Book 3 in the Archival Fundamentals Series III

Kathleen D. Roe is a graduate of Michigan State University (MA history) and Wayne State University (MLS in library science/archival administration). She recently retired from the New York State Archives as director of Archives and Records Management. As president of the Society of American Archivists (2014–2015) she emphasized the importance of archival advocacy through “The Year of Living Dangerously for Archives” initiative. She is a Fellow of SAA and has served on various committees, most recently relating to public policy and advocacy. She is past-president of the Council of State Archivists, where she has been involved in advocacy and federal legislative issues. Roe has written and taught on a range of archival issues, including advocacy and awareness as well as arrangement and description.

FOREWORD: The Evolution of a Book Series . vii
Peter J. Wosh

1 Introduction to Advocacy and Awareness . 1
Advocacy and Awareness Is Fundamental to Archives . 1
Defining Terms . 4
Why Archives Matter . 12

2 Advocacy and Awareness in the “Real World” of Archives . 16
Advocacy and the Creation of Archival Institutions . 17
Awareness and the Archives Profession . . 21
Legislative and Policy Advocacy for Archives and History . 24

3 Developing Goals for Advocacy and Awareness Initiatives . 37
Connecting Advocacy and Awareness Goals to Mission and Strategic Plans . 37
Defining the Purpose and Goal . 38

4 Understanding Audiences, Key Stakeholders, and Supporters . 47
Who Are You Talking To? . 48
Assessing Your Audience, Key Stakeholders, and Supporters.52

5 Developing a Compelling Message . 63
Conveying Your Message Through Stories . . 64
Using Data to Demonstrate the Value of Archives . 67

6 Putting Advocacy and Awareness into Practice . 72
Knowing the Landscape . 73
Who Will Deliver Your Message? . 74
Communicating About Your Efforts . 76
Assessing Progress and Adjusting Your Approach . 86

7 Advocating with Government Officials . 89
Archivists’ Role in Advocating with Government . 89
Preparing to Advocate with Government Officials and Legislators . 90

8 Advocacy and Awareness: Taking the Next Steps . 102
A “To Do” List for Advocacy and Awareness . 102
Finding Your Own Voice . 107
Sources for More Information, Ideas, and Issues . 109
Moving Forward with Archival Advocacy and Awareness . 113

APPENDIXES
A Examples of One-page Peripherals . 115
B The Legislative Process . 121
C SAA Issue Briefs and Policy and Position Statements . 124
D A Checklist for Planning Advocacy or Awareness Initiatives . 128
E Universal Declaration on Archives . 129
BIBLIOGRAPHY . 130

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 143

INDEX . 145