advocacy Strategies for audiovisual archiving: outreach, influence, and professionalism
Kara van Malssen
January 2006
Table of contents
I. Introduction………………………………………………………………………….…2
II. Advocacy in Related Fields…………………………………………………………..3
A. Society of American Archivists…………………………………………….…3
i. Approach and Presentation………………………………………….…4
B. American Library Association………………………………………………...5
i. Approach and Presentation…………………………………………….7
III. Advocacy, Professionalism, and Audiovisual Archiving…………………………....8
A. AMIA and Professional Recognition………………………………………….9
i. Code of Ethics……………………………………………………….....9
ii. Accreditation……………………………………………………….....12
IV. Recommendations for AMIA Advocacy…………………………………………....12
A. Step 1 – Immediate: Create Advocacy Strategic Plan………………………..13
i. Key Goal Areas – What Should We Advocate For?...... 13
B. Step 2 – Short Term (immediate – 5 years): Define Action Areas and Membership Involvement………………………………………………………..15
i. Board of Directors…………………………………………………….15
ii. Committees…………………………………………………………...15
iii. Interest Groups……………………………………………………….16
iv. Task Forces…………………………………………………………..16
v. AMIA Staff…………………………………………………………...16
C. Step 3 – Short Term (immediate – 5 years): Adopt a Code of Ethics………..16
D. Step 4 – Long term (±10 years): Implement System of Accreditation……...17
Appendix: Useful Websites
I. Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to examine issues of advocacy as they relate to the field of moving image and sound archiving and preservation. As this is a diverse and growing field that is only beginning to develop a professional identity, advocacy is a complex and sometimes difficult topic. Differing backgrounds of individuals and motivation of institutions creates quite a few opposing opinions. Yet establishing political positions as they relate to the field, increasing public and governmental awareness of archival issues, and lobbying for funding are all essential ways of gaining recognition and creating beneficial change. However, claiming credibility on issues requires a degree of established professionalism, which the field is beginning to reach, though further steps must be taken. Thus this paper will look at how these two issues are intertwined, and how individuals in one association can work together to create a voice for themselves and their work.
With a focus on pro-active advocacy goals specifically for the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA), I will outline a series of recommendations that may be used by the Advocacy Task Force in their report to the Board of Directors. Although AMIA’s mission statement states that one of its objectives is to, “take responsible positions on archival matters affecting moving images and related materials,” the Association has rarely done so. The main reason for this is probably because AMIA’s membership includes individuals from both corporate and non-profit institutions that may have conflicting viewpoints on issues such as intellectual property, and the Association does not want to upset a segment of the membership. However, this should not preclude an attempt to have an organized means of issuing statements and encouraging public awareness of the role of moving image archivists and their concerns. There are issues that all moving image archivists can safely agree with, and AMIA should be pro-active in relating their position on these matters. That said, keeping in mind that AMIA is comprised of primarily individual members that have very different institutional ties will be key to this report.
In order to develop an approach to organizational advocacy, it is helpful to examine how this has been done in the past. Turning first to the advocacy role of similar organizations, I will summarize how these groups effectively create a voice for large memberships. When a closer look is given to the approach of groups such as the American Library Association and the Society of American Archivists, it becomes clear that advocacy does not necessarily imply radical action, or controversial statements. Though the concerns of these groups are somewhat different from the audiovisual archivists, there is quite a lot we can learn from these older, more established professional associations.
As mentioned above, having a powerful voice of advocacy requires credentials and professional recognition. Although one of the goals of advocacy in a field is indeed to create an acknowledgement of the profession, there are also internal steps that must be taken that show to the public, government, or private sector a degree of commitment and professionalism that the group has created for itself. Without this, the voice will not be heard as loud or as clear. Following the discussion of other organizations, I will look at the issue of professionalism and examine ways audiovisual archivists may strengthen their professional recognition. Again, I will look at the case of other associations and draw upon them to produce recommendations for AMIA’s professional status. Finally, I will synthesize these points, and use them to help create a series of recommendations for AMIA’s advocacy plan. This will include both short and long term goals, and strategies that may be used to accomplish them.
II. Advocacy in Related Fields
As it is still relatively new, audiovisual archiving is influenced in many ways by older fields, and can be considered a part of the collecting or custodial professions. In developing practices for preservation, cataloging, and access, AV archivists have learned from traditional archives, libraries, and museums. Many moving image and sound archivists work within these institutions, and belong to those related professional associations in addition to AMIA. While we are not 60,000 strong, nor has our Association been around for 100 plus years, we can learn from the advocacy efforts of these organizations and model our own efforts on aspects of theirs. The organizations I will focus on will be North America based but have members in other countries, which is similar to AMIA’s current membership demographic.
a. The Society of American Archivists (SAA)
Founded in 1936, SAA, “serves the educational and informational needs of its members and provides leadership to help ensure the identification, preservation, and use of the nation’s historical record,” as outlined in its mission statement.[1] SAA members include approximately 3100 individuals and 500 institutions. Their members come from institutions that range from university archives, to businesses and corporations, historical societies, museums, libraries, and government agencies, within the United States and from over 30 countries.
One of the key roles of SAA is to promote advocacy in the public policy arena. Two out of the four mission goals outlined in SAA’s Policy statement speak to this important function:
Goal 1: Exert active leadership on significant archival issues by shaping policies and standards, building effective coalitions, and improving public awareness of the value of archives.
Goal 3: Position SAA to lead the archival profession in advancing electronic records issues and represent the interests of the profession in shaping policies and accepting practices for identifying, preserving, and using electronic records.[2]
The Society does a fantastic job of reaching these goals, and over the last decade has become a powerful voice in promoting awareness of these issues. Its officers and leaders have presented testimony to Congress and have been involved with government leaders on issues such as intellectual property, citizens’ rights to access records of former presidents, and the qualifications of nominees for Archivist of the United States.
