Blog and Newsletter

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

Quarterly Print Newsletter

Submissions: If you are a member interested in submitting articles, dispatches, opportunities, and/or photos to the print newsletter, please review these guideline and deadlines.

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Read now: Click here to view the current and past issues of the print newsletter (members-only; log in first).

News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

Posts to this news blog are automatically shared to the MAM Facebook page to get even more exposure!

MEMBERS: Log in, then click "Add Post." If you have trouble logging in, email info@mainemuseums.org.

NON-MEMBERS: To submit your bulletin board post, please email info@mainemuseums.org.

  • 21 Jan 2014 9:36 AM | Anonymous member
    MAM is so pleased to once again offer a special membership opportunity this year in conjunction with the New England Museum Association!

    Effective immediately, NEW all-volunteer institutional members of MAM--meaning those that have absolutely no paid staff--are ALSO entitled to one year of complimentary membership at the New England Museum Association.  The complimentary membership is good for one year after you sign up, with complete access to NEMA’s professional development and career resources, news and publications, and networking opportunities, plus a free copy of “NEMA’s 25 Top Tips for Small Museums.” When your twelve months of complimentary membership have passed, you'll have the option to renew or cancel--there is absolutely no obligation.

    If you recently joined MAM as an all-volunteer organization but haven't yet taken advantage of this offer, just e-mail MAM at info@mainemuseums.org for instructions. Or if you're an all-volunteer organization but you recently joined MAM in another category, based on your budget, you can log into your profile and change your category to 00--All Volunteer to get instructions on how to sign up with NEMA.  Again, just e-mail MAM with any questions or difficulties.

    Even if you're not in a position to take advantage of this benefit, you can let your friends in the field know about it.  The annual fee for an all-volunteer institutional membership in MAM is only $25--and to get that and a year-long membership in NEMA is a really fantastic deal and a great way to get and stay connected.
  • 20 Jan 2014 11:12 AM | Anonymous member
    MAM is so pleased to present its new Strategic Plan,
    approved by the Board of Trustees on January 13, 2014!


    From the plan's Introduction:

    MAM is a membership-run organization, with a structure described as “bottom-up” rather than “top-down”; in other words, the organization’s activities and priorities are determined by the needs of its membership. With that in mind, this document was developed by a team with extensive input from the membership at large. Over a two-year period, feedback was sought and compiled from MAM’s membership and other stakeholders in the following ways:

    • A survey of MAM’s complete membership begun in late 2011 and “closed” in the spring of 2012, in which participants were asked to describe the main challenge facing their institution.
    • Evaluation forms distributed at MAM’s 2012 and 2013 conferences, each of which included a final question asking respondents to help set planning priorities for MAM.
    • An evaluation questionnaire distributed to participants in MAM’s 2013 Spring Workshops, specifically with this long-range planning process in mind.
    • A survey administered as part of MAM’s Maine Cultural Institutions Outreach Project, seeking largely demographic information from collecting institutions in the state that are not necessarily members of MAM.
    • Minutes from a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) exercise performed by MAM’s board in June 2013.
    • A planning retreat for the board (and other stakeholders) held on September 9, 2013, facilitated by Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko of the Abbe Museum.
    • A lunchtime session at the 2013 conference, during which attendees were encouraged to respond to an early draft of this document.

    The overall structure of this document and much of its content, including the Core Competencies outlined on p. 4, arose from the planning retreat on September 9, at which results from the above surveys were presented. This Strategic Plan, then, distills MAM’s needs, challenges, resources, and ambitionsundefinedas identified by its membership and its leadershipundefinedinto a series of objectives, goals, and actions for the next five years.

    Thanks so much to all who participated in the planning process.  

    This is your plan--we look forward to having your help in achieving its goals!

    Questions? Comments?  Contact us at info@mainemuseums.org or (207) 400-6965.

  • 20 Jan 2014 9:52 AM | Anonymous member

    MAM has signed onto the Community Nonprofit Letter in support of LD1664, proposed legislation to restore incentives for donations to charitable organizations like archives and museums. The letter was drafted by the Maine Association of Non-profits and will be presented at a public hearing on January 22.

    From the Maine Association of Non-profits website:

    The Biennial Budget passed by the 126th Maine Legislature late this past spring included a $27,500 cap on itemized deductions including the charitable giving deduction.  Our conservative estimates found that this cap will cost Maine nonprofits $20 million annually in decreased charitable giving at a time when nonprofits can hardly afford it.

