AAO News

a.  AAO’s 2023 Conference registration still open 

Registration for the 2023 virtual conference of the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) is still open! The theme of the conference is Archives Rx: Healthy Collections and Communities. The conference will be held from May 10-12, 2023 using the Whova conference platform.

Reduced rates are available to members of the AAO. See the draft conference agenda for details on the conference program.

Included in Registration:

• Keynote by Wendy Duff, Professor and Dean in the U of T Faculty of Information;
• Access to presentations by 20 speakers;
• Meet & Greets with AAO’s many committees and chapters;
• Activities focusing on health and wellness organized by the Local Arrangement Committee;
• Safe spaces for records professionals;
• And more!

Stay tuned for more details to come on the Professional Development Committee Conference workshop! Registration for the workshop is separate.

Please be advised that this event is governed by the AAO’s Code of Conduct. If you have any questions, contact aao@aao-archivists.ca.

b. Archives Association of Ontario 2023 Annual General Meeting 

The Archives Association of Ontario will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually on May 12, 2023 between 9:30 and 11:00am via Zoom.

Anyone is welcome to attend the AGM. However, only individual AAO members will be able to vote on motions (with the exception of the vote for IDC Chair, which is only open to institutional members). We will be voting for the 2023-2024 AAO Board of Directors. The Board sincerely wishes to welcome as many members as possible to this virtual event.

Details on how to join the meeting will be sent to registered attendees in advance of the meeting. Please register by May 8, 2023, if you wish to attend the meeting.

The agenda for the meeting is available. The AGM Information Package, which includes the minutes from the 2022 AGM and reports from the Board, Staff, Committees, Chapters and Special Interest Groups, will be distributed to all members in early May. The 2023 Information Package will also be made available on the AAO Website.

This year, there are six (6) positions available on the AAO Board of Directors:

• Vice-President/President Elect
• Secretary-Treasurer
• Director Without Portfolio
• Website Administrator
• IDC Chair
• Professional Development Committee Chair

Read more about the current slate of nominated candidates for these positions. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the AGM.

We hope that you will join us on May 12th!

c. Pre-Conference Workshop: Welcoming Interns, Students, and Volunteers in the Archives: Cultivating Mutual Success

The AAO's Professional Development Committee presents our pre-conference workshop: Welcoming Interns, Students, and Volunteers in the Archives: Cultivating Mutual Success

As archives are welcoming people back into their spaces after COVID-19 closures, many of us are hosting new interns, students, and volunteers. These placements provide students and emerging professionals with valuable experience, knowledge, skills, and mentorship. They can also help under-resourced archives move forward with projects and bring new perspectives to their work. If planned and executed thoughtfully, these opportunities can be mutually beneficial for both the archives and those sharing their knowledge and labour.

In this workshop participants will:

• Learn about different programs, models, and supports for hosting students, interns, and volunteers;
• Explore best practices to ensure that placements are mutually successful;
• Discuss some of the ethical issues with these modes of labour; and
• Have the opportunity to share and learn from one another's experiences 

When: May 10, 2023 at 9:00-11:30 AM EST

Where: Virtual (Zoom link will be sent upon registration)

Cost: $80 (AAO members); $50 (AAO student members); $120 (non-members)

Registration: A minimum of 5 participants and a maximum of 45 participants may register for this event. Institutional members can register three participants at the members rate. If you require additional time to prepare payment, please contact aao@aao-archivists.ca to set up an invoice.

About the Instructor/Moderator:

Karen Suurtamm (she/her) is the University Archivist and Head of Special Collections at Trent University and has 15 years' experience as an archivist and archival educator. Prior to her current position, Karen was an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) at the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, where she taught courses in archives and records management. She has also worked as an archivist at the University of Toronto, Victoria University, and York University. Karen is passionate about creating active, engaged archival spaces that support a wide range of researchers, staff, and students.

Full details and registration information is available online.

d. Spring 2023 issue of Off the Record available!

The Spring 2023 issue of Off the Record is available.

This issue features an update from AAO president Rachel E. Beattie. It also includes an Archeion update from coordinator Kelli Babcock. Next, a membership spotlight on archivist and librarian Arvind Kang. We end this issue with some announcements.

Adam Cavanaugh, OTR Editor reminds us that the Summer issue is just around the corner. Submissions are due June 20th  and I look forward to receiving your articles, news or announcements. For full details, please visit the Off the Record submission guidelines.