Let’s Talk About “Archival Anxiety and the Vocational Calling”: An Archivists Round Table Discussion Group
April 19, 2012 at the Kellen Design Archives
Image via Litwin Books website
Please join us on April 19, 2012 at the Kellen Design Archives at 6:30pm for a new component to the ART Discussion Group programming...the Book Club! For our first book, we will all read, in advance, Archival Anxiety and the Vocational Calling by Richard Cox. The book is Cox’s 15th reflecting on the archival profession, and was published in March 2011 by Litwin Press (ISBN: 978-1-936117-49-9).
As described on the Litwin website from the book’s abstract:
“A substantial portion of the archival profession is anxious about a variety of issues. The challenges archivists face are the result of a growing recognition of the importance of records in our society and its organizations, although these challenges are pushing archivists to think well beyond the cultural mission so many archivists have chosen to emphasize. The days of archivists sitting quietly in their stacks and waiting for the occasional researcher to appear are long gone (if they ever really existed). Archival anxiety may be the result of this community being shaken out of its complacency.”
Everyone who participates is expected to read the book prior to the discussion and come prepared to express your opinions and share your thoughts. Any and all perspectives are welcome!
We want to hear from you:
- Do you sense Cox’s archival anxiety in your own academic or professional life?
- Do you agree with Cox’s discussion of government secrecy and archives?
- How do you envision the archives profession charting a future course?
To lessen the financial anxiety for purchasing the book, ART members may order Archival Anxiety and the Vocational Calling and receive a 20% discount!* Including shipping and tax, the total cost for ART members is $33.
To RSVP for the event, please register on the ART website. RSVPs must be received by April 16, 2012. Attendance is limited to 15 ART members, however, additional members beyond the initial 15 are eligible for the discount upon placing an order through April 19, 2012. Following this date, the discount will no longer be in effect.
The ART Discussion Group organizers would like to thank Rory Litwin at Litwin Books for extending this generous discount to the ART membership!
Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012
Time: 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.
Location: Kellen Design Archives
Cost: FREE to all ART members
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Discussion Groups in General
Our goal is to create a space where archivists can engage in focused conversation around a specific problem derived from archival work and to explore the strategies archivists employ in their everyday practice. The size of each group will be small, to encourage discussion among all attendees. Unless noted otherwise, each session will be designed for archivists at similar levels of experience. Participants will come away from discussions with fresh approaches to practical challenges.
This program is intended to address topics generated by ART members, to take on topics that address the immediate needs of working archivists. In fact, this discussion topic was suggested by ART members, and these members will lead the discussion.
In order for this program to continue to flourish, we need to hear from you! Please send us your ideas for future discussion topics. Or, even better, if you would like to lead a discussion, let us know. Send comments, questions and suggestions to Wendy Scheir and Maria LaCalle at discussions@nycarchivists.org.
RSVP:
Registration in advance is required for this event by Monday, April 16, 2012, and limited to ART members. Please RSVP via the ART website.
Cost:
FREE to all ART members.
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*Members of the Archivists Round Table are eligible for a 20% discount for Archival Anxiety. The regular price is $35, including tax, with a shipping charge of $5. ART members therefore can receive a copy of the book for $33 total.
