Apologies for cross posting
What are archives for? What is the purpose of records management? Why
are archives and records management important?
Most archivists and records managers should be fairly confident that
they can answer these questions, but how many of us can articulate them
to others? If you were asked to demonstrate the value of your service
what would you do? Would you emphasise culture, efficiency,
accountability, democracy or all of these? Would your message change
depending on who you were speaking to?
This year’s Archives and Records Association UK and Ireland
conference seeks to answer these questions and to discuss these issues.
With the theme of ‘Advocating for Archives and Records: The Impact of
the Profession in the 21st Century’, the conference will give
delegates the chance to discuss how best to advocate and how best to
speak up for what we do.
While the current economic and technological climate might seem to pose
threats to archives and records managers, we’ll consider what unique
professional and technical skills we have and how we can use these to
our advantage. We’ll think about why archives and records matter and
will continue to matter, and we’ll discuss how we can work in, and
for, organisations and society.
The conference has attracted speakers from institutions from across the
UK and from France, Australia and America, who will share their
different experiences. Sessions look at ways of engaging users and
working with communities, advocating to internal and external bodies,
demonstrating value, and the impact of the digital environment.
We hope to discuss what we think we should be doing from a theoretical
and conceptual viewpoint, the issues that might arise, and practical
solutions. Two keynote speakers will bring their broad experience to the
debate. Larry Hackman is the former director of the New York State
Archives and of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library and
has recently published a book on advocacy; Arleen Seed is the Head of
Library and Archives of Development at the World Bank.
The international perspective is continued with David Leitch,
Secretary-General of the International Council on Archives, who will be
one of the concluding speakers.
The programme is available and you can register online at
www.archives.org.uk
As usual the conference will also have a conservation stream.
This year the conference is being held jointly with the Section for
Professional Associations of the International Council on Archives so
there will be real international flavour to some of the sessions and
plenty of chances to meet colleagues from overseas.
Added to that the conference is being held in Scotland’s capital, the
beautiful city of Edinburgh. The famous Edinburgh Festival will still be
running so there will be many opportunities for relaxing after a hard
day at conference sessions.
Caroline Brown
Chair, ARA Conference Committee
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