Advocacy Toolkit

Update as of January 2016: Please see the Issues and Advocacy Roundtable Wordpress website for the most up-to-date version of the I&A Advocacy Toolkit.

The Issues & Archives Roundtable (IART) has compiled the following list of online resources from various organizations which create and utilize advocacy resources. A large part of advocacy involves convincing financial and political stakeholders of the value that archives add to a given community, and all related efforts need be supported by evidence. The resources listed below (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. This list is not exhaustive, rather a starting point for those looking for facts, arguments, and compelling reasoning to lend weight to their advocacy efforts. The resoruces linked here do not indicate endorsement, but offer some templates which can be used to formulate advocacy efforts. The list will be updated and edited as needed. Please feel free to contact the IART with submissions and recommendations.

What Is an Archives?

• The Society of American Archivists compiled a one page "What is an Archives" information sheet, based on a 2003 article by Lee Ann Potter, aimed at the general public. It includes information on the different types of archival repositories as well as the materials that one would find in each.
• New England Archivists has compiled a list of questions frequently asked of archivists. 

What Is Advocacy?

• The IART has created a blog archive which includes numerous reflections on what advocacy means for archivists and archives.
• Kate Theimer has written many blog posts exploring advocacy in the archival profession on ArchivesNext.

What Is the Value of Archives?

• This Q&A section on the research value of archives is taken from The role of archives and records management in national information systems: A RAMP study, prepared by James B. Rhoads for UNESCO. 
• Greg Sanford, former Archivist for the State of Vermont, wrote this humourous short piece that nicely sums up the value of archives and the archivists.
• ArchivesINFO is a pretty thorough accounting of why archives are valuable.
• The Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) website contains a number of Outreach Information Sheets covering most aspects of the archives profession and archival value.
• PEW Internet Project: How Libraries Add Value to Communities.

Archival Advocacy Efforts

In this section you'll find some resources created by archivists, archives, and interested parties to support archives. In most cases,the history and outcomes of these efforts have not been fully chronicled (at this time). If you have more cases or information please contact us.

• DORIS (Department of Records and Information Services, New York)
• Save the Georgia Archives!
• Preserving the American Historical Record (PAHR)
• The Political Archivist (archived website available through the Internet Archive, the original site has been retired)
• Provenance (Vol. 31, no. 1) - Special Issue on Advocacy.
• 2014-2015 SAA President Kathleen Roe's "A Year of Living Dangerously for Archives" campagin.

Advocacy Newsletters

• Use this link to see some examples of advocacy newsletters and action alerts.

Advocacy Presentations

• Use this link to see some examples of advocacy presentations.

Toolkits

• Use this link to see some examples of advocacy toolkits.

Professional Organizations and Coalitions

In this section are links to archival, library, museum, and educational associations' resource webpages on advocacy.

• American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Advocacy.
• American Association of School Librarians (AASL) advocacy resources.
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) advocacy tools.
• American Library Association (ALA) Office for Library Advocacy.
• American Library Association (ALA) Advocacy University.
• Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE) policy and advocacy.
• Business Archives Section (BAS) of the SAA Advocating Business Archives.
• Council of Library and Information Resources (CLIR) sponsors reports, articles, presentations, and other authoritative publications that can be culled for information useful to making the case for archives.
• Council of State Archivists (CoSA) archives related issues.
• Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC) advocacy publications and grassroots campaigns.  
• Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network (KCAAEN) tools and resources.
• National Art Education Association (NAEA) advocacy resources.
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) advocacy resources.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA) advocacy toolkit.
• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) advocacy news and resources.
• National Humanities Alliance (NHA) advocacy resources.
• Regional Archival Associations Consortium (RAAC) Advocacy Subcommittee.
• Regional Archival Associations Consortium (RAAC) Directory of Archival Organizations in the United States and Canada.

Government Agencies

This section provides resources offered by government agencies regarding advocacy.

• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Publications and Program Information provides useful tips and tools to develop competitive grant applications.
• IMLS LSTA Grants by State includes LSTA Grants to States--profiles for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and program goals for 2008-2012.
• IMLS Connecting to Collections planning grants are designed to foster networks among organizations in a state, commonwealth, or territory to provide safe conditions for its collections, develop emergency plans, assign responsibility for collections care, and marshal public and private support for collections care.
• National Endowment for the Arts grants information.
• National Historic Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Project List by State.

Policy and Issues Organizations

This section provides links to public policy advocacy and watchdog organizations. 

• Center for Responsive Politics: At CRP's OpenSecrets.org Action Center, archival advocates can identify the ways in which money operates in U.S. politics and its effects on government policies, including those concerning library and archives resources.
• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW): CREW's resource page provides a gateway to the mission and activities of this important watchdog agency. You can also link to CREW's list of state-based ethical watchdogs, here.