AAO News

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

2019 MAIG OPEN HOUSE

The MAIG Executive are excited to announce that the MAIG Open House will be taking place on Friday, October 18, 2019 at the Stratford-Perth Archives! Please join us and our gracious host Betty Jo Belton and her team as we explore the beautiful City and its archival collection. Lunch and lively archival conversation will be provided, so we hope you will be able to join us. 

See the event page for details at: https://aao-archivists.ca/event-3473890

To the AAO membership,

The Archives Association of Ontario extends a warm congratulations to former Chief Librarian and Archivist Ian E. Wilson on his promotion to Officer of the Order of Canada. 

Mr. Wilson is honoured for his “sustained leadership in the development and accessibility of public archives, and for his published works on history, heritage and information management,” as explained on the Governor General’s website. We are proud to have an archivist receive such a distinguished award, an achievement which highlights the value that archives bring to Canadian society.

Bravo!

To the AAO membership,

On Thursday, June 20, 2019,  following the Government of Ontario’s cabinet shuffle, Lisa MacLeod was appointed as the new Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Minister MacLeod was previously the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues.

The Archives Association of Ontario welcomes Minister MacLeod to this role. We will continue to support archival institutions and archivists in preserving the history and culture of Ontario, and we look forward to working with Minister MacLeod to strengthen and promote archives and information services across the province.

James Roussain

President, Archives Association of Ontario, 2019-2020

The Archives Association of Ontario Eastern (AAOEe) Chapter is planning upcoming professional development opportunities for the 2019-2020 period, and would like your input to ensure we provide workshops that meet your interests and needs.

We intend to offer a full-day workshop on the preservation of archival material, and there are several options available. Please take 2 minutes to complete this very short survey to assist us in building the Chapter’s program.

Subjects can be tailored and customized to meet your requirements, so be sure to let us know of any specific areas on which you would like to receive training.

Should you have additional feedback, please do not hesitate to contact us at aaoeast@gmail.com. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

The Municipal Archives Interest Group (MAIG) is currently in search of a host institution for our fall Open House. If you are interested in having your municipal archive showcased this year, we would love to hear from you!

Historically, our annual Open House takes place at an AAO Member's Municipal Archive and has included such possible events as:

• ​a tour of the host facility

• presentations from staff

• local walking tours

• visits to sister institutions/museums

• conservation demonstrations

• a complimentary lunch (provided by MAIG)

• any other creative presentations, demonstrations or tours (the 2018 Agenda can be found here: https://bit.ly/31pxo8r)

The MAIG Open House traditionally takes place on a Friday in either September or October (based on the institutions availability) and events throughout the day are followed by the annual MAIG meeting. If your Municipal Archive would be interested in hosting for this year's Open House, or if you have any questions regarding this event, please feel free to reach out to myself or the MAIG Executive for more information.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Best,

The MAIG Executive - Gillian, Megan and Gina

Dear Members,

We are pleased to announce the 2019-2020 AAO Board of Directors. Together we look forward to working alongside the Ontario archival community to uphold the values of the association.

Thank you to our exiting directors for their dedication, wisdom, and contributions, especially Tracey Krause who has served as Past President, John Lund who served as the Chapter Stakeholder, and to Nick Richbell, Paul Henry, and Emma Hamilton-Hobbs for serving as Director without Portfolio, Institutional Development Committee Chair and Secretary / Treasurer, respectively.

2019/2020 AAO Board of Directors 

President	James Roussain
Vice-President / President Elect	Jennifer Grant
Secretary / Treasurer	Jessica Barr
Institutional Development Committee Chair	Zoe Thrumston
Director without Portfolio	Lauren Halsey
Director without Portfolio	Samantha Sheilds
Chapter Stakeholder	Michael deJong
Past President	Vacant
Special Advisor	Juanita Rossiter

The unapproved minutes from the 2019 Annual General Meeting are available here for review.

Best regards,

James Roussain

President, 2018-2020

To the AAO membership,

The Archives Association of Ontario wishes to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Leslie Weir on her recent appointment to Librarian and Archivist of Canada. Ms. Weir brings with her significant knowledge, experience, and professionalism from her accomplished career, and we are excited to see what she does in this new role. We look forward to working with and supporting Ms. Weir in our capacity as representatives of Ontario’s archival community.

James Roussain

President, Archives Association of Ontario, 2019-2020