Committee on Public Awareness

The Committee on Public Awareness provides strategic information and advice to the SAA Council to enhance SAA’s capacity to promote the value of archives and archivists to institutions, communities, and society. The Committee recommends to the SAA Council the public awareness priorities on which SAA should focus its attention and resources, within the context of the Society’s mission and strategic plan. In addition, the Committee works with staff and outside counsel to develop programs that promote the value and role(s) of archivists and archives nationwide, such as the #AskAnArchivist Day initiative and the ArchivesAWARE! blog.

The Committee on Public Awareness (COPA) is distinguished from the Committee on Public Policy (COPP) by virtue of the audiences with which each group generally interacts and whose opinions it seeks to influence. COPP generally is concerned with influencing legislative and regulatory (i.e., public policy) decisions of government at all levels; COPA generally is concerned with communicating the value of archivists and archives to the general public and stakeholder groups other than legislators and regulators (e.g., archives users, institutional resource allocators, etc.). The two committees may collaborate on identification of key audiences, messages, and mediums to ensure a coordinated approach to SAA’s priorities and communications.

In July 2025, COPA, COPP, and Issues & Advocacy Section (I&A) held a joint annual business meeting to address current issues requiring advocacy not only to legislators and government officials, but also through internal channels, within communities, and to the public at large. Workshops guided participants in articulating the value of archives in business and financial terms and in crafting effective elevator pitches. View the presentation deck here. 

Bonus: Pitch what you do using this Mad Lib template to craft your elevator speech.