An exciting program of speakers and events has been put together for the 2013 ASA Annual Conference to be held in Canberra in October. The theme of the conference is Archives: The Future focusing on current thinking in the archival community on reinventing archival methods to meet the demands of the digital age.
The broad political, technological and social settings in which archivists work today are unpredictable and ever changing. The rate at which, and the manner in which recorded information is being created manipulated and discovered by individuals, communities, governments and businesses are requiring archivists to face fundamental questions about the future of the profession, of archival institutions and ways of operation.
This conference looks towards the future and seeks to clarify the challenges and questions whether archivists have the qualifications and skillsets, cultural understandings, image and the confidence of governments and society to adapt over the next 10 to 20 years. Topics covered include:
- How technology is expected to change and its impact on archival organisations
- The impact of changes to FOI and Privacy on archival access
- Archival legislative frameworks for the digital future
- Possibilities and impacts of mergers of cultural institutions
- Education and the archivist recordkeeper
- A national framework for managing non-government and private records
- The future of archival institutions, programs and the professional association.
Speakers include Professor Eric Ketelaar from the Netherlands, Antony Funnell from the ABC’s ‘Future Tense’ program, the National Archives’ Director-General David Fricker, Dr James Popple the Australian Freedom of Information Commissioner, Sue McKemmish Chair of Archival Systems at Monash University, and Brad Argent, Head of Content (Australia and NZ) for Ancestry.com.au.
Activities will commence on 15th and include a walking tour of Canberra in the morning and in the afternoon the Loris Williams Lecture, focusing on an Indigenous historical theme, and a welcome reception at the National Film and Sound Archive. On the 16th and 17th the two day conference will be held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
A Guide to Government Records About the ACT, jointly compiled and published by the ACT Territory Records Office and the National Archives will be launched on the evening of 16th October. Three workshops are being offered to participants on Friday 18th October on Archival Digitisation, Appraisal and Approaches to Arrangement and Description.
When: 15-18 October 2013
Where: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Cost: Click here for full table of costs
Early bird registration closes on 31st August and conference registration closes on 30th September. The conference web page can be accessed from the ASA website at www.archivists.org.au with a copy of the program and registration details.
Canberra is celebrating its centenary and 2013 is proving to be an exciting time to visit the city with a wide range of activities being staged to commemorate the anniversary. For more information on how visitors can participate in the centenary program go to www.canberra100.com.au