Adriana P. Cuervo
Head of Archival Collections and Services,
John Cotton Dana Library,
Rutgers University–Newark
"We are at a critical juncture where different constituencies within the profession are championing diverging views on the future of the Society, and this is the time where SAA’s values will provide the grounding to move into what our profession will look like in the years to come."
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Head of Archival Collections and Services, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University–Newark, 2019–present.
- Associate Director, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University–Newark, 2013–2019.
- Assistant Archivist for Music and Fine Arts and Associate Professor, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, 2005–2013.
EDUCATION
- BM, Music History, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia.
- MSLIS, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
- MA, American Studies, Rutgers University–Newark, expected 2021.
- Archives Leadership Institute, 2009.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Society of American Archivists: American Archivist Editorial Board, Member (2016–2020); Nominating Committee, Chair (2010–2011); Membership Committee, Chair (2010–2011); SAA-ACRL/RBMS Joint Task Force on the Development of Standardized Holdings Counts and Measures for Archival Repositories and Special Collections Libraries, Member (2014–2017); Program Committee, Member (2014).
- Midwest Archives Conference: Public Information Officer (2010–2014); 2009 Program Committee, Co-Chair (2009).
- Mid Atlantic Regional Archives Conference: Awards Committee Chair (2016–2019).
- Middlesex County Arts and History Commission: Member (2018–present).
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS
- “A Gentleman’s Agreement: Donor-driven Deaccessioning and Ethics of Collecting” in Reappraisal and Deaccessioning in Archives and Special Collections (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019).
- “Review Essay: DIY Music Archiving,” American Archivist 82, no.1 (2018): 516–523.
- “The Jazz Archives Fellowship: A Model for Professional Development and Diversity at the Institute of Jazz Studies,” co-authored with Elizabeth Surles, Journal of Archival Organization 12, no. 3–4 (2016): 1–15.
- “The Things We Keep: Considerations for Appraisal of Archival Materials in Music Libraries,” Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association 72, no.2 (2015): 265–275.
- “Preserving the Electroacoustic Music Legacy: A Case Study of the SalMar Construction at the University of Illinois,” Notes: Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association 68, no.1 (2011): 33–47.
- “Not Just Sheet Music: Describing Printed and Manuscript Music in Archives and Special Collections,” co-authored with Eric Harbeson, Archival Issues 33, no.1 (2011): 41–56.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
- “Archival Deaccessioning as Collection Management Practice: A Contemporary View of Reappraisal Activities in Music Collections,” International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centers, 2019.
- “Resources and Services: An Introduction to the Institute of Jazz Studies,” New Jersey Association for Jazz Education Annual Meeting, 2017.
- “Diversity in the Archival Record: The Institute of Jazz Studies Archives Fellowship,” Rutgers Research Symposium Scholarship, Research, and Best Practices in Diversity & Inclusion: Current Findings and Emerging Issues, 2017.
- “New Music in the Archives: Where the Avant-Garde Meets the Digital Age,” Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting, 2011.
QUESTION POSED BY NOMINATING COMMITTEE
In the past, the SAA Council has had to face situations that challenge the strategic priorities and values of the organization. How would you balance the need to support members’ needs and the archival community with the financial needs of the organization?
CANDIDATE’S RESPONSE
Finding a balance between keeping SAA’s finances healthy while also investing in professional support for ALL our members requires creative thinking, but most importantly, maintaining open channels of communication between SAA leadership and its members. I believe actions should follow one’s words, and if elected, I will balance these needs by championing open communication strategies, a collaborative environment, and an unwavering commitment to inclusiveness to this governing body. It is the Council’s job to provide overall “leadership and direction for SAA and its component groups,” and as such, I see the councilors’ role as steering SAA in a direction where the archival community thrives in its work preserving and providing access to cultural heritage. We are at a critical juncture where different constituencies within the profession are championing diverging views on the future of the Society, and this is the time where SAA’s values will provide the grounding to move into what our profession will look like in the years to come. SAA should be the organization where ALL who work in archives turn for sustaining professional excellence, for learning new skills, and for maintaining our relevance in a fast-changing world.
2020 ELECTION HOME