SAA accomplishes this with the support of its diverse membership. The leadership council alone includes archivists from the Executive Office of the President of the United States, Ford Motor Company, and many state and university archives. Although the corporate, government, and non-profit archives may have differing missions and goals, they manage to reach agreement on the issues that SAA argues for. The advocacy approach of SAA functions as a method of creating awareness for policy makers and the public. As the largest and oldest archival professional association in the United States, SAA has the knowledge and experience to speak on such issues that others might not have a complete understanding of.
i. Approach and Presentation
SAA’s website includes a “Statement of Goals and Objectives”. Under the section relating to their political role, the stated goal is, “To exert active leadership on enduring and emerging archival issues by advancing archival concerns and perspectives on the critical challenges of the Digital Age, shaping public policy, and promoting funding for archival program, research, and development.”[3] Their objectives for reaching this goal include: drawing media attention to archival issues, developing joint statements for greater impact, proposing legislation regulation to be considered that would support archival goals, writing position papers that support proposed legislation, promoting funding for archival programs, and identifying new venues of funding.
Under the “About SAA” section on the Society’s website, one will find a link for their Advocacy page. The “SAA Position Statements and Resolutions” page contains links to over 40 such statements, arranged by year. Dating from 1976, with the bulk created since 1995, these statements approach a wide range of issues that concern the archival field. The following are a few examples from the past three years:
· 2005 – SAA authored a joint statement on hurricane relief with other North American based archive associations. They also issued a statement and letter to the U.S. Copyright Office on the issue of Orphan Works that is being considered by Congress, supporting this proposed legislation and detailing the archival community’s concern with works without identifiable copyright holders.
· 2004 – SAA issued two statements on the nomination of Allen Weinstein to become Archivist of the United States, one unofficial and one for the record; joint statements on selection criteria for Archivist of the United States; and a statement on the renewal of the USA Patriot Act.
· 2003 – A statement on Iraqi archives that urged the government to protect Iraq’s documentary heritage during reconstruction was issued, as was one on the importance of supporting state archival programs that were facing budget cuts. SAA and the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) issued a statement of joint purpose and cooperation.[4]
As can be seen from these examples, SAA’s advocacy policy focuses on speaking out on political, funding, and internal issues, in addition to those of public policy. This page also includes links to opinion pieces published by its members; such as 2001 SAA President Steve Hensen’s editorial published in The Washington Post, titled, “The President’s Papers Are the People’s Business.”
SAA’s position papers and resolutions are carefully worded. They contain legal and historical accounts that support their opinions. The authors take caution to not attack any particular party being addressed or state their position in such a way some members (especially those of government institutions) could not support. In the statements on the nomination of Allen Weinstein to Archivist of the United States, for example, SAA did not argue against Professor Weinstein’s qualifications, and they expressed happiness to support and assist him if he should be appointed Archivist. The statement strictly asserted that the Society felt the method by which he was nominated went against the “letter and spirit of the law.”[5] In their Statement on the Renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, SAA wrote that they supported the view of organizations such as the American Library Association that the Act impinges on the privacy rights of American citizens. They added, “Like all Americans, archivists condemn terrorism and support the right of the United States to defend its self against further attacks. Because we live in a democracy, however, archivists also believe that our responses to the threat of terrorism must take into account the protection of civil liberties that are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.”[6]
b. American Library Association (ALA)
The function of a library is, of course, to allow its public free access to information. Libraries are thus very concerned with ensuring freedom and equality of access as well as intellectual freedom for their patrons, especially in an era of electronic publication and distribution. The American Library Association places great emphasis on these concerns in their mission statement and action plans. As stated in their “ALAction2005” statement, the Association’s mission is, “to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”
ALA membership is open to, “any person, library, or organization interested in library service or librarianship.” Such an open membership policy allows ALA to promote its commitment to diversity. The Association has some 60,000 members including individuals, corporations, and public and school libraries. Diversity of membership, along with education and continuous learning, equity of access, intellectual freedom, and 21st century literacy, are ALA’s five key action areas. In June of 2005, ALA’s council adopted these key action areas into a new strategic plan, “Ahead to 2010.” This plan contains six goal areas for the next five years, with two specifically focusing on advocacy. Although lengthy, Goal areas I and III are worth quoting here in full:
Goal Area I: Advocacy/Value of the Profession
Goal Statement: ALA and its members are the leading advocates for libraries and the library profession.
Strategic Objectives:
1 Increase support for research and evaluation to provide evidence regarding the value and impact of libraries.
2 Increase public awareness of the value and impact of libraries of all types.
3 Increase public awareness of the value and impact of librarians and library staff.
4 Mobilize, support and sustain grassroots advocacy for libraries and library funding at local, state, and federal levels.
5 Increase collaboration on securing legislation favorable to libraries.
6 Increase public awareness of the importance of intellectual freedom and privacy, and the role of libraries in a democracy.
Goal Area III: Public Policy and Standards
Goal Statement: ALA plays a key role in the formulation of national and international policies and standards that affect library and information services.
Strategic Objectives
1 Increase ALA's promotion of all forms of literacy.
2 Increase ALA's influence in promoting First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom and privacy.
3 Increase ALA's influence in promoting equity of access and fair use.
4 Increase ALA's influence in promoting the preservation of our cultural heritage.
5 Support grassroots efforts to influence local, state, federal, and international policies and standards that affect library and information services.
6 Increase understanding of international issues affecting library and information services and generate support for international partnerships that strengthen library and information services.