MARA Blog

Overview

MARA Blog

Students in the MARA program and those interested in archives and preservation, electronic records management, information governance, and related fields are highly encouraged to visit this blog often. Managed by MARA Program Coordinator Darra Hofman and written by a current MARA student, this blog will keep you current with the MARA community and what’s happening in the profession.

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MARA Blog

A Preservica Professional Development Opportunity

Published: February 12, 2022 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

MARA 283 instructs students in vital software skills for archivists and records managers – working knowledge of Microsoft Sharepoint and Preservica. When I explored and priced Preservica three years ago for smaller institutions, who can also benefit from this superior archival management system, purchasing it was cost prohibitive. But no more.

MARA Blog

Dr. Pat Franks Advances AI Research in Records and Information Management
Major research results prepared for InterPARES Trust AI

Published: February 11, 2023 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

AI is frequently featured in almost everything these days, especially in business technology. The promise of AI to aid in managing the big data that we create in the course of normal business operations is widely desired and widely advertised. The phone or chat bot are small examples of AI assistance in business functions. How could AI be used to perform archives and records management functions? 

MARA Blog

SAA Archives – Records 2023
The Premiere Conference for Archives and Records Management

Published: January 15, 2023 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

Archivists and records managers wait each year for the announcement on the location of our esteemed and informative conference – the annual Society of American Archivists (SAA) Archives – Records Meeting.  This year, the week – long meeting will be held in Washington DC, with the famed Washington Hilton slated as the conference host venue.  

MARA Blog

‘What I Did Last Summer’ – My Internship in Oral History at Swarthmore College

Published: August 18, 2022 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

Vacation days are over and the semester begins in a mere four days.  Some were fortunate to take beach getaways, while others hiked the NE mountains with friends and family. I am hoping that after you read this summertime report, you will email me with your own stories and photos that I will share on this blog.

MARA Blog

Welcome to MARA 2022 – 2023!

Melissa Prunty Kemp

Published: August 18, 2022 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

Welcome new and continuing students to MARA 2022 -2023! We’re back for another exciting year of classes and professional activities. If this is your first semester,  you may wonder where to get started in and outside of classes.

MARA Blog

Keeping Up With Career Opportunities

Published: August 18, 2022 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

Throughout the fall 2022 semester, take a look at the individual career positions being compiled into the 2023 MARA Jobs Report. Positions are being added to the jobs folder weekly from August to November 30, 2022. The report will be compiled and available at the beginning of the spring 2023 semester.

MARA Blog

A Tip: Use the MARA Research Library Guide for Speedy, Curated Research Sources

Published: November 2, 2021 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

MARA students are facing their culminating class projects over the next month. For first semester students who may be writing extensive research papers and projects, finding the latest and best peer-reviewed research for RIM, IG, and archives may not be easy or readily accessible outside trade journals or behind paywalls on the Internet. Matriculating students can always use a fast, liable source of the types of research requested for assignments or papers.  

MARA Blog

Join Us with Dr. Shadrack Katuu for “Boundaryless Global Careers”
A Lecture for Archives and Records Management Professionals

Published: September 22, 2021 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

MARA and the iSchool are pleased to welcome Dr. Shadrack Katuu, independent archives and records management expert, who will present a lecture entitled “Boundaryless Global Careers for Archives and Records Management Professionals.” Dr. Katuu’s lecture, to be held on Tuesday, September 28, 11 am PT, will explore the expanding global nature of the archives and records management field.

MARA Blog

Don’t Miss the SIG-KM Knowledge Management Symposium
Sponsored by the SJSU iSchool

Published: August 31, 2021 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

The ASIS&T Special Interest Group on Knowledge Management is hosting a symposium on knowledge management that could prove to be especially useful for student researchers (MARA 285 students, for example) and others who are perfecting their research skills. There’s still time to submit your paper or poster! 

MARA Blog

SAA Roundup
A report on my recent attendance at the Society of American Archivist 2021 Virtual Conference

Published: August 15, 2021 by Melissa Prunty Kemp

 An extraordinary virtual meeting just wrapped up on August 6.  This was my first opportunity to attend, and as an active conference participant, I cannot be more pleased with the enriching educational content and relevant vendor presentations. The week was actually exhausting and packed full of don’t-miss events. A tight schedule was complemented by on-demand education seminars, mini-theatres, professor and graduate student posters, and social activities.