan (webmaster@newenglandarchivists.org), with any comments or questions. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. 

NEA Fall 2016 Meeting
Bridging the Gaps
Friday, October 14, 2016 | 1:00-5:00 pm
Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, MA

New England Archivists invites submissions of short presentation proposals for the concluding portion of the Fall Meeting to be held October 14, 2016, at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts. It will be a wonderful opportunity to broaden the discussion of this meeting's theme, Bridging the Gaps. Special consideration will be given to students and first-time presenters. The deadline for proposals is July 30, 2016.

During Bridging the Gaps, we will explore inspiring examples of how archivists, associated professionals, and records stakeholders are working to bridge gaps in collection development and accessibility of materials.

The Fall 2016 Program Committee is especially interested in proposals about the following:
    -- Improving the accessibility of collections
    -- Adapting and expanding language to better connect with our audiences
    -- Building diverse collections that reach new users
    -- Connecting with and serving under-documented communities
    -- Fostering relationships between archivists and stakeholders, including records creators and users, outside of traditional repositories

Four proposals will be selected. Presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion among presenters, earlier panelists, and attendees. Presentations must be no longer than 7 minutes and must be in one of the following formats:
    -- Lightning talk - a concise presentation that may or may not include a simple visual element, such as a PowerPoint presentation with three to five slides.
    -- PechaKucha - a presentation during which a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation advances automatically at the rate of 20 seconds per slide.
    -- TED talk - a short verbal presentation that may or may not include a visual element.

Submissions should include the following elements:
    1. working title of your presentation;
    2. brief description of the topic;
    3. name and contact information of the participant(s); and
    4. presentation format.

Please submit your proposals by July 30, 2016, to program chairs Annalisa Moretti and Blake Spitz with the subject line NEA Fall 2016 Meeting Presentation Proposal (annalisacmoretti@gmail.com and bspitz@library.umass.edu). If your proposal is selected, you will be contacted by a member of the Program Committee.

Please note: Upon acceptance, all presenters are required to register for the conference at the early-bird rate and fund their travel expenses.

*New England Archivists Boston Summer 2016 Social Event!*

The NEA Membership Committee and REPS invite all NEA members to our Summer Meet-up. Chat with fellow members, network a bit, and talk to folks attending SAA in Atlanta. All are welcome. 

NEA purchases snacks, drinks on your own.

Tuesday July 26, 2016 
4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
John Harvard’s Brewery and Ale House  

Harvard Square
33 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

Mass Transportation: 
Nearest MBTA Subway Stops: Harvard Square Station
Nearest MBTA Bus line: Harvard Square station

See you on the 26th!

While today’s news included a historic appointment at the Library of Congress, it also included local news that the New England Archivists believes demands immediate action.

The good news first. The library that has served our Congress and has acted as our national repository is now to be led by Dr. Carla D. Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Congress, as well as the first woman and first African American to hold the post. Our libraries are reflections of their communities, and it is critical that American communities see themselves in the collections and spaces that our libraries, archives, and museums provide.

Now the bad news. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker vetoed the Legislature's proposed Massachusetts Cultural Council budget and slashed arts funding by 55%. This cut would fund the creative community at $6.5 million, a level not seen since 1994. Last Friday, Governor Baker also vetoed 100% of spending on Massachusetts Center for the Book in FY2017, effectively shutting its doors. 

We need to send a strong message quickly to our Governor that the cuts will directly impact our collective efforts to represent and document all people, including those whose stories are often left out of the record. We can do this today by writing to our representatives (see links below) or appealing to the Governor directly.

Governor Baker’s vetoes include Massachusetts Center for the Book line item:
http://massbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/MassCenterfortheBook.veto_.override.7.12.16-2-1.pdf

Governor Proposes Devastating Cuts to Arts & Culture via Veto:
http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/news/Governor_Veto_FY17.asp

Let's override Gov. Baker's arts veto – MASSCREATIVE Action Center:
https://www.votervoice.net/MAARTS/campaigns/47339/respond

I have no doubt that the pressure on the Governor to support critical infrastructures across the Commonwealth led to these decisions. Yet, the arts and our cultural heritage resources, including our libraries, archives, and museums, are essential to our communities and for creating an inclusive and anti-racist world. Here is a personal story of how archives and museums and libraries do this.

Two weeks ago I went to the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island, New York. There I could learn about, see, and feel what some of our immigrant ancestors went through to gain entry into this country. Through the photographs, oral histories, and letters, preserved and on display, I could grasp the justices and the injustices, as some were granted access that others were denied. With anguish, I also saw the barriers that prevented some from ever stepping foot on American soil. As today’s refugees seek safety and opportunity, and our own contemporary multicultural world sometimes forgets why, and how easily, humans institutionalize unjust barriers to liberty, it is our libraries, archives, and museums that remind us—that provide the vital evidence to inform our narrative of the past and for the future. Our cultural heritage institutions are the foundation of our democracy.

Please help the New England Archivists support the Library of Congress’ new leadership, and encourage our government to fund crucial access to information, and history.

Yours in earnest,
Jennifer Gunter King, President
New England Archivists

The New England Archivists Nominating Committee is seeking potential archival leaders to run for three open Executive Board positions. This year's election will include:
-- Vice President/President-Elect
-- Treasurer
-- Representative-at-Large

Think about nominating yourself or a colleague for one of these positions. Serving on the NEA Board is a great way to build your resume, network with other archivists in the community, and help make decisions that will drive our institution. Help keep NEA vital, welcoming, and fun.

We encourage NEA members at any stage of their career to consider running. If you are interested in stepping into a regional leadership position or know someone who would be a good candidate, please use the nomination form. Nominations are due by August 1st. All submissions are anonymous and confidential.

Find out more information about being part of the NEA Board:
-- Responsibilities assigned to the Vice President/President-Elect, Treasurer, and Representative-at-Large.

-- Current Board initiatives are outlined in NEA’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan.

-- Questions about the election and nominating process can be sent to the chair of the Nominating Committee, Colin Lukens (colin_lukens@harvard.edu).

Help us continue to make NEA a better organization for all our members.

Thank you,

The 2016 Nominating Committee:
Colin Lukens, Chair
Sarah Demb
Lisa Long Feldmann
Peter Nelson
Adrienne Pruitt
Megan Schwenke