AAO News

Registration rates for the 2020 AAO Conference have now been posted! Join us in Thunder Bay from May 13-15, 2020 for another great annual conference.

While registration will not be open until closer to the conference, we hope that this advanced notice of the rates will help you as you make your conference plans for next year. In addition to attending the full conference, there are special rates for Early Birds, students, one-day attendance, and more.

Once registration opens, be sure to register early to take advantage of Early Bird prices.

See you in Thunder Bay! #aao20conf

The Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) is pleased to announce its Call for Papers for the 2020 Annual Conference to be held 13-15 May in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

 Building Bridges, Connecting Communities

New partnerships, strategic alliances, and informal connections can play important roles in enabling archivists and their programs to reach new users, increase diversity in collections, build stronger, more inclusive senses of community, and to engage in new methods of outreach. Collaboration also provides the means to mitigate budget limitations and helps to avoid the isolation that can leave programs susceptible to cuts or potential downsizing. There are countless instances of AAO members pursuing new forms of collaboration and innovative partnerships, and we want to hear about them.

The 2020 Program Committee invites proposals for presentations that will speak to how partnerships have been fostered and the impact of these connections on the archives and their partners, as well as opportunities for future initiatives. Topics could include:

• Community partnerships to support acquisition, storage, stewardship, preservation, and accessibility of archival material

• New, inclusive methods of collecting or preserving memory

• Collaborative approaches to resource description and discoverability

• New engagement strategies with donor communities

• User-focused digitization projects

• Engagement with partners outside of the archival profession

• The consolidation of archives, special collections, and records management programs as a means of promoting or highlighting services

Submissions of proposals for entire sessions or individual papers are invited.

Sessions may take the form of:

• Traditional session (two or three presentations of approximately 20 minutes per speaker with questions to follow as time allows)

• Discussion panel (brief presentations of approximately 10 to 15 minutes per speaker with discussion to follow)

• Roundtables or debates (presentations of 5 to 7 minutes with open discussion between speakers)

Proposals for a session or an individual paper should include an abstract of up to 250 words and a biographical note of no more than 100 words for each speaker.

Proposals should be sent to the AAO Office at aao@aao-archivists.ca

Individual papers should use the subject line format: AAO 2020 Conference Proposal_[last name, first name]

Proposals for a session should select a “point person” and use the subject line format: AAO 2019 Conference Proposal_PANEL-[title]-[last name, first name]

The deadline to submit proposals is Sunday, 26 January 2020.

Depending on student interest, the 2020 Annual Conference will include a session devoted to student papers and possibly a poster session. A separate call for student submissions will be issued early 2020.

On behalf of the 2020 Program Committee.

Consider giving back to the archival community today!

Giving Tuesday is a global movement recognizing giving and volunteering. This year, consider directing your charitable dollars to the Archives Association of Ontario. 

By donating to the AAO, you will help develop and sustain our programs and services. Your donation will assist the AAO in offering cost-efficient workshops and events for archivists and professionals in related fields as well as conference and educational bursary support for students and new or underemployed professionals. Donations also help to offset our reliance on grant funding. Our services, including our Archives Advisor and Archeion, Ontario’s Archival Information Network, are widely relied on by the community to improve the accessibility and preservation of Ontario’s irreplaceable documentary heritage.

You can donate directly on the AAO website. You will receive a tax receipt for your contribution. Donors who contribute $200 or more will receive a complimentary copy of the AAO’s organizational history, In Pursuit of the Archival Endeavour: The Story of the Archives Association of Ontario.

We truly appreciate your support.

James Roussain

President, 2018-2019

Hello AAO,

The newest issue of Off the Record is now available for your reading pleasure! Nothing will pair better with the fresh air of this Autumnal day than a new issue of Off the Record.

This issue features excellent contributions from Iona McCraith on emergency planning and response, Lisa Snider on bulk uploads to Archeion, and Jenna Lemay and Krista McCracken on an important new digitization initiative at the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. Plus an interview spotlight feature with Rachel Beattie and news and announcements you can use! 

The still-crisp Fall 2018 issue is now available to everyone.

Happy reading!

Grant
OTR Editor

The Archives Association of Ontario invites you to save the date for the 2020 AAO Conference, taking place from May 13-15, 2020 in beautiful Thunder Bay, ON!

