MARA Blog
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.
15 Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines
Published: January 22, 2017 by Anna Maloney
If January means the start of the spring semester, then February and March mean scholarship deadlines. As we approach the commencement of classes on Thursday, now is the perfect time for students to prepare their scholarship applications. The following list of scholarships offered by regional professional associations is a good start:
Deadline Passes for Electronic Management of Federal Emails
Published: January 11, 2017 by Anna Maloney
As of December 31st, 2016, federal agencies were required to manage all emails electronically.
SAA Publishes New Blog on Archival Security
Published: January 3, 2017 by Anna Maloney
The break between fall and spring semesters, and the sudden absence of weekly discussion board posts, may leave some students feeling disconnected from the conversation of archival management. Thankfully, there are great resources available online for those interested in keeping in touch.
Profile on MARA Alumna Kristen Cook
Published: December 22, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Several graduate students officially completed the requirements of the Master of Archives and Records Administration program and earned their degrees in December 2016. One of these graduates is Kristen Cook.
Cook works at ESPN, managing projects for the internal creative agency that produces web banners, videos, advertisements, and brand standards. She started the MARA program in August 2012 in order to develop a foundation in best practices for managing the information generated in her department and to cultivate a better relationship with the technology owners she works with. Her goal is to “get away from making the donuts,” and transition her role into one that manages processes, workflows and operations.
Saving Fall Semester Assignments
Published: December 18, 2016 by Anna Maloney
As the fall semester comes to a close, students are reminded to save and backup the work they completed this semester. This includes:
International Directory of National Archives Seeks Students, Alumni for Spring Semester
Published: November 29, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Books have been written about national archives in the past, usually focusing on the national archives of a particular nation. However, none have concentrated on the national archives of all 195 countries recognized through the United Nations (plus Taiwan, which is not so recognized). The International Directory of National Archives, to be co-edited by Dr. Anthony Bernier and Dr. Pat Franks, will serve as a single source of information about national archives around the globe.
ARMA International is Seeking Applicants for Standards Project Workgroup
Published: November 22, 2016 by Anna Maloney
ARMA International is recruiting applicants to serve on a workgroup for the Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles®.
Paris Archivists Preserve Memorials of Paris Terrorist Attacks
Published: November 16, 2016 by Anna Maloney
One year after the terrorist attacks in Paris, archivists reflect on their efforts to preserve the makeshift memorials, including letters, candles, and musical instruments.
ICA Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Universal Declaration on Archives
Published: November 10, 2016 by Anna Maloney
On November 10th, 2011, the International Council on Archives initiated the Universal Declaration of Archives. Five years later, supporters are invited to ratify the document.
A Profile on MARA Student Morgan King
Published: October 20, 2016 by Anna Maloney
The Master of Archives and Records Administration program at San José State University educates students from a variety of professional backgrounds and experiences. For example, students in the program range from fresh out of their undergraduate studies to having worked in the records and information management field for most of their careers. Morgan King, who is in her last semester of the MARA program, is currently working in the RIM field and earning a MARA degree to advance her career.
Archives and Sensory Experience
Published: September 28, 2016 by Anna Maloney
The spring/summer issue of The American Archivist, the biannual publication of the Society of American Archivists, was arranged around the theme reconsidering archives. In his introduction to the issue, Editor Gregory S. Hunter explains that the goal is to compel archivists to “look again at the ‘stars’ that guide the archival profession.” One of the articles closely aligned with this theme is Anna Chen’s “Perfume and vinegar: Olfactory knowledge, remembrance, and recordkeeping,” which explores the role that the sense of smell plays in personal remembrance and society stereotypes.
NARA Opens Comments for Revised Social Media Strategy
Published: September 21, 2016 by Anna Maloney
In 2010, the U.S. National Archives released its first social media strategy. The three-page document covers NARA’s core values for social media (collaboration, leadership, initiative, diversity, community, openness) and strategies for revolutionizing communication and collaboration within the staff community, engaging with the government community, and building and strengthening relationships with researchers and citizen archivists. It is, in a word, quaint.
Profile of MARA Alumna Amanda Stowell
Published: September 14, 2016 by Anna Maloney
While finishing up a museum archives internship in the Portland area, Amanda Stowell, ‘16 MARA, was hired on as the first-ever records administrator of ESCO Corporation, a multinational manufacturer of mining equipment with a corporate history dating to 1903.
With her newly minted master’s degree in hand, Stowell found herself the custodian of over 100 years of records. She describes the state of the records at ESCO as a “worst case scenario.” But the daunting nature of this assignment has not quelled her unabashed enthusiasm for records management.
Survey identifies skills needed of future RIM professionals
Published: September 8, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Each year, the agencies of the U.S. federal government complete the Records Management Self-Assessment, and the statistics generated by these results are pretty telling. The 2015 Self-Assessment revealed that “only 50 percent of federal records officers are dedicated full-time to their agencies’ records and information management (RIM) programs.”
Students, Faculty to Begin Work on International Directory of National Archives
Published: September 7, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Earlier this year, SJSU iSchool professors Dr. Pat Franks and Dr. Anthony Bernier submitted a proposal to the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing group to compile and publish an International Directory of National Archives. This summer, their proposal was accepted and the two faculty members began working to recruit students and alumni who would be interested in participating in the project for course credit or as volunteers.
Records in Context–Call for Comments
Published: September 285 2016 by Anna Maloney
The International Council on Archives (ICA) Experts Group on Archival Description (EGAD) has announced the release for public comment the initial draft of the first part of a two-part standard for archival description named Records in Context (RiC).
Records Retention
Published: August 31, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Each spring, the MARA program offers MARA 210 – Records Creation, Appraisal and Retention. In this course, students learn about the processes of creation and appraisal and design a records retention plan.
Digital Asset Management
Published: August 24, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Digital Asset Management (DAM) is a hot topic. This collective term describes the process of storing, cataloging, searching, and delivering digital assets (computer files), whether they are videos, audio clips, images, office documents, or 3D models.
Archives in the News Google Group
Published: August 17, 2016 by Anna Maloney
One of my favorite things about writing this blog is staying engaged with the trends and breaking stories related to archives and records. If you are also interested in the latest articles, check out the Google Group Archives in the News.
Federal Agencies Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
Published: August 10, 2016 by Dr. Pat Franks
On July 28, 2016, the Office of Management and Budget released a revision of OMB Circular A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic Resource. If you’re a member of ARMA International, you’ll be pleased to know that the organization made a number of recommendations to the initial proposed revisions in a November 2015 comment letter, some of which were integrated into this document.