Reference, Access & Outreach Section of the Society of American Archivists

04/25/2025

We are happy to share that the Archives and Primary Sources Handbook is now published and accessible for free here: https://kstatelibraries.pressbooks.pub/primary-resources

A big thank you to the authors and their work!

Book Description: This open-access handbook serves as both a textbook for those interested in learning about handling and using archival and primary source materials, and a guide for educators teaching these skills.

04/13/2022

The Reference, Access, & Outreach section of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for election to the following roles:
• Steering Committee Member-at-Large (2 positions)
2 year commitment
• Vice-chair/Chair-elect
3 year commitment

All roles begin at the conclusion of the 2022 Annual Meeting. Nominations can be made via our 2022 Nominations Form by the end of the business day on May 20, 2022. For more information and details on roles and responsibilities you can review the section’s Standing Rules, or reach out to Immediate Past Chair, Marissa Vassari ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns. Thank you!

Nominations Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4Asf1VVqT_fiRG8cKQ6AZ7InvIZY3chZtj0V-0A2E3OsZcA/viewform

Standing Rules for RAO: https://www2.archivists.org/groups/reference-access-and-outreach-section/standing-rules

12/06/2021

Seventy years after ground was broken on Wake’s Reynolda campus, today we are taking a stroll through the buildings and grounds history and the records held in the University Archives courtesy of student assistant Immanuel Eggers. As most in the Wake Forest community know, this University and camp...

05/04/2021

RAO is asking for submissions from individuals interested in presenting at our annual Marketplace of Ideas, which will take place in conjunction with the RAO section Business Meeting on Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm CDT.

Since we will be meeting remotely, the Marketplace of Ideas will be a panel discussion. Each panelist will have 15 minutes to discuss their project/topic, with 5 minutes at the end for questions and discussion. Please submit your application using the Google form by June 1, 2021 if you are interested in applying.

04/30/2021

The Reference, Access, & Outreach section of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for election to the following roles:

Steering Committee Member-at-Large (2 positions)
2 year commitment
Vice-chair/Chair-elect
3 year commitment

All roles begin at the conclusion of the 2021 SAA Annual Meeting. Nominations can be made via our 2021 Nominations Form by the end of the business day on May 14, 2021: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHZWV1rEPcnjGh3C1n-wD5cZ64EpJtXA7bse-CWkxqyH08Cg/viewform.

For more information and details on roles and responsibilities you can review the section’s Standing Rules (https://www2.archivists.org/groups/reference-access-and-outreach-section/standing-rules), or reach out to Immediate Past Chair, Julie M. Porterfield, [email protected], with any questions or concerns. Thank you!

Society of American Archivists

04/27/2021

Thank you to those who attended the RAO Community Call today. Unfortunately, early on, the call experienced a Zoom bombing. We are glad the meeting was able to resume and are looking into how we can ensure the next meeting is more secure. Thank you for your understanding.

04/20/2021

Good morning, all - our second RAO Community Call is coming up next Tuesday, April 27, from 1:30-3:00 Eastern.

The call will start with brief updates about reference services during the pandemic from the following presenters, before opening the floor to discussion:

Sandra A. Varry, Heritage & University Archivist
Florida State University Libraries

Robert Rubero, Pepper Library Archivist
Claude Pepper Library

Michele Beckerman, Assistant Director for Reference
Rockefeller Archive Center

Susan McElrath, Head of Bancroft Public Services
University of California, Berkeley

Blair Hollender, MLIS, Research Services and Exhibitions Specialist
University of Arkansas Special Collections

If you would like to join the call, please register in advance using the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcuqgrz0oG9YLlRLdryAWRFQqj24Bz2Zb?fbclid=IwAR231xcvtU1suzti_UYMlynIhJXAn9tJLdgABnE08oeH94rHzK__3uB8ZrU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

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02/22/2021

Save the date for the next RAO Community Call on Tuesday, April 27 from 1:30-3:00 Eastern time. The call will focus on how the RAO community has been performing reference work during this time of varied work environments. We hope this call will allow members to share challenges and successes, whether you are working remotely, in a hybrid model, or fully back in the reading room.

We are also looking for 3 individuals, each to talk about one reference situation: remote only, hybrid, or all on-site and the adjustments that you've made to your pre-pandemic procedures/access policies. If you are interested in being spotlighted, please email Marissa Vassari ([email protected]) by March 30 and we will contact those interested to determine presentation length.

If you would like to join the call, please register in advance using the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpcuqgrz0oG9YLlRLdryAWRFQqj24Bz2Zb

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: RAO Community Call #2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

11/17/2020

Thanks to those who participated in the Community Call last week! Please consider filling out our feedback form, even if you did not attend. The responses will help us plan additional Community Calls and be receptive to the needs of RAO members:

10/29/2020

You're invited to the first RAO Section Community Call on Tuesday, November 10 at 12:30 pm Eastern time.

The RAO Section is organizing a Community Call to encourage discussion and support among SAA members. The focus of this Community Call will be on how the RAO community has been doing reference and outreach during this time of varied work environments. We hope this call will allow members to share challenges and successes, whether you are working remotely, in a hybrid model, or fully back in the reading room.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 10 from 12:30pm – 2pm EST. Feel free to drop in and stay as long as you’d like.

We ask that those interested please register using the Zoom link below.

We hope to see you!

Meeting Registration:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Nov 10, 2020 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqde-vqzMiGtAUE6jAYqoOZvK24-0HWkyT

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Tentative Agenda:
12:30: Introductions
12:40: Breakout rooms based on work environment: hybrid/remote/open
1:10: Open discussion: How have you been doing reference access and outreach? Challenges and successes discussion
1:40: Wrap-up/Google Form for feedback

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: RAO Community Call . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

10/15/2020

The Teaching with Primary Sources committee of the Reference, Access, and Outreach section of SAA invites you to take a short, anonymous survey about the type of instruction that you create at your institution, and the ways in which the TPS committee can support your professional development in regard to instruction: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9baSw6R2xncMZ-nhzgdGpcE1QXRVMpt11ZJj-rNHfMvM_Rg/viewform

Please complete the survey by Friday, November 6th. If you would like to volunteer to be a member of the TPS committee, please include your preferred email address at the end of the survey.