    We worked with legislative leadership to remedy this situation and we are pleased that Senator James Boyle (Gorham, Scarborough, Westbrook) has introduced a bill, LD 1664, that will carve the charitable giving deduction out of the overall cap, preserving a tax deduction that benefits the greater good much more than it benefits the tax-payer.

    There are several ways you can help us reach our first goal in the legislative process, a unanimous Ought To Pass recommendation out of the Taxation Committee.

    • Add your organization’s name to our sign-on letter to be presented to the Taxation Committee.   To add your name, e-mail Brenda Peluso with the name of the organization, the regions that your organization serves, and a brief statement that you are authorized to endorse the letter.
    • Plan to present spoken or written testimony at the public hearing on Wednesday, January 22nd.  A public hearing gives members of the public an opportunity to address members of the Joint Standing Committee in charge of the bill.  View the State’shelpful information about public hearings and e-mail Brenda Peluso if you plan to participate.
    • Contact members of the Taxation Committee directly if you have a prior relationship or serve members of their district.
    • Join our “interested parties” e-mail list by e-mailing Brenda Peluso.
  • 17 Jan 2014 10:58 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Established in 2011, this award recognizes the role of innovative practices in the archival profession. Key areas of innovation are outlined by the criteria below, with preference given to nominees who have clearly demonstrated the greatest impact on the profession or their communities through the use of groundbreaking strategies, approaches, and/or technologies.

    • Creativity or innovation in approaching professional challenges.
    • Demonstrated ability to think outside of professional or institutional norms.
    • Ability to translate creativity, innovation, and new thinking into working solutions.
    • Development of an archives program or outreach activity that has an extraordinary impact on a community.
    • Commitment to the advancement of professional knowledge through traditional or emerging information-sharing media.

    Eligibility:
    The Archival Innovator Award is presented to an archivist, group of archivists, repository, or organization for work undertaken within the past three years. The work need not be completed, but it must be sufficiently advanced to demonstrate results.

    Application Deadline:
    All nominations must be submitted by February 28, 2014. Additional information and applications are available online at http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-innovators.

    Prize:
    The winner will receive a certificate and complimentary registration for one individual to the 2014 SAA Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

    Previous winners:
    2013:  Augmented Processing Table Research Team, The University of Texas at Austin School of Information, Dr. Ciaran B. Trace and Dr. Luis Francisco-Revilla
  • 17 Jan 2014 10:53 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The SAA Spotlight Award Subcommittee invites nominations for the 2014 Spotlight Award.  This award "recognizes the contributions of individuals who work for the good of the archives profession and of archival collections, and whose work would not typically receive public recognition."  Nominees do not have to be members of SAA.  Please share this message as you think appropriate.  I hope you will consider recognizing a colleague (or yourself!) in this way.  Additional information about the criteria and process is found below.  

     

    Spotlight Award


    Purpose and Criteria for Selection: Established in 2005, this award recognizes the contributions of individuals who work for the good of the archives profession and of archival collections, and whose work would not typically receive public recognition. The nominee(s) should have achieved distinction in one or more of the following ways:

     *   Participating in special projects.
     *   Exhibiting tireless committee or advocacy work.
     *   Responding effectively to an unforeseen or pressing need or emergency.
     *   Contributing innovative or creative ideas to the profession.
     *   Performing extraordinary volunteerism.
     *   Quietly but effectively promoting the profession.

    Eligibility:  Awarded to an individual archivist or a group of up to five archivists who have collaborated on a project. Preference is given to archivists working in smaller repositories, especially those without institutional support for professional activities.

    Nomination Requirements:  A completed nomination form, downloadable at 
    http://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/Spotlight-Award-Form.rtf.   

    Sponsor and Funding:  The Society of American Archivists Foundation.

    Prize:  A certificate and complimentary registration (for up to five individuals) to the SAA Annual Meeting occurring in the year in which the award is presented.

    Submission Deadline and Nomination Form:  Deadline: February 28, 2014.  Please complete the nomination form (
    http://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/Spotlight-Award-Form.rtf) and email it along with any applicable supporting documentation to awards@archivists.org with the subject line “Spotlight Award.”   Attachments should not exceed 5MB.

     

     

    Alternately, nominations may be mailed.  Materials must be postmarked by February 28, 2014, and should be sent to:

     

    Spotlight Award Committee

    Society of American Archivists

    17 North State Street, Suite 1425

    Chicago, IL 60602-4061

  • 17 Jan 2014 10:45 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The American Assocation of State and Local History bestows Leadership in History Awards to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans. By publicly recognizing superior and innovative achievements, the Leadership in History Awards serve as an inspiration to others in the field. - See more at: http://about.aaslh.org/awards/#sthash.AakZf9jo.dpuf

    AASLH encourages organizations and individuals to nominate or self-apply for the National Leadership in History Awards. A nominee does not have to be an AASLH member to apply and self-nominations are encouraged. 

