ARA Conference: The impact of the last two years on the recordkeeping sector
At our conference in Chester from 31 August to 2nd September our theme of ‘Facing Forward: Post-pandemic recordkeeping – change, challenge, choice’ allows a wide-ranging exploration of the events of the last two years and how they have impacted both the recordkeeping sector and the nation.
Our first day of conference kicks off with two panels on this theme:
‘When nothing is standard what use is a standard? Experiences of Archive Service Accreditation during the pandemic’ – Melinda Haunton, the National Archives, Kew, Heidi McIntosh, Wolverhampton City Archives, Mari Takayanagi, Parliamentary Archives, London.
This session will be of particular interest to anyone looking to apply or reapply for Archive Service Accreditation.
‘Challenges, Changes and Choices in COVID and Post-COVID Recordkeeping Education’ is our second panel of the day and will be led by Alexandrina Buchanan of FARMER
Contributions from Europe also explore this theme with:
Charles Farrugia of the Department of Library, Information and Archive Sciences at the University of Malta and the National Archives of Malta presenting a session on ‘National Archives in post-COVID times: the challenges of memory projects’ and a panel of Andrew Flynn from UCL London, Luis Metelo Seixas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Institute of Contemporary History and Magdalena Wisniewska-Drewniak, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland exploring the topic ‘Preserving diverse stories in challenging times – comparing Community Archives across Europe’
Friday morning sees a number of sessions looking at the challenges of recording the pandemic (and those that came before it):
‘Creating a COVID-19 Public Inquiry Archive: the challenges of cataloguing Public Health Wales NHS Trust’s pandemic response.’ – Katie Finn and Martin O’Brien from Public Health Wales, Cardiff
Personal recordkeeping during the COVID-19 pandemic: some personal reflections on what it means for family archives – Francis Garaba
And:
‘The lessons of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic were forgotten – how do we overcome the challenge of not forgetting this time’ – Toby Green – Coherent Digital, Paris, France
Also:
In the Digital Preservation stream we also hear from Kieran O’Leary of the National Library of Ireland in Dublin on ‘Born-digital transfers during lockdown within the National Library of Ireland’
The full conference programme can be found here https://conference.archives.org.uk/2020-programme/
Social Events
As if all this wonderful content wasn’t enough there are also social events!
The Wednesday night drinks reception will be in the cloister of Chester Cathedral – a short walk from the conference hotel – and fully wheelchair accessible. The cathedral is a one of the UK’s finest and the cloister dates from the 15th Century. If the weather is wet the event will move into the nave of the Cathedral.
Dinner in the Stables Restaurant at the Conference hotel is provided on Wednesday night for those booking the full conference package.
On Thursday we have our Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony.
A sit down dinner followed by live band and dancing.
The awards will be presented during the evening and you can vote on who should win up to 8th July here: www.archives.org.uk/ara-awards
If you are new to conference, coming on your own, not affiliated to any particular group or region and wondering whether attending the Gala Dinner will be a trial in social awkwardness we have the solution! There will be three ARA staff hosted tables and anyone looking for a group to join is welcome to sign up for a place at one of them – your ARA hosts will make the introductions and ensure the conversation flows as freely as the drinks.
Register Now!
Rooms in the conference hotel are going fast so don’t delay with your registration!
Full conference package is £555 (including accommodation)
Day rate is £195 (you can add accommodation and social events to this for an extra charge)
Book here https://conference.archives.org.uk/conference-registration/