The Programme commisssion (PCOM) has contributed vastly to the ALA-ICA Annual Conference’s professional programme in Mexico City. The variety of workshops and overall programme in this year’s Conference is impressive.
During its meeting in Archivo General de la Nation PCOM reviewed the finances from 2017, and its allocation of 200 000 euros. This year was marked by the natural disasters that effected archives in the Caribbean and Mexico. PCOM has aided the disaster areas. The ICA needs to build a clear structure and mechanisms to manage these procedures in the future.
The PCOM then heard about the overall structure of the the Strategic Plan, with its goals and initiatives for the period 2018-2020. The plan proposes to keep the same strategic goals that were already in effect. However, it was noted that the development of the ICA’s strategy as a whole will eventually have on impact on PCOM’s strategy. PCOM voted to approve the Strategic Plan 2018-2020.
The film to introduce what was done all around the world for the International Archives Day 2017 was shared with PCOM and is now available on the ICA Youtube Channel. Be inspired for the IAD 2018 and send your plans by February to the ICA Secretariat to add it to the International Interactive Map.
Programme Officer Jessica Squires gave a report on PCOM Projects and a project register extract was presented. The extract is from a full project register available to PCOM members that shows all projects from 2015 onwards, making it easy to follow to input and outcome of the projects funded. PCOM expressed keen interest in receiving a clearer picture of the status of the budget throughout the year.
James Lowry from the Africa Programme pointed out the need to have more collaboration with the francophone countries of the continent. The cooperation with ICCROM has proved to be very beneficial as they have trained African archivists in audiovisual archiving.
There are six New Professionals participating in the Programme this year as well as several mini-bursary holders from Latin American countries. A new feature introduced this year is a conference buddy who may well become a mentor for the New Professional for the following year. It is evident that more diversity is needed in the New Professionals selection process and the Programme is introducing new tools for this.
On the Training Programme, Margaret Crockett reported that the now-concluded ICA membership survey highlighted the need to develop high level training modules since the majority of the respondents already have advanced skills in their profession. Top of the list according to the survey was that digital record keeping as well as digitisation were of interest to the members as educational themes.
PCOM learned that a functional e-learning management system is being prepared and the initiation of an online learning system is in progress. Next step will be implementing the learning system.
PCOM will meet next in Vincennes, France during the week of 17 April 2018.