It doesn’t seem like a natural match, and after next Monday we might decide it isn’t, but MC & I (Arlene) have volunteered to spend Labor Day at the Alaska State Fair at the UAA booth promoting A&SC and maybe the Consortium Library too. We’ll take along some of our fun exhibit photos, our laptops (they promise wireless access) and the A&SC bookmarks and our business cards.
So why, you might ask? Good question, and don’t think there haven’t been times we’ve asked it of ourselves. But it’s an amazing opportunity to actually get out of the Archives to promote archival holdings: everybody loves cool photographs of Alaska. And maybe by sharing some of what we have, we’ll remind people that archives are there for them too: maybe as researchers, maybe as donors.
And if you want to come along and sit the booth with us, we’ll take volunteers. They’re telling us we have to staff it from 10 am to 10 pm and that’s sounding like a mighty long day at the fair, so we’ll take any help we can get. Or if you’re at the Fair that day and want to stop by to see what we’re advertising, please do!
I think this is a great idea. A lot of outreach programs seem to focus on getting users into archives, which is important, but going to where users are can show them we as archivists *want* to help them find what they need. I’m always surprised (though I suppose I shouldn’t be by now) when people come into the reading room where I work and they seem shocked that we’re open and available for them.
I hope it goes well for you!
Yes, please stop by and visit! We’ll be there from 10 – 10 so we’ll definitely be around!
If I didn’t live in Michigan (or if you were coming to the Michigan State Fair), I’d be there in a heartbeat!