(our apology for cross posting)

 

The Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) is pleased to announce its Call for Papers for the 2016 AAO Conference to be held 11-13 May 2016 in Thunder Bay, Ontario (please note the conference is earlier this year so preparation deadlines have also been moved up).  

 

Archives Confidential: Breaking Down the Barriers

 

The Conference Program Committee invites proposals pertaining to all areas of archival theory and practice that address issues seen as taboo within our community. Examples of these issues may include topics that are often overlooked, are not addressed in an inclusive manner or that create discomfort or discord in the relationships between practitioners, record creators, donors, users of archives, and the general public. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Truth and Reconciliation.
• Professional failures and how we learn from them.

• How do we care for and represent records of trauma?

• What are we not effectively addressing as a profession?
• Representation of people/groups in archives and archival exhibits.
• How do we build or repair relationships with groups in the communities that we serve and foster trust in our institutions?

• What happens when we morally disagree with the appraisal and description of material held within our collections?

• How do we effectively acknowledge language, social custom, race, or gender barriers within both our collections and professional community?

 

Submissions of proposals for entire sessions or for individual papers are invited. The proposals should be sent with a brief abstract of 250 words and a bio to:

 

AAO Office at [log in to unmask]

 

The deadline to submit proposals is October 15, 2015.

We are happy to announce that the 2016 AAO Conference will include our second Student Papers and Posters session. A call for submissions will be issued later this year.

On behalf of the AAO 2016 Conference Program Committee