News & EVENTS

NEA’s Education Committee is looking for a student member to serve a one-year term from Fall 2018 to Fall 2019 (The one-year term begins after the Fall 2018 meeting).

Responsibilities include planning workshops (which can be done from the comfort of your home through e-mail), acting as a liaison to other students to determine their education needs, and serving as a day-of workshop representative for biannual meetings. It is a fun, easy way to build your resume.

If you are interested, please contact Jessica Steytler: jsteytler@14beacon.org

The New England Archivists Membership Committee is in search of a volunteer to fill the Survey Coordinator position. This is a great opportunity for archivists across the region, including students and new professionals, to get involved in their professional organization, network, and build that resume! No prior experience or volunteer experience is required. Committee meetings are generally held virtually (NEA provides Zoom for web conferencing), and most business is done by email, phone, or web conferencing.

Survey Coordinator (3-year term)
Will manage the annual survey by collaborating with other NEA committees in order to gather information from NEA membership, creating the survey, and reporting results to the Membership Committee and NEA Board. The survey is used to evaluate how well NEA is meeting the needs of members and to inform planning in NEA.

Please contact Sam Howes, Membership Committee Chair, at samuel.howes@maine.gov.

Submit your current contact information and a brief statement of interest by Friday, September 21, 2018.

TOGETHER WE CAN

New England Archivists (NEA) invites submissions of session proposals for our Spring 2019 Meeting, to be held April 4–6, 2019, in Burlington, Vermont, at the Hilton Burlington.

The deadline for proposals is September 28, 2018.

With the theme “Together We Can,” the Spring 2019 Meeting will explore how archivists work with both records and users, especially with diverse peoples and groups who use and share archival material. Sessions offering practical information and innovative ideas will inspire archivists in the work they do every day as well as advance the archives profession.

The Spring 2019 Program Committee invites proposals on all topics but is especially interested in the following:

●       Archivists who work with non-traditional user groups

●       Interdisciplinary projects involving archivists or the use of archives

●       Effects of changes in laws or policies related to archives

●       Concepts of fact and truth in the archives

●       Archival advocacy within different types of administrative structures

●       Collaboration to complete digital and analog projects

●       Vermont history and culture

First-time presenters, current graduate students, and early-career professionals are encouraged to apply.  

POSSIBLE SESSION TYPES
 

Standard Presentation
Two or three speakers present on a common theme. May include a moderator to steer discussion and/or introduce speakers and theme.

Open Forum|
Topical discussion with moderator leading discussion with everyone in attendance. May include additional moderator(s) to direct breakout conversations.

PechaKucha
Each presentation consists of 20 slides or images displayed for 20 seconds each, with comment, and lasts six minutes and 40 seconds. Highest number of presenters possible for one session is 12, fewer if leaving time for questions.

Lightning Talks
Like PechaKucha, but without a set format. May or may not include slides or images. Presentations may be from three to ten minutes long, with number of presenters depending on time allotted for each.

Debate
Moderator announces the topic, and two other people debate.

Alternative Format
Suggest an alternative format or create your own. Proposals must include a description of the format and how the format will benefit the presentation and the audience.

Note: Standard A/V (a projector and screen) will be provided at each session.

In order to facilitate collaboration, the Spring 2019 Program Committee has created a space for NEA members to develop session proposals together: COLLABORATION SPREADSHEET

Please use this space to connect with your colleagues about potential session topics and formats. This collaborative space will be accessible through the deadline of September 28, 2018.

To submit a proposal, please complete this form: https://goo.gl/forms/lV4EMLWTHXSB5ITE3

Please note that proposed sessions involving fewer than three presenters and/or covering overlapping topics may be grouped together.

All proposals will be acknowledged by the Program Committee. If your proposal is accepted, you will be contacted about next steps. All presenters are required to register for the conference upon acceptance, at the early-bird rate, and to fund their own travel expenses. Presenters are required to abide by the NEA Code of Conduct, which can be found here: https://www.newenglandarchivists.org/Code-of-Conduct

NEA is committed to making the Spring 2019 Meeting welcoming and accessible to all presenters and attendees. If you need specific accommodations to support your participation in this event, please contact the program chairs.

Meeting and travel scholarships are available through NEA for those in need. For information and details on how to apply, see https://newenglandarchivists.org/awards/scholarships

Questions? Please contact program chair Sarah Galligan at sgalligan@nhhistory.org.

The New England Archivists Membership Committee is in search of new volunteers to fill a variety of new and exciting positions. This is a great opportunity for archivists across the region, including students and new professionals, to get involved in their professional organization, network, and build that resume! No prior experience or volunteer experience is required. Committee meetings are generally held virtually (NEA provides Zoom for web conferencing), and most business is done by email, phone, or web conferencing.  

