Archives and Records Association (UK and Ireland) Annual Conference

[Colleen McEwen]

The theme of the annual conference of the Archives and Records Association (UK and Ireland) is 'Advocating for Archives and Records: The Impact of the Profession in the 21st Century' is particularly relevant to today's recordkeeping professionals. The conference will be held at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel, Edinburgh from 31 August to 2 September 2011.

This is a joint conference with the International Council on Archives Section for Professional Associations (SPA).

Speakers from the UK, America, France and Australia will discuss practical and strategic approaches to advocacy and many of the papers are intended to stimulate discussion and debate.

Two keynote speakers, Arleen Seed from the World Bank and Larry J. Hackman, former director of the New York State Archives and of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library, will examine the key issues relating to
advocacy and a number of workshops will introduce delegates to a range a practical approaches.

The conference will have streams on archives/records management, conservation and international issues and the SPA stream will include sessions on the following topics - the Universal Declaration on Archives; Managing associations in financial hard times; Government and archives politics, and Merging records and archives associations; merging archives and libraries. 

The location of the conference hotel in central Edinburgh gives delegates the perfect opportunity to experience Scotland's capital city during Festival season.

The initial programme and registration form are available from the front page of the ARA website www.archives.org.uk