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Roundtables

AABC Roundtable events, or as we like to call them "Roundteas", bring together colleagues to talk about specific topics or emerging themes within the archival profession.

What is a "Roundtea"?

Roundteas are informal roundtables where panelists give a 10-15 minute talk on their work in relation to the topic or theme of the Roundtea. Then, questions are asked, and others often share their experiences. The format is generally a participatory discussion meant to mimic getting a tea, coffee, or beer with colleagues. The presentations are used as a starting point to generate discussion, to share expertise, and for participants to network across the heritage field. The AABC started this format as a way to connect archivists and heritage professionals who may be feeling lonely or disconnected as a result of the pandemic.

The presentation portion of the Roundtable may be recorded and made accessible at a later date. Pre-registration is required.

Roundtables are free to attend, but donations are appreciated! All contributions provide annual awards to UBC School of Information students and support the ACA@UBC conference. To donate, visit Canada Helps.

New events will be added as they are scheduled. If you have a topic that may be suitable for a Roundtable event, please contact the EAS Coordinator at aabc.advisor@aabc.ca.



Upcoming Roundteas: 2024 - 2025 Schedule

  • Roundtea: "Turn up the Tunes! Music in the Archives"

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm PST

Location: Online via Zoom

Registration: Free, but RSVP required

Bring your lunch and join us to learn more about music archives held by SFU Special Collections, the Museum of Canadian Music, and the Royal City Music Project archives housed at UVic & BC Archives. Roundtea speakers include Andréa Tarnawsky, Robert Williston, and Glenn Parfitt who will introduce us to these melodical records and answer your questions!

RSVP Here



Past Roundtables - Recorded

Previously recorded Roundtables are available for viewing at no charge to members and non-members. To learn more about the discussion topics and to view the recordings, please see links below (click on the event title).

Thank you to the UBC IKBLC webcast program for supporting the AABC and hosting our Roundtables from 2014-2018.

An Introduction to the BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project and the Transgender Archives at UVic

(Jan. 22, 2024)

Continuing our Roundtea series of learning about archival projects, collections, and organizations throughout the province, please join us to hear from Alysa Routtenberg, Director of Archives at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC to introduce the BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project completed in partnership with JQT Vancouver, and Lara Wilson, Director, Special Collections and University Archivist, who will speak on the the Transgender Archives held at the University of Victoria.

To learn more about these projects, please visit the following links:

BC Jewish Queer & Trans Oral History Project: 

https://www.jqtvancouver.ca/jqt-oral-history-bc


JQT Vancouver: https://www.jqtvancouver.ca/

Transgender Archives, University of Victoria: 

https://www.uvic.ca/transgenderarchives/


Climate Change and Archives

(Nov. 15, 2023)

Climate change is impacting archives across Canada. Extreme weather and changing climate will affect archival collections, facilities, staff, and users. Archives professionals will play an important role preparing for and mitigating the impact of climate change at their institutions. Together we will talk about approaches to climate adaptation in archives and strategies for addressing climate change in archival work.

Part of 2023 BC Archives Awareness Week! Presentation slides available HERE. 



BC Geographical Names Office: Indigenous Naming Project (Nov. 14, 2023)

The BC Geographical Names Office (BCGNO) is responsible for naming geographical features and managing all official place names in the province of British Columbia. Indigenous Peoples have always named places and Indigenous place names, especially in the original languages of the land, help tell the story and deep history of this place we know today as British Columbia. Learn how the BC Geographical Names Office is working to better represent Indigenous names in the Province, and the connections between this process and the work of archival institutions.

Part of 2023 BC Archives Awareness Week! Presentation slides available HERE


An Introduction to the CARE Resource: “Relationship Building: A Guided Workbook” (Oct. 25, 2023)

Candid Actionable Reconciliation Education (CARE) for Museums has been developed by the BCMA with the aim to connect museums and other cultural institutions with the knowledge and ideas they need to make meaningful steps towards reconciliation and decolonization while being mindful of the time and capacity of Indigenous communities and knowledge holders.

This event was not recorded, however, the workbook and other useful CARE resources can be found at:

https://museum.bc.ca/brain/candid-actionable-reconciliation-education-care-for-museums/




Demystifying Databases!

(May 24, 2023)

Join us for this Roundtea to talk about databases including practical considerations for choosing a software solution, what to look out for, questions to ask, and where to find resources to help you get started. Ben Chung, Program Navigator, First Peoples’ Cultural Council, will join Lisa Glandt, AABC Education and Advisory Services Coordinator, as your guides to demystifying the world of databases! 