Theme and details to come! Stay tuned for more!

On behalf of the MAIG Executive, I am pleased to present the latest issue of the Municipal Archive Interest Group’s yearly publication, the MAIGazine. This issue highlights several creative educational and outreach initiatives undertaken by various archives throughout the Province. Thank you to all the MAIG Members who contributed to the 2019 Issue!

For more information about MAIG, to view previous issues of the MAIGazine or to stay connected, please visit our page on the AAO website: http://aao-archivists.ca/maig.

Thanks and take care,

Gillian

Gillian Shaw, M.I.

Archival Records Analyst

gillian.shaw@vaughan.ca

It’s that time of year again! The Municipal Archives Interest Group (MAIG) is looking for submissions to include in our 2019 edition of the MAIGazine. This year we are seeking articles relating to risk-taking and innovation in archives. Have you developed a new innovative program at your institution? Are you utilizing public resources such as social media or online exhibits, in a creative or inspiring way? Have you ever taken risks or addressed a controversial topic when developing an exhibit? Please share your stories with us!

If you are interested in submitting an article, please send your submissions to Megan Lockhart (mlockhart@oxfordcounty.ca) by August 16th.

For information about MAIG, the MAIGazine or to view past issues, visit our webpage at http://aao-archivists.ca/maig​. Feel free to contact our executive with any questions.

The following email was received by James Roussain, President of the AAO, on July 17, 2019 from Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario in response to the AAO's letter regarding funding for library services and the interlibrary loan program in Ontario. 

Dear Mr. Roussain:

Thanks very much for your letter on behalf of Archives Association of Ontario about the funding of library services and the interlibrary loan program in Ontario. I appreciate hearing your concerns.

My colleagues and I know that public libraries play a critical role in rural, remote and Indigenous communities across the province. These are the very communities that we want to deliver more services to.

That is why our government worked closely with the two library services to develop a plan that will allow the interlibrary loan program to continue. I am pleased that a solution has been found that can work for all parties involved. It is important that this valuable service continues to reach Ontario communities.

I value our strong partnerships with Ontario Library Service-North and Southern Ontario Library Service and will continue to work with them to provide modern and sustainable library services to the people of Ontario. Together, we are ensuring that services are delivered in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

Thanks again for contacting me.

Doug Ford 
Premier of Ontario

Hello AAO,

The Summer 2019 issue of Off the Record is now available to members. Whether you're in the office or out, you will find a fantastic array of engaging articles!

The features section includes two must-read pieces for those interested in digital archives and preservation. Jess Whyte and Emily Sommers of the University of Toronto discuss their recent move towards using modular digital preservation toolkits for safely imaging and analyzing external media like hard drives and USB keys. And Sara Janes of Lakehead University details a workflow developed for processing university records created and stored in Google Suite-based applications. 

A final special feature is by information access advocate Ken Rubin, who reflects on how his training as a historian has led to a better understanding of records creation and management, aiding him in his fight for increased government transparency.

And there's much more: Mary Kosta of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives is profiled in the member spotlight feature, and also sent us a wonderful article on the Archives' work in preserving medical artifacts. You can catch up on AAO news and updates too, including the 2019 AAO award winners, and the AAO's upcoming strategic planning work! 

And the still-hot Summer 2018 issue is now available free. 

I hope you enjoy this issue - wherever it may find you!

Grant

OTR Editor

Do you want to get involved with the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO)? Are you a new professional looking to meet fellow archivists and contribute to the field? If so, you’re in luck! The AAO is looking for individuals to help support our mandate of furthering the education of Ontario’s records and information professionals and advocating for the interests of the province’s community of archives, heritage organizations, and records institutions.

The AAO is currently looking for volunteers for the following committees:

• Professional Development Committee (PDC)

• Provincial Acquisitions Strategy Working Group (PAS)

• Advancement Committee

• Communication and Advocacy Committee (CAC)

• Digital Access and Preservation Committee (DAPC)

Detailed committee descriptions and a listing of current membership can be found on the Committee page. 

If you are interested in volunteering or wish to learn more about these opportunities, please reach out to the AAO Office at aao@aao-archivists.ca or to James Roussain at president@aao-archivists.ca. 

Warmly,

James Roussain

President, 2018-2019