Archives & Community: Engaging the Public in the Modern World 

Engaging users can be a difficult task. Archivists face a diverse and dispersed audience who are growing increasingly interested in accessing archival records for genealogical, historical, legal and myriad other purposes. Engaging the public in person and online has become vital to increasing the public’s knowledge about archival holdings and for putting records into the hands of users.

The 2011 AAO Conference, held in Thunder Bay, Ontario on June 15-17, will explore the interaction between archives and communities. The program will include sessions on partnerships between archives, acquiring records of community groups, developing education programs, and building outreach strategies to local and virtual communities.

Thunder Bay, on the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior, is the cultural centre of Northwestern Ontario and a gateway to outdoor adventures. While here, visit one of the country's best collections of contemporary First Nations art at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, or hike some of the 64 km of trails at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. For more information on travel to Thunder Bay, visit www.thunderbay.ca/visiting.

Those requiring an invoice to pay should register using the online forms and select the "Invoice me" option on the second (the confirmation) page.

Cut off date for registrations is June 1