[SOA] Call for Proposals - Archives for All: Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity

[Emily Gainer]

Society of Ohio Archivists (SOA) Annual Meeting, May 16-17, 2024

The Society of Ohio Archivists is planning a hybrid Annual Meeting on Thursday (virtual only) and Friday (hybrid), May 16-17, 2024. The in-person portion of the conference (Friday, May 17) will be held at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio.

This year, we welcome proposals that explore the theme of Archives for All: Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity. We encourage presentations that address any one (or more) of the definitions of accessible:

ac·ces·si·ble
adjective
/əkˈsesəb(ə)l/

  *   (of a place) able to be reached or entered;
  *   Able to be easily obtained or used;
  *   able to be reached, entered, or used by people who have a disability;
  *   easily understood or appreciated.
  *   (of a person, typically one in a position of authority or importance) friendly and easy to talk to; approachable.

Proposals may provide specific workflows as well as examples of

  *   How we can make our physical spaces, collections, finding aids (and other descriptive tools) more accessible; or
  *   How we can make ourselves as archival professionals more accessible to our constituents; or
  *   How we can plan public programs and professional development opportunities with accessibility in mind.


Proposals will be evaluated on interest, creativity, relevance, diversity of content and speaker representation, and completeness of proposal. The Educational Program Committee also encourages proposals from students, new professionals, first-time presenters and attendees, individuals from related professions, as well as those from outside the state of Ohio. Deadline to submit proposals: Friday, January 26, 2024 at 5 pm.



Proposals must include:

  *   Session title and type;
  *   Preference (if any) for an in-person or virtual session;
  *   Abstract (250 words) describing the session/poster and how it will be of interest to SOA attendees, how it relates to this year’s theme, and how presenters will engage with participants;
  *   Session description (150 words) for the program;
  *   Contact information for the primary presenter and any other participants;
  *   A/V or technology requirements; and
  *   Any additional special needs.

The Program Committee encourages proposals of panel sessions, student and professional posters, as well as alternative formats such as a debate, fish bowl, lightning, mini-workshop, pecha kucha, world café, and other session formats that encourage interaction between presenters and attendees. Please see the proposal form<https://forms.gle/GQFrCokn7am79PdL6> for more detailed information about alternative sessions.  Please complete the proposal form by January 26, 2024, at https://forms.gle/GQFrCokn7am79PdL6.

Further meeting details will be posted on the meeting website<http://www.ohioarchivists.org/annual_conference/> as they develop.

Questions? Please contact Sara Mouch<mailto:Sara.Mouch at utoledo.edu> or Michelle Sweetser<mailto:msweets at bgsu.edu>, Co-Chairs, Society of Ohio Archivists Educational Programming Committee.

Follow the conversation online at #soaam24
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