We're looking for members who can start ASAP to focus on:

· Development (2-4 members; 3-year term)

Aided by membership survey data and the Development Task Force final report (2013), will define development plans for NEA, identify priorities for funding opportunities, identify new and existing sources of funding, and work with the NEA Treasurer on sustainable and responsible financial planning.

· Meet-up organization (1-2 members; 3-year term)

Will schedule and plan social meet-ups for NEA members at the Spring Meeting and throughout the year, occasionally in collaboration with other allied groups (such as Digital Commonwealth), and communicate with the Membership Chair and the Treasurer for budgeting and funding.

· Annual meeting coordination (2-3 members; 3-year term)

Will work collaboratively with the Local Arrangements Committee and other Spring Meeting organizers and Membership Committee groups to schedule and coordinate Membership Committee-sponsored events (e.g., resume review, practice interviews, NEA informational tables, etc.).

Please contact Sam Howes, Membership Committee Chair, at samuel.howes@maine.gov. Include your current contact information, which position(s) interest you, and a brief statement of interest by Friday, August 31, 2018.

Dear NEA members,

The 2018 Nominating Committee seeks candidates for this fall’s election for the following positions on the NEA Executive Board:

• Vice President/President-Elect  
• Treasurer
• Representative-at-Large (2 positions open)

Please consider nominating yourself or a colleague to join NEA’s leadership.  Serving on the NEA Board is a great way to contribute to our regional archival association, help make decisions that will drive our institution, and gain tangible experience in areas such as strategic planning or budget management that will enhance your professional skills.

The NEA Board works collaboratively toward the goals outlined in NEA’s current Strategic Plan and strives to include many perspectives as it moves the organization forward.  The Nominating Committee seeks candidates whose strengths and interests align with NEA’s strategic direction, and who are prepared for leadership in: 

●        Advocacy and Outreach – advocate for policies and resources that support archives and archivists and increase public appreciation of the profession

●        Community – create opportunities for members to join together in collaborative, innovative ways

●        Development – sustain growth through building income and meaningful engagement

●        Education – cultivate and provide lifelong learning opportunities at all career stages

●        Inclusion and Diversity – build an organization welcoming to, and representative of, all of New England’s archivists

More information about the responsibilities assigned to the Vice President/President-Elect Representative-at-Large, and Treasurer can be found here: https://www.newenglandarchivists.org/leadership

 

We encourage members at any stage of their career to consider running, and we especially encourage nominations representing all six New England states and all types of archival institutions. 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.  All submissions are anonymous and confidential. Questions about the election and the nominating process can be sent to any member of the Nominating Committee. 

Nominations are due by Friday, September 7. 

New England Archivists’ strength is its members, and each year we are privileged to elect new leaders from among you. Thank you for helping us continue to develop NEA as a strong and vibrant organization.

Sincerely,

The 2018 NEA Nominating Committee

Ellen Doon (chair)
Maria Bernier
Stephanie Call
Rosemary Davis
Jennifer Gunter King
Tom Rosko

The Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies, sponsored by New England Archivists and Yale University Library, seeks applications for Associate Editors. Three positions are available (term starting March 2019).

The Associate Editor works in collaboration with the Managing Editor and other members of the Editorial Board to solicit, select, and develop content for the journal. Primary duties include selection of peer reviewers for assigned submissions and supervising the peer review process in consultation with the Managing Editor, evaluating peer review reports, and making recommendations to the Managing Editor on the suitability of submissions for publication.

Additional duties include participation in programming at events, soliciting submissions, assisting in the development of content, and actively participating in the management of the journal. Terms of service are three years with the opportunity for a second term for a total of six years of service.

JCAS is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that furthers awareness of issues and developments in the work of professional archivists, curators, librarians, and historians. It serves as a locus for graduate students and professionals in library science, archival science, and public history to contribute original works of research and inquiry for peer review and publication. The journal publishes on an article-by-article basis.

Applicants must submit a résumé/CV and a brief statement of interes​t​​ ​to email.jcas@gmail.com by Tuesday, September 4.

Principled Archivists: How to Make the Proposed New DACS Principles Work for You and Your Users
Workshop instructors: Maureen Callahan, Smith College Libraries
Adrien Hilton, Houghton Library, Harvard University

• Co-Sponsored by Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (A.R.T.)

Friday, July 27, 2018. 9am-5pm
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University, 121 Wall Street, New Haven, CT
Maximum number of registrants: 30
NEA/A.R.T. members $85
Non-NEA/A.R.T. members $100
https://newenglandarchivists.org/event-2954535

Is your description helping your users?

In this workshop, participants will test the proposed newly revised DACS principles, which provide an updated framework for archival description, against real-world researcher needs. This full-day workshop provides an opportunity for the archives community to learn more about the DACS revision process and the rationale behind revision. Most importantly, archivists will leave the workshop with a framework for determining how these principles can help structure a descriptive program.