    AASLH accepts nominations as follows:

    • The Award of Merit is presented to recognize excellence for projects (including civic engagement, special projects, educational programs, exhibits, publications, restoration projects, etc.), and individual achievement.
    • The Award of Distinction is given infrequently and only in recognition of long and very distinguished individual service. Recipients are noted for their contributions to the field of state and local history and are recognized nationally as leaders in the profession. To nominate an individual for this award, please contact Trina Nelson Thomas, national awards chair, by February 1.

    AASLH selects candidates from the Award of Merit nominations for:

    • The Albert B. Corey Award recognizes primarily volunteer-operated historical organizations that best display the qualities of vigor, scholarship, and imagination in their work. Regional chairs may recommend any primarily volunteer organization that is nominated for the Award of Merit. This is an award made at the discretion of the Awards Committee.
    • The Awards Committee also presents the HIP Award, a special additional award for an Award of Merit winner whose nomination is highly inspirational, exhibits exceptional scholarship, and/or is exceedingly entrepreneurial in terms of funding, partnerships, or collaborations, creative problem solving, or unusual project design and inclusiveness. This is an award made at the discretion of the Awards Committee.

    - See more at: http://about.aaslh.org/awards-types-of-awards/#sthash.g5wSYOoi.dpuf

    DEADLINE: Submissions must be received by March 1 of each year. Do not send nominations to the AASLH office. Questions? Contact Bethany Hawkins, AASLH at 615-320-3203 or via email. - See more at: http://about.aaslh.org/awards-submission-process/#sthash.uPyR8Csz.dpuf

  • 17 Jan 2014 10:41 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    The American Alliance of Museums takes pride in recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations who have dedicated themselves to excellence within, and support of, the museum field.  Please note upcoming deadlines for multiple awards in late January & February.  

    Deadline: Jan. 31, 2014

    Recognizes outstanding achievement in the exhibition format from all types of museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and any other types of noncommercial institutions offering exhibitions to the public. 

    John Cotton Dana Award for Leadership 

    Deadline: Feb. 10, 2014

    Recognizes an individual, other than someone working directly with museum education programs, for efforts on behalf of public education and community service.

    Excellence in Resources

    Deadline: Feb. 10, 2014

    The award for published resources recognizes outstanding resources in print or print/multimedia formats.

    Excellence in Programming

    Deadline: Feb. 10, 2014

    This award recognizes exemplary creativity and innovation in museum educational programming.

    Excellence in Practice

    Deadline: Feb. 10, 2014

    This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary service to the public through the practice of education in a museum.

    Sustainability Excellence Award

    Deadline: March 15, 2014

    The purpose of this recognition program is to educate, facilitate, and encourage green practice and to acknowledge and celebrate leaders in environmental sustainability.

    Muse Awards 

    Deadline: April 1, 2014

    Recognizes outstanding achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives or Museums (GLAM) media. Presented to institutions or independent producers who use digital media to enhance the GLAM experience and engage audiences, the Muse awards celebrate scholarship, community, innovation, creativity, education and inclusiveness.

    Competitions

    Publications Competition (Pub Comp)

    The only national, juried competition of its kind, winners are chosen for their overall design excellence, creativity and ability to express an institution’s personality, mission or special features. 

    Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums

    The Brooking competition recognized innovative accomplishments that produced new ways of thinking and seeing within the museum field. Papers described examples of creativity in any aspect of museum operations, from collections, programs and exhibitions to finance, marketing and administrationundefinedor anything in between.

    For more information, visit.

    http://www.aam-us.org/about-us/grants-awards-and-competitions
  • 17 Jan 2014 10:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award

    Society of American Archivists
     (Please excuse cross-postings.)

    The J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award Subcommittee of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for the 2014 award.

    http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-jameson


    Established in 1989, this award honors an individual, institution, or organization that promotes greater public awareness, appreciation, or support of archival activities or programs.  The individual's or institution's contributions may take the form of advocacy, publicity, legislation, financial support, or a similar action that fosters archival work or raises public consciousness of the importance of archival work.  Contributions should have broad, long-term impact at the regional level or beyond. Up to three awards may be given each year.

