AAO News

a. AAO’s 2023 Conference 

The Archives Association of Ontario announced that the 2023 Annual Conference will be held virtually from May 10-12 on the Whova platform. The 2023 AAO Conference was initially intended to be an in-person event held at the Cobourg Community Centre in Cobourg. While we understand the desire for a conventional conference setting, the AAO Board of Directors and the Conference Committee are prioritizing accessibility and ease of access to the conference. 

In addition, the 2023 Conference call for papers is now closed. Stay tuned to the conference website for the upcoming program announcement. 

b. AAO’s Professional Development Committee presents "Introduction to Access and Privacy Legislation in Ontario"

This two-day workshop provides an overview of the major access and privacy laws that apply to archives in Ontario and examines in practical terms how they impact archival institutions and archivists. Three Ontario Acts will be addressed in detail:

1. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)

2. Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)

3. Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)

There will also be a brief examination of how the Federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) affects the operations of some archives.

Through a mixture of interactive lectures, small group discussion, and case studies, participants will learn the basics of each piece of legislation, including how to “translate” formal legal provisions into actual policies, procedures, and practices for archival institutions and individual archivists. Teaching points will include understanding how and to what each Act applies, what constitutes a record and how to identify and respond to freedom of information requests, what exemptions apply to the general right of access, what constitutes personal information, how the right to privacy includes access to one’s own information, the special provisions affecting personal health information, and the penalties that exist for non-compliance. Throughout the workshop the emphasis will be on understanding how these laws apply in an archival setting and how they impact archival functions.

When:

Day 1 : April 13, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST.

Day 2 : April 14, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.

Where: Archives of Ontario, George Spragge Classroom

Cost:

$300 (AAO members) 

$200 (AAO student members) 

$480  (non-members)

Instructor: Robin Keirstead, University Archivist Emeritus from Western University

Registration link: https://aao-archivists.ca/event-5104175

c. New Year, New Carr McLean Discount Code! 

The Carr McLean discount code for AAO members has changed effective January 13, 2023. The new code, which entitles the member to 10% off qualifying orders over $100 (before taxes and shipping costs), can be found in the Members Only section of the AAO website.  

The Advancement Committee would like to thank Carr McLean for their ongoing generous support of the AAO and its membership. 

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Sarah McDougall, Advancement Committee Chair, at advancement@aao-archivists.ca.

d. Welcome the new Archeion Coordinator, Kelli Babcock!

On January 3, 2023, the AAO welcomed Kelli Babcock as AAO Archeion Coordinator. Kelli can be reached at archeion@aao-archivists.ca. Please reach out to her with all of your Archeion questions.

Kelli Babcock has been the Digital Initiatives Librarian with the University of Toronto Libraries since 2013. In this role, she manages the University of Toronto’s Discover Archives multi-repository AtoM service, in addition to other digital collections and projects. Kelli graduated from McGill University with an MLIS, specialization in Archival Studies, in 2011. She has served as president for the AAO and on the AtoM 3 Roadmap Committee. Her current research interests include sustainability issues in library and archives technology and simple “discoverability” best practices for surfacing online digital collections and finding aids for researchers. Kelli is very excited to support the AAO membership as Archeion Coordinator from 2023-2024. 

The AAO would also like to extend a huge thank you to Jazmine Aldrich who left the role of Archeion Coordinator for other pursuits.

e. Black Histories Edit-a-thon Organized by TMU, TPL, U of T, and York U

We live in a world of information, and the knowledge we share matters: it can challenge or uphold the systemic barriers that many in our communities face. This February, we invite you to join your library in making the world of information more inclusive in the Black Histories Edit-a-thon!

First, join us Feb 8, 1–2:30 p.m. EST for a kick-off panel event featuring:

• Moderator: Funké Aladejebi, University of Toronto historian and co-editor of Unsettling the Great White North: Black Canadian History
• Debbie Ebanks Schlums, multidisciplinary artist and PhD candidate in Cinema and Media Arts at York University
• Jonsaba Jabbi, writer, storyteller, and co-founder of Building A Black Archive (BABA)

We will have a lively and important discussion on the potential (& limitations) of Wikipedia and Wikidata to centre care toward Black experiences in public history.

Then, every Friday in February, join your library for facilitated editing sessions on Zoom: you can learn the basics or get a refresher on editing Wikipedia and Wikidata, then write alongside others who are passionate about improving digital coverage of Black histories and experiences. No prior editing experience is required.

This event is organized by U of T Libraries, York University Libraries, Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries, and Toronto Public Library. We look forward to seeing you!

 Learn more and register for any of the events via Eventbrite.