Helping caretakers of Los Angeles related archival materials make informed decisions about their collections by providing approachable guidance.
The Archives at Risk Committee (AARC) is engaged in creating support resources for LAAS member archives needing, anticipating, or facing change - before any of these changes become an archives emergency. The committee’s current core mission is to run a collection self-assessment program and provide an online “Help Desk” style FAQ aimed at helping caretakers of Los Angeles related archival materials make their own informed decisions. At the end of the self-assessment program, and after meeting with committee members, each participating archive receives a final report offering a “roadmap” to help them move forward. The program is a great way for collection stewards to take a pulse check and have a “second set of eyes” assess their archive.
Current Committee Members:
- Stella Castillo
- Mallory Furnier
- Suzi Noruschat
- Olivia Radbill
- Hilary Swett
- Holli Teltoe
- Julie Yamashita
Previous Committee Members:
- Crystal Johnson
- Jackie Zak
- Anitra Bishop
- Michele Fricke
Self-Assessment Program FAQ
Is this a grant-funded program?
No, the Archives At Risk Committee's (AARC) Self-Assessment Program is not attached to any funding, grant monies or otherwise. Committee members are 100% volunteer archivists with a variety of different backgrounds and experience. What we have in common is an interest in how we can use our archival perspectives and experiences to help LAAS community members remain sustainable and make their own well-informed archival decisions over a long-term period.
Will my self-assessment information be shared?
No, information provided to the AARC remains within the Committee. No information will be shared (including the identification of participants), unless an Archive explictly gives the AARC permission.
How many Archives can participate each year?
This is dependent on how many Committee members we have, but so far we've had ~3 Archives participate each year.
What does participation in the Self-Assessment Program look like?
The Program currently runs annually. Here is an example timeline for how participation might look for a future year:
January-February: Program participant recruitment and onboarding
March: AARC representatives and participants sign a Memo of Understanding
April: Archives complete a 2.5 page self-assessment survey
May: AARC site visit or virtual meeting with Archives
June/July: AARC provides an initial recommendation report to make sure archival issues of concern are being addressed
October: AARC provides final recommendation report based on Archive's feedback and Archives complete very brief feedback survey to make sure program is meeting needs
How long has the Self-Assessment Program run?
The program first ran as a pilot in 2022. We hope to continue it as long as it's still useful.
What's next?
The AARC is interested in holding annual Self-Assessment Program participant cohort meetings and/or holding check-in meetings with previous year participants.
To get in touch with the Committee, please contact Mallory Furnier (email).