Inside the Files: Nursing Archives in BC

(March 27, 2023)

Join us for a Roundtea to learn about nursing records and archives held by two different organizations in Vancouver. Our speakers include Naomi Constant, Archivist with the VGH School of Nursing Archives and Krisztina Laszlo, who will talk about the BC History of Nursing Collection, recently transferred to the Rare Books and Special Collections at UBC Library.  Naomi and Krisztina will talk about how these collections developed and how the records are used today.





Artist Archives From A to Z

(May 25, 2022)

Join the AABC for a Roundtea to learn about the artist records that are found in the VIVO Media Arts Centre Archives and the UBC Museum of Anthropology Archives holdings. We are pleased to have Emily Guerrero, Archivist from the Crista Dahl Media Library and Archive, and Alissa Cherry, Research Manager from the Audrey and Harry Hawthorn Library and Archives talk about their collections.


Precarity and the Profession

(Feb. 15, 2022) 

Speakers: Adena Brons and Ean Henninger, Precarity in Libraries project

This Roundtable was not recorded. If you would like to learn more about the Precarity in Libraries project, please visit their website at: https://osf.io/ybczx/ or their Twitter at: https://twitter.com/LISprecarity




Social Media and Archives

(Nov. 17, 2021)

The AABC is pleased to host this virtual tea and chat during Archives Awareness Week. Our speakers include a former CBC journalist and communications professional; SFU Library Special Collections Digital and Outreach Archivist; and the Head Archivist & Collections Manager of the Whistler Museum and Archives. Together we will talk about tips and strategies for connecting through different media platforms and how to promote and advocate for archives and the work we do.

Audrey McKinnon's slides about working with the media/reporters is available HERE.



Volunteers and Archives             

(Oct. 6, 2021)

Join your AABC colleagues from small & medium-sized archival organizations as they share their experience managing volunteer programs. Together we will talk about strategies for recruiting volunteers, training tips, and how to foster a meaningful experience for both your archival organization & volunteers. 



Audiovisual Records in a Digital Age

(March 7, 2018)

Motion picture films and audio and video recordings are found in every archival collection. These visual records play an important part of documenting our history but are at risk in our modern digital age due to media degradation and format obsolescence. Our panel of speakers will share their experiences managing audiovisual records and their thoughts on access, preservation and digitization.


Talking with First Nations Archives

(Feb. 23, 2017)

Colleagues who work in local First Nations Archives, Resource Centres and in Records Management programs will share with us their experiences establishing archives, their role in facilitating access to records, and issues and concerns they encounter on a daily basis.



Digital Preservation Management...Best Practices vs. Reality (Nov. 17, 2016)

We are pleased to present this webcast roundtable as a follow-up to the recent 3-day workshop on Digital Preservation Management. Speakers from InterPARES, Simon Fraser University Archives and the City of Vancouver Archives will provide an introduction to their DPM projects and how they are managing digital records in their archives.

Bonus! AABC Archivists talk about Digital Preservation



Outreach, Donor relationship & Fundraising (Feb. 26, 2016)

Building and maintaining donor relationships is a key aspect of daily archival work for many organizations. This can happen through simple outreach activities or grand fundraising events that shine attention on our archival treasures and our need for funding to preserve them. Topics to be discussed include: what building blocks need to be in place to foster strong relationships with donors? How can we leverage our time and (sometimes limited) resources to manage a successful outreach program?    

  


The Future of RAD (Oct. 23, 2015)

The Canadian Council of Archives (CCA) has been tasked to develop a plan to update and revise the Rules for Archival Description (RAD) and are seeking input from members of the Canadian archival community. Richard Dancy from the Canadian Committee on Archival Description (a Committee of the CCA) provides some background on the project and helps facilitate discussion on questions including what are the strengths and weaknesses of RAD in its current form? 



Taming the Beast with Metadata     

(Feb. 20, 2015)

Setting aside infrastructure, policies, management, and money, what information needs to be recorded in order to ensure that the longevity of a digital record? Let's talk about Rules for Archival Description and PREMIS.


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The Archives Association of British Columbia acknowledges that it carries out its work on the land of Indigenous nations throughout British Columbia. We are grateful for the continuing relationships with Indigenous people in B.C. that develop through our work together.  

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