In this lively mix of presentation, discussion, and active learning, participants will:
1) discuss and develop strategies for educating peers and colleagues about the proposed principles;
2) engage in activities and exercises that will teach them how to enact these principles at their home institutions;
3) learn how the principles can be a tool for advocacy and how to implement them.

With a fuller understanding of why and how the Technical Subcommittee on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (TS-DACS) revised the principles, as well as of how the current and revised principles interact and overlap both with each other and with Records in Context (RiC), participants will leave the session energized and equipped to integrate the principles more deeply into their own archival practice.

Everyone with an interest in archival description and the revised DACS principles is welcome.

Describing Archives: A Content Standard is sponsored and maintained by the Society of American Archivists. The revised principles are still in the community comment phase and have not yet been adopted by SAA Standards Committee or SAA Council.

Deconstructing Whiteness

Workshop instructor: Samantha Winn, Virginia Tech
Monday, August 6, 2018, 1:00-5:00 pm
Rhode Island Historical Society, 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI

Register early and save!

• Early-bird rates are available through July 12:
• New England Archivists Member $45
• Student member $22
• Non-member $60

Advance registration runs July 13-August 2:

• New England Archivists Member $65
• Student member $42
• Non-member $80

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, Mario H. 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, Oregon. 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.

To register, go to: https://newenglandarchivists.org/event-2976342

New England Archivists
Communications Committee

As inclusion and diversity are core values in achieving the New England Archivist’s organizational mission, the IDC is currently seeking four new committee members:

Two candidates for a 2-year term (2018-2020)
Two candidates for a 1-year term (2018-2019)

The IDC strives to help build and maintain an inclusive environment where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued. Through inclusion, NEA is dedicated to expanding membership, participation, and leadership that reflect the broad diversity of New England. You can learn more about the IDC’s work here:

https://newenglandarchivists.org/diversity

New members will rotate onto the committee in November 2018 and their duties are as follows:

• Works with IDC committee co-chairs and members to identify ways to build and maintain an inclusive organization where differences of opinion, beliefs, and values are sought, listened to, respected, and valued.
• Works with IDC committee co-chairs and members on related activities as appropriate to support committee effort toward building and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming organization, a key objective of the NEA Strategic Plan 2016-2020.
• Helps provide resources, consultation, and feedback to NEA volunteers and members as requested in order to support their efforts toward building and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming environment within the organization.
• Supports the IDC in its work to support and enforce the NEA Code of Conduct.
• Contributes ideas and occasional writing as part of to Serves as coordinating editor for the regular NEA Newsletter column, “Who’s Missing From This Table?” by identifying topics, recruiting authors, and reviewing drafts.
• Contributes to IDC efforts surrounding the administration of NEA’s Inclusion and Diversity Session and Travel Assistance Scholarship.
• Assists the IDC with on-site coordinator for inclusion and diversity efforts at NEA Spring Meetings.
• Contributes to quarterly reports submitted to the NEA Board

Terms of Service: 2 years [two positions available] or 1 year [two positions available]

Application Instructions: Applicants are encouraged to submit a statement that details your strong commitment to inclusion and diversity; knowledge of the issues and personal and professional experience with advocacy around diversity and inclusion; and understanding of collaboration and public outreach. Successful candidates will also be well-organized and demonstrate strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

All applications will be reviewed by the NEA Executive Board, as well as the Co-Chairs and current members of the IDC committee. If you have any questions about the role of the IDC at-large, or about the work individual committee members do in support of the IDC, don’t hesitate to contact us at the email address below.

Please submit your application by July 15th to: diversity@newenglandarchivists.org

We look forward to working with you!

Rosemary K. J. Davis
Rose Oliveira
IDC Co-chairs, 2018-2021

Our Common Code: Ethics in the Archives

Friday, October 26, 2018
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, Boston, MA

New England Archivists (NEA) invites submissions of session proposals for the Fall 2018 Meeting, "Our Common Code: Ethics in the Archives." The meeting will take place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday, October 26, 2018. The deadline for proposals is July 31, 2018. 

We make ethical decisions in our work as archivists, especially towards preserving a fair and inclusive historical record and collective memory. These decisions help shape our professional ethics, and sharing these experiences improves our ethical context. The Fall 2018 Meeting will give archivists and allied professionals an opportunity to discuss archival ethics in three areas: appraisal and acquisitions, description, and access.  

The Fall 2018 Program Committee is seeking proposals for presentations that facilitate conversation about archival ethics. Presentations can take the form of case studies, stories, or lightning talks. We encourage creative approaches, and we will give priority to proposals that foster group conversation. Each presentation must be no more than ten minutes long, and proposals must indicate which of the three above thematic areas they relate to.

For complete description and submission form, visit the Fall 2018 Meeting page.