Summary – State & regional archives associations’ response to the economic downturn
Ryan Semmes- Society of Mississippi Archivists
- Rumors of special collections in state that have been closed to researchers; not as bad as it could be yet
Michael Frazier- Council of Inter-Mountain Archivists (CIMA)
- Things are bad- archival professionals do not have jobs; people leaving the profession because the outlook is grim
- Guy Rocha (State Archivist of Arizona) retiring because he doesn’t want to watch a lifetime of work dismantled
- Arizona State Archives budget cut 75%
- Regional meetings give archivists a platform, sense of being connected to others with same problems
- As a regional group, they are focusing on the need to help people get to the meetings—writing grants for scholarships, renting a bus to provide transport (joint meeting in Seattle this year)
- Members in “survival mode”
- Concerned about keeping archivists in the profession and in the region
- Providing career counselor, new position to be clearinghouse of local jobs
- Creating better visibility for regional group, including new marketing initiatives and considering producing new journal
- Developing awards
- Considering how they can reach out to the local communities of their meeting sites; workshops for tribal communities
- How do archives affect you? Outreach to local constituencies
Peter Carini- New England Archivists (NEA)
- They’ve just begun talking. The region hasn’t been greatly affected yet, although it is starting to happen.
- Social networking site (Ning) for members to post jobs/short-term positions, volunteer/consulting opportunities as well as just sharing their ideas and thoughts.
- Students who are graduating need mentors to help them navigate this difficult environment.
- Having resume review table at fall meeting
- Considering having scholarships for fall meeting
Danna Bell-Russell- Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC)
- Column on supporting colleagues in recent newsletter
- Conference in New Jersey this fall- workshops encouraging archivists to learn more marketable skills
- Also at the Fall meeting, will host practice interview stations & resume review- for both new archivists and those who have not interviewed in a long time
- Electronic resources- links to job info, how to write KSAs [Knowledge, Skills, Abilities] for government job applications
- Education committee- workshop 10/7 on archival processing- first workshop outside of a formal meeting to help those who may not be able to attend full meeting—will be offered at a lower cost.
Bridget Bower - New York Archives Conf (NYAC)
- Primary function is annual conference, so their goal is now to lower the cost of attending the conference. They started a scholarship program for people to attend the conference and expected most of the applicants to be students, but they’ve found that people with all levels of experience are applying.
- Layoffs/downsizing/furloughs a big concern in region
- Concerned about people/collections—collections without people looking after them are at risk.
- For those who are still employed, lack of time off and/or funding for training and conferences; need to think more about virtual conferences & education
Jane Nokes- Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA)
- What is good for individuals and the profession? How do we survive as a profession? Perhaps not thrive, but survive?
- Today at the ACA board meeting they developed the Legacy Travel Development Award (to honor 1989 class of certified archivists) - professional development funds for training, including regional workshops, up to $500. It’s fully funded for the next three years.
Mark Myers- Kentucky Council on Archives
- Many people in region retiring and not being replaced.
- Losing positions or filling administrative posts from within and not replacing archivists
- As an organization, they’re worried about their own sustainability—as is the local ARMA chapter. KCA just joined MAC.
- Trying to work with student programs to bring in more regional memberships
Tanya Zanish-Belcher- Midwest Archives Conference (MAC)
- Maintaining current dues ($30) and workshop fees ($45) and working to keep those costs low
- Maintaining 2-3 scholarships for graduate students to attend meetings.
- Changing to one annual meeting and a fall symposium (on a single topic) instead of two full meetings a year.
- Task force on education- looking at new audiences for workshops—genealogists, etc
- Considering a “bridge rate” dues level for members who have lost their jobs.
- Web resources, Facebook, social networking to share job postings and ask advice
