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Resources for Archivists

One of the goals of the ART Advocacy Committee is to provide resources to archivists so they can better advocate for the profession, their repositories, and themselves. The creation and maintenance of these pages will is part of the work of the ART Advocacy Committee.

SAA ADVOCACY RESOURCES AND TOOLKITS
The Society of American Archivists has compiled online advocacy resources and toolkits. Some of the resources (which also serve as access points to more resources) contain the types of quantitative information and qualitative narratives that help make the case for archives. 

The Society of American Archivists provides information on public policy, public awareness, advocating within your institution, as well as stories of how archives change lives.

SOLO is the revamped quarterly newsletter and blog of the Lone Arrangers Section of the Society of American Archivists, whose mission is to to provide education, stimulate communication, and encourage support between archivists working in “lone arranger” settings. The term “lone arranger” includes those working alone or in very small staff situations. The newsletter aims to generate ongoing dialogue among archivists working in small settings, offering practical applications and varied perspectives from lone arrangers across multiple archival and geographical areas.

COUNCIL OF STATE ARCHIVISTS (CoSA)
CoSA provides information on issue briefs and statements, action alerts, and legislation. Their advocacy resources page also includes the publication The Importance of State Archives, which provides some universal arguments, as well as links to non-profit advocacy resources.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR STATE AND LOCAL HISTORY
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) advocacy page provides resources on Federal-State partnerships for museums and archives, as well as a link to the The Nonprofit Lobbying Guide: Advocating Your Cause and Getting Results by Robert Smucker. The AASLH also provides a checklist for effective advocacy, hints for effective advocacy, and suggestions for setting up an advocacy network.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION OUTREACH & ADVOCACY 
AIC site has tool promote the field of conservation.  From a PowerPoint presentations you can customize to a list of resources you can use to talk to school age kids about conservation.  Help people learn how to care of their personal heritage by by showing them the Caring for Your Treasures.


AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS ADVOCACY 

AAM's advocacy efforts, while focused on museums in general, mirror the challenges that face archives. Their resources page provide some useful, easy tools in crafting your advocacy message.


NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICERS

NCSHPO provides extensive but easy how-to steps in their Action Center on making your case to elected officials, including effective letter writing and creating successful advocacy materials.


AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT WEBINARS 
The ALA OITP Copyright Education Subcommittee sponsors a series of webinars on specific copyright topics that include orphan works, mass digitization, international copyright developments, pending and recent copyright court cases, the copyright implications of new technologies, and more.

 

ARCHIVAL ADVOCACY: REFLECTIONS OF MYTHS AND REALITIES

Finch argues for an increased understanding of public relations in the archival community. She sees public relations as absolutely central to archival advocacy; furthermore, she believes that advocacy, rather than conventional practices, is now the "core activity of the archives." An increased capability for advocacy can augment areas of key importance, including funding, education, and collaboration.

 

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARCHIVES SECTION OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT &
ARCHIVES ASSOCIATIONS: ADVOCACY & PROMOTION STRATEGIES FOR
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS 

This comprehensive report, prepared by the ICA's Section of Records Management and Archives Association, takes a broad view of advocacy. It begins by considering the definition and scope of advocacy, dependent on the type of repository. The report then provides key strategies and steps that archives might employ to reach desired audiences.

 

UNPLEASANT THINGS: TEACHING ADVOCACY IN ARCHIVAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Richard Cox examines the nature of archives education programs, the challenges of teaching archival skills, and the issue teaching advocacy as a professional skill. Citation: Cox, Richard J. "Unpleasant Things: Teaching Advocacy in Archival Education Programs." InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies. 5, no. 1. (2009).


"PERSUASION, PROMOTION, PERCEPTION: UNTANGLING ARCHIVISTS' UNDERSTANDING OF
ADVOCACY & OUTREACH"

Authors Jeremy Brett and Jasmine Jones address the findings of two surveys in an article from Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists 31 no. 1 (2013) which on the meaning of advocacy and outreach, and applying their findings to new educational opportunities for understanding these topics and putting them into practice.


NON-PROFIT GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE - PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY

The Michigan Nonprofit Management Support Organization (MSO) Network manages and contributes to the Nonprofit Good Practice Guide to increase nonprofit organizational and financial stability, program quality and growth. The Public Policy and Advocacy section of the guide provides some general information pertinent to non-profit advocacy efforts.


CODES OF ETHICS FOR ARCHIVISTS 
Compiled by the Network for Concerned Historians, this is a comprehensive list of national and international codes of ethics related to the archival profession.


RULE OF LAW TOOLS FOR POST-CONFLICT STATES - ARCHIVES

Prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and aimed for a specific audience, this document nonetheless addresses some basic issues of why archives are important and the role they play in our communities.




Questions? communications@nycarchivists.org

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