[SOA] Archival Education and Research Institute 2016: Call for Applications Now Open

[GRACY, KAREN F]

Dear Ohio archives community,

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the eighth annual Archival Education and Research Institute (AERI) will be hosted by the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, USA from July 8 to July 12, 2016. Applications are now being accepted via the AERI 2016 website (http://aeri2016.kent.edu).

The Institute is sponsored by the Archival Education and Research Initiative, which is a collaborative effort amongst academic institutions to support the growth of a new generation of academics in archival and recordkeeping education and research who are versed in contemporary issues and knowledgeable of the work being conducted by colleagues. The initiative seeks to promote state-of-the-art in scholarship in Archival Studies, broadly conceived, as well as to encourage curricular and pedagogical innovation in archival education locally and worldwide  (http://aeri.website).

Some brief notes on the call for participation and logistics for AERI 2016

Expectations of attendees:  AERI welcomes a wide variety of scholars at different stages of their academic and professional careers, including doctoral students at all stages in their programs, faculty and postdoctoral scholars engaged in research and pedagogy in the archival studies field, and practitioners with interests in conducting and publishing research in conceptual, theoretical, and empirical domains. The AERI experience is intensive and immersive for most participants, with expectations that attendees will commit to the full week of activities and be active contributors to the conversation via presentation of current work.  For those who may not be able to attend the full week, we will offer day registration for the first time, with the expectation that even our day registrants will engage with the AERI community via a paper or poster presentation, moderation of a session, or participation in a workshop. Applications for full week registration are now open; day registration will begin on April 15, 2016.

Cost of attendance: Participants of the AERI meeting will pay $350 for the week.  As in the past, this fee will include the cost of dormitory housing, breakfast and lunch, receptions, and the faculty and student dinners that we have typically covered in the past.  Expenses that will be paid separately by the participant will include parking (if needed), optional field trips, dinners on your own (including any mentoring dinner at local Kent restaurants), transportation to/from local airports, and any additional nights at the dormitory beyond the five nights covered by the attendance fee. Day registration fees have not been determined yet, but should be an affordable option as well (the fee will include any receptions on the day of registration, but will not include other meals covered in the full-week registration fee or housing in the dormitory).

Conference facilities: Most AERI sessions will be held in the University Library building, which is also home to the School of Library and Information Science.  Our building features many classrooms, meeting spaces, and places for plenaries and receptions.  And the Library is mere steps away from the Kent Student Center, where you will find the University bookstore, casual dining, and the cafeteria where attendees will have breakfast.

Housing:  Students and faculty will stay on campus at a KSU dormitory, in either singles or shared double rooms with private bathrooms.  Attendees who would prefer more luxurious accommodations are encouraged to look at the Kent State University Hotel, close by in downtown Kent: http://www.kentstatehotel.com.  There will be an option for additional nights at the dormitory before and after the conference for attendees coming from long distances who would like the time to acclimate, or for those who need to stay an additional night due to their flight schedule.

Transportation:  Kent State University is within a day’s drive for many of our AERI attendees coming from U.S. Midwest or Northeast destinations.  For those who will be flying to Ohio, there are two possible airports:  1) Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport and 2) Akron-Canton Regional Airport.  Hopkins will be most convenient for our international travelers and those coming from the West Coast, while Akron-Canton is convenient for those coming from U.S. Eastern and Midwestern destinations.  Because transportation to and from the campus can be quite expensive ($60-75 each way), the School will facilitate shared rides by posting a wiki page that will allow people arriving/departing around the same time to share a cab or private car.

Local dining:  Downtown Kent is currently experiencing a revival, kickstarted by the University’s development of a hotel and conference center in the area.  Kent features numerous restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and shopping destinations (see http://www.mainstreetkent.org) where you can take an opportunity to relax in between sessions and on free evenings.

Field trips:  Exciting destinations, to be confirmed in the new year, which are sure to enrich your AERI experience! On your application, conference organizers may ask you to fill out a preference survey to determine demand for particular destinations such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Western Reserve Historical Society, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in nearby Canton, Ohio).

New in 2016:

• As noted above, AERI will welcome attendees from the professional community by introducing a day registration option.  Meant for those practitioners who wish to engage with the AERI community, but are not able to attend the entire conference, this option will give working archivists with research and pedagogical interests the opportunity to join the AERI conversation!
• Roundtables to gather together attendees in small groups for informal conversations during the conference, with hopes of facilitating new projects and research collaborations on topics of mutual interest.
• An unconference session and lightning talks!

Returning in 2016:

• Inspired by the successful mini-tours of campus libraries and archives held at last year’s AERI, this year will feature several quick opportunities to learn more about Kent State’s Fashion Museum, University Archives and Special Collections, and the May 4 Visitor’s Center.
• Prizes for best paper and poster
• A variety of mentoring opportunities

Watch the website for more details about these opportunities!

Application Timeline

November 16, 2015: Call for participation and submission form available via the AERI 2016 website (aeri2016.kent.edu<http://aeri2016.kent.edu>). Early applications are strongly encouraged!

February 1, 2016: Deadline for receipt of applications

March 15, 2016: Notification of acceptance to attend AERI 2016; registration opens

April 15, 2016:  Registration closes for full week participants; call for participation for day registrants begins

May 1, 2016: Preliminary program posted to AERI 2016 website

June 1, 2016: Final AERI program available on website

AERI 2016 looks forward to a dynamic conference that brings together national and international scholars engaged in Archival Studies. Please send inquiries to kgracy at kent.edu<mailto:kgracy at kent.edu>. Additional information about the conference will be available soon at aeri2016.kent.edu<http://aeri2016.kent.edu>, and will also be distributed via our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/aeri2016/). We also encourage everyone to use the official conference Twitter hashtag (#aeri2016) to communicate their enthusiasm!

Sincerely,

Karen F. Gracy
Program Co-Chair, AERI 2016
Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science, Kent State University
kgracy at kent.edu<mailto:kgracy at kent.edu>

Leisa Gibbons
Program Co-Chair, AERI 2016
Assistant Professor, School of Library and Information Science, Kent State University
lgibbon3 at kent.edu<mailto:lgibbon3 at kent.edu>
***********************************************************

Karen F. Gracy
Associate Professor
School of Library and Information Science
Kent State University
kgracy at kent.edu<mailto:kgracy at kent.edu>


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