Outline of the 2006 ACA Institute ARCHIVES IN THE WAKE OF HUGH TAYLOR: SHAPING ARCHIVAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY St. John's, Newfoundland, June 26-27, 2006 "We [archivists] are builders of bridges, not castles, as we cross from the assurance of 'now' to the uncertainty of 'new.' We are coming to realize that all we can do is stand by the principles of 'now' until we cross yet another bridge where new principles will greet us, which may be closely related to the old ones or radically different ..." - Hugh A. Taylor Inspired by Canada's premier archival thinker, Hugh Taylor, this Institute offers participants a thorough introduction to new thinking in four areas that are key to building "bridges" to the future of archival programmes mentioned in the quotation above. Drawing on Taylor's imaginative insights, which launched much of this new thinking, and on the work of many others, the Institute will provide an overview of how archiving could be conceived and done in new ways. The 2006 ACA Institute will focus on four "bridges" or "probes," as Taylor might have also called them, as pathways to this envisioned future: 1) After much recent and intense debate about fundamental archival concepts, where do we go from here? On what new understandings of archival work can we drawn to shape our programmes more effectively for the varied challenges we face? 2) What's next for the pivotal function of appraisal? How does the new thinking extend recent developments in appraisal around macroappraisal into new areas and approaches to both institutional and private records? 3) Description is being revolutionized in a wired world. Where might we go with both the new thinking about and new opportunities for description that have recently emerged? 4) Archival holdings in future will have to be increasingly electronic, but archival progress in this area has been painfully slow. How can we kick-start practical electronic archives programmes to break the pattern and bring archives more fully into the computer age? Stepping back from the daily fray to consider these key questions, with experienced colleagues from across Canada and internationally, offers a unique opportunity for archivists. This is a chance to consider the profession's future directions, prompted by Taylor, who thought long and deeply about almost every aspect of archival work, and to explore practical possibilities for moving forward in exciting ways. Break-out groups will examine practical issues and workplace problems related to the Institute themes that each participant will have prepared and submitted in advance. Several weeks before the Institute each participant will receive a copy of Imagining Archives: Essays and Reflections by Hugh A. Taylor (2003, edited by Terry Cook and Gordon Dodds), as well as other background material. The 2006 ACA Institute will be led by Terry Cook and Tom Nesmith, both teachers in Archival Studies at the University of Manitoba. For registration forms and more information about fees and accommodations please visit the Association of Canadian Archivists' website at http://www.archivists.ca/prodev/aca_institute.aspx. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Denise Jones at the email address listed below. See you at the Institute! Denise Jones ([log in to unmask]) Chair, ACA Education Committee www.archivists.ca A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>