ArchivesNext

A short while ago a group of archival and records management organizations (the Society of American Archivists, the Council of State Archivists, the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, the Academy of Certified Archivists, ARMA International, and the National Coalition for History) posted documents they prepared and submitted to the Obama Transition Team responsible for the National Archives, who will presumably be advising the President-Elect on selecting the next Archivist of the United States. As one might expect, there is both good and bad news to report about this effort.

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First, of course, thanks to everyone who commented on the ideas for improving the processes of the SAA Annual Meeting Program Committee presented in the previous post. As I wrote in reply to one of the comments, the intent of my suggestions is to make the process more consistent, transparent, and accountable. I think that many of SAA’s current processes and practices developed when it was a much smaller, “clubbier” organization, where everyone more or less knew each other. That is no longer the case for the majority of the members and I think this is a good example of the need for the way the Society works to evolve appropriately for its increased diversity and size. Also, just as our users’ expectations for archives have changed with technology, so have the expectations of members of organizations like SAA. (FYI - This is a theme that I think you may see more of in future posts . . . )

I have one more recommendation to share.

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[Note: I wrote this post last week. I’ve since heard about the decisions on two out of the three sessions I’m involved with. Still waiting on the third. And I’ll have a post soon about the Archivist of the US survey and discussion too.]

This is the time of year when many of us are waiting to hear whether the proposals we submitted for the SAA Annual Meeting have been selected or rejected. I am associated with several proposals this year, and I have, as yet, not heard about the decisions on any of them. I thought I should write this post before learning the outcomes so that my remarks could not be attributed to mere “sour grapes.” I have submitted session proposals for several years now, but I have never served on a Program Committee (although I have volunteered to do so). Many of my friends and colleagues are also active in submitting proposals and the suggestions below are the result of my own experience and the observations made to me by my colleagues. I propose the following:

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I happened to be speaking to a blog reader yesterday and asked if he/she had voted in the current poll–asking you to rate what you think is the most critical area of expertise desirable for the next Archivist of the United States (AUS). This person–who, needless to say, being a reader of this blog, is talented, creative, and well-informed–said that he/she had not voted because he/she has always felt that NARA has absolutely no impact on his/her work or life. For example, he/she has always been disappointed when he/she has turned to the NARA web site for resources needed for his/her job. Given his/her conclusion that NARA has no value or impact, he/she has not voted.

To reflect this possibly common view, I’ve added two new options to the poll choices: “I don’t feel qualified to say” and “This has no effect on me, so I don’t really care.” I believe these new choices mean that you have no excuse for not voting.

Another blog reader commented that he couldn’t get the poll to load on his web browser. If you are having this problem, try clicking on the words “ArchivesNext” in the upper left, above the lovely blue squiggle. This should reload the page with the sidebar options on the right, including the poll.

So, please take a few seconds and vote, and if you have more than a few seconds, go back to the previous post and read some of the many comments on this issue. And if you choose to vote that NARA has no impact on you, how could a new Archivist change the way NARA works so it could serve you better?

With the sad news that Dr. Allen Weinstein has resigned his post as Archivist of the United States, President-Elect Obama has yet another position to fill. What kind of person should he choose?

Share your views in the latest poll (at the right): What do you think should be the primary area of expertise for the next Archivist of the United States? (Pick only one)

Archives
History
Advocacy/lobbying
Technology
How to manage a government agency
Other (please explain in comments)

I know many of you will want to say “all of the above,” but which do you think is the most important?

With the news so fresh there has been little chance for speculation about a possible replacement, but you might want to consider the two people that Obama’s Transition Office appointed as NARA’s Review Team Leads (info courtesy of the NCH site):

Bruce McConnell is an independent consultant on cybersecurity, privacy, and Web 2.0. From 2000 to 2008, he grew two consulting firms, McConnell International and Government Futures, which work to promote cost-effective use of the private sector by government. Prior to this, he led the International Y2K Cooperation Center under the auspices of the United Nations and World Bank and he served in and led the information policy and technology branch at the Office of Management and Budget.

Gloria Parker is the Director of Business Solutions and Innovation for Civilian Government Business at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). Under the Clinton Administration, Ms. Parker became the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s first Chief Information Officer (CIO). Before that, Ms. Parker was Deputy Chief Information Officer at the Department of Education. She previously worked as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for Apptis, Inc. and at IBM Corporation. Parker has received many prestigious awards including the 2000 Presidential Rank Award given for exemplary Government leadership.

Technology people, not historians or archivists. Or is that just a function of what’s needed for the transition?

At any rate, given Obama and his team’s understanding and embrace of technology, I would not be surprised to see him pick someone with a solid foundation of technological understanding, and I for one would welcome such a selection. As for whether that should be the new Archivist’s primary qualification, I tend to think it should be given how much about the future of the National Archives depends on how it deals with electronic records and electronic access. This topic should be fodder for some great discussions, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

NOTE: If you do not see a sidebar with the poll at the right, click on the words “ArchivesNext” in the upper left, above the lovely blue squiggle. This should reload the page with the sidebar options on the right, including the poll.

