The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries will be hosting the following webinars in April and May, please register!
Thursday, April 15, 2021: 3:00-4:30 PM EDT
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6572276192333170443
On These Grounds – Developing an Event Ontology and Resources for Describing Enslaved Lives
The Mellon-funded "On These Grounds" project seeks to create a standard archival approach to describe the lived experiences of enslaved individuals. The project focuses on institutions of higher education and documentation held within the archival holdings of those institutions. Project partners (Georgetown University, Michigan State University, and University of Virginia) are developing a linked open data ontology and a set of resources to share with other colleges and universities. The project aim is to increase the discoverability of information about enslaved persons through standard descriptions and templates, and to foster new scholarship on the lived experiences of enslaved persons who labored in the service of higher education. During this webinar, project partners will share their experiences with metadata challenges and opportunities involved in this endeavor, the technological tasks of building a linked open data model, the planned testing of the model, and the important opportunity for participating in the project. In addition, the partners will discuss the context for the project and the role of the Universities Studying Slavery consortium as a centering entity.
Monday, April 26, 2021: 2:00-3:30 PM EDT
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8302929485304136204
Meet Anthony Smith - IMLS Associate Deputy Director
Grab some coffee, tea and refreshments and join us for an interactive discussion with Anthony Smith. Anthony will talk about his life leading up to his current position, along with an insider look at what we should expect from the agency in terms of priorities and their commitment to DEI related initiatives. Anthony D. Smith is the Associate Deputy Director for Discretionary Programs in the Office of Library Services at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). He provides oversight of grant programs including, Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program, National Leadership Grants for Libraries, and Native American Library Services grants.
Sample Questions Include:
You just completed your first year back at IMLS as the Associate Deputy Director for Discretionary Grant programs. What has that experience been like for you?
What are the funding priorities at the moment for IMLS?
How has COVID-19 impacted priorities and what's new due to the impact of the pandemic or as a result of any strategic thinking by the agency?
Last year, IMLS received stimulus funds known as Cares Act, to support libraries and museums. Can you talk a bit about how those funds were used and the impact?
This year, IMLS received a larger appropriation of stimulus money and through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). What should we know about these new funds?
What is the IMLS position on diversity, equity and inclusion?
Can you give us an idea of the types of projects IMLS has funded in support of DEI in recent years?
May 12, 2021: 2:00-3:30 PM EDT
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/834439579093121295
Universities Studying Slavery (USS): Multi-Institutional Collaboration (Info and Updates)
The Universities Studying Slavery (USS) consortium, created and led by the University of Virginia, currently includes 78 institutions who are committed to research, acknowledgment, and atonement regarding institutional ties to the slave trade, to enslavement on campus or abroad, and to enduring racism in school history and practice. USS hosts semi-annual meetings to discuss strategies, collaborate on research, and learn from one another. The next conference is scheduled to be co-hosted by Guilford College, Greensboro, NC and Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, in Spring 2022. This webinar will include an update about USS and the 2022 conference planning provided by a representative from the conference planning committee. Institutional project updates for North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Wake Forest University, and the College of William & Mary will follow.
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Tanya Zanish-Belcher
Director of Special Collections and Archives
Wake Forest University
Winston Salem NC
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