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.
Summer Projects for MARA Students
Published: July 27, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Whether you have a box full of photographs from past family vacations or a smartphone picture album of your most recent weekend getaway, there are many free tools to help you manage your digital assets.
NIRMA to Hold Annual Conference
Published: July 20, 2016 by Anna Maloney
The 40th annual Nuclear Information & Records Management Association (NIRMA) Conference is scheduled for August 7-10, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
e-Records in the News
Published: July 13, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Although the general public may not realize it, records management is at the center of one of the most contentious scandals of the 2016 presidential election. Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email account to conduct official State department business has garnered untold media coverage, an FBI investigation, and rumors of a grand jury trial.
A brief history on Freedom of Information legislation
Published: July 4, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Government archives and records programs at the local, state, and federal levels all contribute to open government initiatives and support Freedom of Information laws. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the federal Freedom of Information Act in 1966 to make publicly available by request those records related to statements of policy, interpretations, and staff manuals. But where did this political ideal originate?
DNA as digital storage
Published: June 29, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Thanks to technology, information professionals are able to preserve just about any record in a digital format. But as digital records and big data proliferate (digital data is estimated to reach 44 trillion gigabytes—an almost incomprehensible number—by 2020), there have been questions about which digital storage medium is most sustainable over the long-term. One exciting research trend, covered by Tech Times and other sources, is the use of synthetic DNA for digital storage. “In a study, [researchers] detailed a new technique they have developed which allowed them to successfully encode four image files worth of digital data…More importantly they were able to reverse the process and retrieve the right sequences…without compromising an information byte” (Tech Times, 10 April 2016).
What is Knowledge Management?
Published: June 22, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Students who earn their graduate degree from the MARA program have attained a well-rounded and current education in archives and records management. Specifically, “as a MARA graduate, you will be prepared to develop and manage records and information programs [and] to contribute to the organization by leveraging your expertise to analyze workflows and streamline business practices.” But could a MARA grad move on to a career in knowledge management?
National Digital Stewardship Residency
Published: June 15, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Each year, the Library of Congress, Office of National and International Outreach, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services partners with host sites to sponsor the National Digital Stewardship Residency. The NDSR is designed to “provide a robust, hands-on learning experience to complement graduate-level training and education” (Library of Congress). Residents attend an immersive digital preservation workshop before being partnered with a host institution to work on digital stewardship projects. The program is open to recent graduates of graduate and doctoral programs related to libraries, archives, and museums.
ARMA LIVE! San Antonio 2016 Conference
Published: June 8, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Resources for Job Seekers
Published: June 1, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Whether you are a recent graduate, a current student, or a prospective student, bookmark this list of resources to learn more about the archives and records job market.
Information Governance Institute
Published: May 25, 2016 by Anna Maloney
The Information Governance Institute, a community of IG professionals dedicated to advancing the adoption of IG practices and technologies, is a great resource for students interested in learning more about this emerged professional trend. By creating a user account, students can fully access articles, annual reports, and other resources, and even participate in the larger organizational conversation.
World-Tree Project
Published: May 18, 2016 by Anna Maloney
A few weeks ago, the MARA blog highlighted history harvests, an emerging trend that aims to involve the public in historic preservation by accepting donations of letters, journals, and ephemera that may or may not be related to a general theme. In late April, University College Cork in Dublin, Ireland launched the World-Tree Project, attempting to crowdsource material on Viking and Norse history from across the globe.
Profile on MARA Student Jason Bell
Published: May 9, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Jason Bell is quickly approaching the end of his studies in the MARA program, but he is well on his way to an outstanding career in archives.
MARA Student Internship Profile: Tara Haghighi
Published: May 3, 2016 by Anna Maloney
In a couple of weeks, Tara Haghighi will transition from being a MARA student to a MARA alumna, and her last semester in the program has been a whirlwind.
Paul Wester appointed to Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government
Published: May 2, 2016 by Anna Maloney
In March 2011, the Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, appointed Paul Wester to the position of Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government.
Joining Professional Organizations
Published: April 18, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Joining professional organizations is a great way to network with other archivists and records managers. Networking benefits include being introduced to others in your research area; having awareness of workshops, webinars, and other training; connecting with potential employers; and participating in and advancing the professional dialogue.
Archeota Call for Submissions
Published: April 4, 2016 by Anna Maloney
In each MARA course, we are assigned various written assignments and research papers.
International Internet Preservation Consortium
Published: April 2, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Turnball Library of New Zealand and Web 2.0
Published: April 2, 2016 by Anna Maloney
Archives 2.0 has been described as “an approach to archival practice that promotes openness and flexibility” and requires archivists to “be user centered and embrace opportunities to use technology to share collections, interact with users, and improve internal efficiency” (Theimer, 2011).
Archivematica and Open Source Software
Published: April 2, 2016 by Anna Maloney
On March 23, Sarah Romkey, the Archivematica Program Manager at Artefactual Solutions, gave an insightful presentation on Archivematica, a free and open-source digital preservation software that provides consistent, system independent Archival Information Packages (AIPs).