I’m sure this will be announced soon on the listserv and other places, but this news from Lee White, of the National Coalition for History, is making the email rounds:

I have just learned a few moments ago that Dr. Allen Weinstein is resigning
as Archivist of the US effective Dec. 19. As I am sure many of you know,
Allen has Parkinson’s Disease and is leaving for health reasons.

It is my understanding that despite the fact that Allen is leaving a month
before the Bush administration ends, that the current Deputy Archivist
Adrienne Thomas will be serving as Acting Archivist and that
President-elect Obama will be nominating the new Archivist after he takes
office.

I will have more details posted on the web site www.historycoalition.org
later today.

UPDATE: Here’s a link to the story that’s on the wire services.

A blog reader sent me the following questions and I thought I might as well tap into all of your superior knowledge and expertise! Please post any answers you have to the following questions:

1) Do you have some favorite examples of successful uses of wikis, blogs, etc that have been used by government archives? [I know there are some government archives’ blogs and a wiki in this list, but there must be more out there.]

2) Are you aware of organizations who have created policies for using Web 2.0 in their institutions?

3) Do you know of any “lessons learned” from those who have been using these technologies? Any issues with people leaving inappropriate material that might leave their organization open to potential lawsuits?

Thanks to everyone who participated in the most recent blog survey, which asked “What effect do you think the economic crisis will have on your institution?” Here are the results:

Cuts in funding for travel, professional development (24%)
Vacant positions will not be filled (21%)
Cuts in funding for equipment or supplies (19%)
More active pursuit of grant funding (10%)
Staff layoffs (6%)
Cuts in acquisitions (5%)
Existing positions will be cut (5%)
Fees for services will be raised (3%)
Reductions in hours of service/other services to the public (3%)
Other (3%)

Are you surprised by the results?

I’d be curious to hear what some of the “other” responses might be. (Only one person supplied more information in the comments: “A positive effect of the even tighter budget at my institution is an increased openness to licensing, marketing, and online image sales. We have not implemented anything to date, but as we talk about the potential for 10Ks in sales folks are listening and willing to consider the start-up costs whereas in the past the projects were in many ways part of a long list of possibilities.”)

As far as what possible responses our professional societies or we, as individuals and repositories, can take, I think a lot of that has been discussed on this blog over the past few months. The responses to cuts in travel and professional development budgets can be to provide more information and opportunities online for those who can’t travel (which we discussed in the context of having more blogging, etc., for conferences). I think we’ve all agreed that having conference presentations posted online is a goal to strive for, and I know that many people would appreciate having access to podcasts of conference sessions. Any other thoughts on this topic?

On the issues of cuts in staffing and supply budgets, leaving positions vacant, and increased pursuit of grant funding, these all point to a need for effective lobbying and advocacy at many levels. How to best achieve that goal has been the subject of some debate here (see “Recap of official SAA actions & notice of possible dues increase,” and “Archives are a luxury“), but I think everyone agrees more is needed. One thing I’d love to see if SAA offering free online advocacy/lobbying training online for all its members. How about that for an idea? (Ok, how about at a minimal cost?)

All thoughts about the impact of what is now officially a recession and what can be done to mitigate those impacts are welcome!

[FYI “ALA seeks $100 million in stimulus funding as U.S. libraries face critical cutbacks, closures” From the press release:

“America’s free public libraries provide a lifeline for citizens in need across the country,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “Ensuring Internet access, career workshops, business seminars and other economic support services are vital links in the nation’s financial recovery. This is no time to cut much-needed support, reduce hours or close library doors.”

Rettig pointed to a recent ALA study showing that 73 percent of all libraries nationwide provide the only free Internet access in their communities. In rural areas the rate rises to 83 percent, according to the 2007-2008 report on public library funding and technology access. Many libraries are reporting double-digit growth in computer use this year, he said.

Now that’s making good use of statistics for advocacy!]

I’m happy to respond to a request to get out the word about the Waldo Gifford Leland Award.

The annual Leland Award – a cash prize and certificate – encourages and rewards “writing of superior excellence and usefulness in the field of archival history, theory, and practice.” The Leland Award subcommittee of the Society of American Archivists invites you to nominate a monograph, finding aid, or documentary publication published in North America in 2008 for this year’s recognition. (Please note: periodicals are not eligible.)

Nomination forms, a list of previous winners, and more information is at http://www.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-leland.asp. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2009.

Sigh. I guess blogs aren’t eligible for this, huh? Oh well, maybe someday.

Although it may seem like the deadline is far away–why wait? Give someone an anonymous holiday present by nominating them for the Leland Award. Or take a look at the other 17 opportunities SAA offers for professional recognition and financial assistance here.

One of my favorite blogs (non-archives, of course) is the Freakonomics Blog. It is through this blog that I became familiar with the term “bleg,” which means using a blog to beg (for money or information). I’m not sure I’ve begged on this blog before (I probably have), but this post is my first conscious “bleg.”

I’m looking for blogs that are being used exclusively to publish chronologically-based archival content–for example diaries and letters. I am aware of a few:

Abner Jackson Journal 1858-1867

Diary of Samuel Pepys

In Siberia

Orwell Diaries Blog

WW1: Experiences of an English Soldier

Do you know of any others? Thanks!