    Recent Winners:

    2013:  Dr. Warren Stewart

    2012:  Eve Kahn, Bebe Miller, Phillip Stewart

    2011:  “Who Do You Think You Are?” (NBC)

    2010:  The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation

    2009:  Ross King (Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board)

    2008:  Data-Intensive Cyber Environments (DICE)

    Eligibility:Nominees must be from outside the archives profession.  Individuals directly involved in archival work, either as paid or volunteer staff, or institutions or organizations directly responsible for an archival program are not eligible for this award.

    Mailed materials must be postmarked by February 28, 2014 and should be sent to:

    J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award Committee

    Society of American Archivists

    17 North State Street, Suite 1425

    Chicago, IL 60602-4061

    Nominations may be submitted electronically; please see the nomination form for details.  For more information on SAA awards and the nominations process, please go to: http://www.archivists.org/recognition/index.asp

  • 15 Jan 2014 9:10 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Midwest Archives Conference is soliciting applications for the 2014 Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival administration and to encourage ethnic diversification of the MAC membership and of the archival profession as a whole. Two $750 scholarships, accompanied by one-year memberships to MAC, will be awarded. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must be of African, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Latino decent; must be a student currently enrolled in or accepted in a graduate, multicourse program in archival administration; and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in his or her academic program. If the program is not listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education, http://archivists.org/prof-education/edd-index.asp, the applicant must provide proof of the multicourse standard by submitting copies of course descriptions from the institution’s current departmental catalog. Applicants are not required to be residents of or attend school in the MAC region. 

    Applications are available from the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students Committee Chair:

    Alison Stankrauff
    Archivist and Associate Librarian
    Franklin D. Schurz Library
    Indiana University South Bend
    P.O. Box 7111
    South Bend, Indiana 46634
    (574) 520-4392

    And from the MAC Web site, http://www.midwestarchives.org 

    Applications must be postmarked by March 1. 

    Awards will be announced no later than June 1.
  • 14 Jan 2014 6:48 PM | Anonymous member
    Archival Education and Research Institute (AERI) 2014
    University of Pittsburgh

    The Archival Education and Research Institute is now accepting applications from doctoral students and faculty engaged in Archival Studies, broadly conceived, to attend the sixth annual Archival Education and Research Institute (AERI), which will be hosted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences from July 14-18, 2014.

    Funded by two four-year grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, annual week-long Institutes are being hosted by partner institutions. Past institutes were held at UCLA (2009, 2012), the University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2010), Simmons College (2011), and the University of Texas Austin (2013). The future host for AERI will be the University of Maryland College Park (2015). The Institutes are designed to strengthen education and research and support academic cohort-building and mentoring. Institutes are open to all academic faculty and doctoral students working in Archival Studies, both nationally and internationally.

    AERI is also designed to encourage the creation of a larger and more diverse cohort of doctoral students in Archival Studies. The Emerging Archival Scholars Program (2011-2015) provides up to six scholarships to attend AERI 2014 as well as additional mentoring and research opportunities for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels who are considering a doctoral degree in Archival Studies. American citizens and lawful permanent residents are eligible including, but not limited to, persons who are African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, or Puerto Rican, as well as other individuals who can share insights that assist in the diversification of Archival Studies.  Additional funds will be available to support of international students and faculty who wish to attend AERI; these funds are being provided through the generous support of Preservation Technologies, L.P., and the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences (the iSc!
     hool at Pitt).

    The goal of AERI is to advance the field of Archival Studies in the following ways:

    1.      Create a dynamic community of researchers, teachers, and students to help mentor doctoral students and faculty in areas such as thesis preparation, grant writing, publishing, and career development.
    2.      Advance curriculum development in Archival Studies.
    3.      Further current research development through presentations, posters, and workshop activities.
    4.      Foster interest in future collaborations both nationally and internationally.

    AERI 2014 looks forward to a dynamic conference that brings together national and international scholars engaged in Archival Studies. There will be plenaries focusing on everything from the Grand Challenges facing the archival profession to the future of archival work and education. A special feature of AERI 2014 will be the inaugural Bernadette Callery Archives Lecture Series. Bernadette was a beloved colleague who was a faculty member at the iSchool at Pitt and an active and enthusiastic supporter of AERI from its inception. This lecture is funded by a bequest from Bernadette. There are also plans to published selected papers from the conference in cooperation with Litwin Press.

    Applications to present a research paper, poster, or workshop can be accessed at http://aeri.gseis.ucla.edu/2014.html. Additional information about the conference can be found at this website; updates to the conference program and the other activities associated with it will be regularly made as they are finalized.  Deadline to apply to attend the conference and to propose a workshop is February 15, 2014 or to present a poster or paper is March 1, 2014 (please note that the deadlines for these different proposals differ).

    The AERI 2014 Program Committee, Richard J. Cox, Chair

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