How Legislation Affects Archives or ‘How not to go to Jail’
Dates: April 23 & 24, 2015 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Place: Archives of Ontario, Toronto
(134 Ian Macdonald Boulevard)
*workshop will be held in the George Spragge classroom
In your role as an archivist how many times have you heard “well, it’s the law” or “we are legally required” to do – or not do – something? Many aspects of the operations of archives and the work of archivists are governed to some degree by an array of legislation, both federal and provincial.
It is important for archivists to have an understanding of the nature and scope of the major pieces of legislation that affects their work. This should include awareness of the content of applicable laws, their implications on the work of archivists, and the responsibilities and expectations they place on archives, their staff and patrons. Indeed, it is important to understand to whom a law actually applies and who is ultimately responsible for compliance: the archives as an institution, its sponsor or governing body, its staff or its patrons.
Topics to be covered include:
· Copyright Act
· Access to Information and privacy protection
· Municipal Act
· Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
· Occupational Health and Safety Act
Join your colleagues in this two-day workshop exploring these issues through a mixture of interactive lectures, case studies and small group discussion. While you will not receive specific legal advice (note the less than subtle disclaimer) you will leave with a solid understanding of what these often complicated pieces of legislation mean in practice to you and your work as archivists.
The workshop will be instructed by Archivist, Robin Keirstead.
Paid parking is available. Directions to the location.
Cost: Per workshop $250 + HST for AAO members and $400 + HST for non-members. Minimum participation is 10 for this workshop with a maximum set at 30.
To register, visit the AAO website under the “Learn” section or call the AAO Office at 647.434.3334647.434.3334 .
Please note: If the minimum participant number is not reached the workshop will be cancelled. Registered participants will be contacted by Friday, April 10th, 2015 to confirm the status.
Since 1985 Robin Keirstead has held professional positions with the BC Records Management Branch, the BC Courthouse Library Society, and the Archives of Ontario, and has managed archives and records management programs, with responsibility for freedom of information and privacy, for the Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener. In 2001 he assumed his current role as Western University's first University Archivist. In 2013 he also accepted a one year appointment as Acting University Librarian at Western. Robin has taught archives and records management courses at Simon Fraser University, George Brown College, Mohawk College and Western. In 2006, he received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Part-Time Graduate Teaching from the Faculty of Information and Media Studies at Western. Active in many professional associations, one of his personal highlights was serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council of Archives for five years. In 2010, he received the Alexander Fraser Award from the Archives Association of Ontario in recognition of this contributions to the province's archival and cultural heritage communities.