In reply to Aidan's latest post regarding the SoA Forums I would like
to point out that the general Forums are open to all, both members
and non members of the Society. As has previously been mentioned on
this list, the Society has recently upgraded the forum application to
include a number of enhancements which include optional email
notification of posts and a calendar to advertise future events.
So I invite all those out there who would like to see more discussion
of archive, records management and conservation topics to join up and
start discussing!

David Mackie

---- Original Message ----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Invisibility of Archivists/Discussion list
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 08:35:45 +0100

>From: "Maureen Pennock" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 2:33 PM
>Subject: Re: Invisibility of Archivists/Discussion list
>
>> I was struck by some of the comments Craig makes in his post below.
>I
>> value this list as it draws attention to pertinent topics without
>> clogging up my mailbox, but see where he's coming from about this
>being
>> an information-exchange rather than a discussion list.
>>
>> Perhaps one of the reasons this is because people often receive
>> replies 'off-list', limiting opportunities for discussion.
>
>> The SoA established a forum earlier this year -
>> http://www.archives.org.uk/forum/index.php - but it is rarely used.
>Is
>> this because we don't want to discuss things? Or are we just too
>busy
>> with our day-to-day tasks?  Or is the technology too new for many
>of us,
>> perhaps? Answers on an postcard - no, e-mail please!
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Peter Emmerson" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 3:11 PM
>Subject: Re: Invisibility of Archivists/Discussion list
>
>>Anyone who subscribes to lists hosted in other jurisdictions will
>know
>>that there is frequently very lively discussion on individual
>topics, as
>>well as direct information exchange about events and the provision
>of
>>valuable assistance about high level or new developments ...
>>That said it really does depend on the availability of time and an
>>awareness of the existence of, for example, the SoA forum.  In the
>end
>>though there probably is no substitute for getting a group of people
>in
>>a room as part of a facilitated discussion group.
>
>
>++++
>
>I have expressed broadly similar views on this list in previous
>years, e.g.
>(Nov 2002 & May 2005):  "Many valuable contributions are very
>probably being
>largely lost through not being posted directly to the whole
>membership ...
>It didn't used to be like this, and it's easy enough to skip topics
>where
>they have no obvious personal relevance ... Wouldn't some extra
>controversy
>be more stimulating, and be a healthy trait within any profession?   
>Or is
>life in most other repositories absolutely idyllically perfect - in
>which
>case, would anyone care to account for their remarkable success?"
>
>One or two people subsequently suggested to me that they had been
>discouraged from further posting after receiving unsympathetic
>replies
>off-list - sometimes from complete strangers.   A need to develop a
>thicker
>skin, perhaps?  Another suggestion was that the unwelcome intrusion
>of
>external political issues in the past had tried the patience of a
>number
>of former members.
>
>Having an SoA forum is all very well (for those comparatively few
>people who
>are aware of its existence).  However, it seems to me a pity if
>non-SoA
>members wishing to contribute were then to be prevented from
>explaining
>their particular perspectives.  Furthermore, some individuals simply
>prefer
>the written medium to "getting a group of people in a room as part of
>a
>facilitated discussion group".  It needs to be recognised that each
>medium
>has both its advantages and its disadvantages.
>
>For those who dislike receiving a lot of postings at work, I would
>suggest:
>
>(a)  If possible, use your mailing software to set up a separate
>folder into
>which Archives-NRA messages are automatically filtered, or
>(b)  Use the delete key ruthlessly to quickly remove all messages you
>are
>not 100% sure that you want to read.  If you subsequently change your
>mind
>about a particular message or topic, you will still be able to read
>it all
>via http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/archives-nra.html.
>
>However, I suspect I'm probably flogging a mainly dead horse (or
>whatever
>the appropriate metaphor is).
>
>Aidan Jones,
>Cumbria Record Office & Local Studies Library, Barrow.