Blog and Newsletter

Help us advocate for cultural institutions in Maine by contributing data about the impact your organization made in 2023. This survey will remain open until January 5, 2024.

Museums, historical societies, archives, and other cultural institutions are not one-size-fits-all, so please fill out any relevant sections of the survey and skip those that are not applicable. We will compile the data into a statewide impact statement to share with community members, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Please also mark your calendar for Cultural Advocacy Day, which will be held at the State House on March 5, 2024 from 1-4pm.

If you have any questions, contact MAM's Advocacy Committee by emailing: greta.schroeder@bangorpubliclibrary.org

Thank you for your input!

Click here to take the Survey!

The Wabanaki Voices Speaker Series continues with a discussion on tribal sovereignty led by Ambassador Maulian Bryant and Darren Ranco. They will share the history of the issue and potential detailed changes that sovereignty would bring.

Tuesday, November 21 at 7pm at the Margaret Chase Smith Library, 56 Norridgewock Ave, Skowhegan.

Or, join via Zoom.  Register here. 

Ranco, a Penobscot Tribal member, is an associate professor of anthropology and coordinator of Native American research at the University of Maine at Orono. Ambassador Maulian Dana Bryant was appointed by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis in September 2017. As Ambassador, Maulian is responsible to act as a representative of the Penobscot Nation and to serve as a liaison for the Nation at the local, state and federal levels of government to educate and advocate for policy and laws that impact and protect the Penobscot Nation's sovereignty, culture, natural resources and the general welfare of the Penobscot people.

Sponsored by Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center.

The call for proposals deadline for the 2024 BitCurator Forum has been EXTENDED! 

We welcome submissions through November 21, 2023. Submit proposals using the online form.

Please note that the 2024 Forum will be virtual. We encourage in-person satellite events to be organized in conjunction with the virtual forum, see below for more information.   

*[Kari Smith would like to join with MAM members about hosting a Satellite event in Maine.  pls. contact me if you are interested.]*

The BitCurator Consortium (BCC) invites proposals for the 2024 BitCurator Forum to be held virtually the week of March 18-22, 2024 (final dates TBD). An international, community-led organization with 39 member organizations representing 53 institutions, the BCC promotes and supports the application of free and open-source digital archives tools and practices in libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage organizations.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the BitCurator Consortium. As we take a moment to celebrate our achievements from the past 10 years, we also take a step back to reflect on our journey so far.

• How have things changed?

• Lessons learned?

• Where do we go from here?

The Forum Committee welcomes participation from organizations and individuals working outside of academic and special collections libraries and archives, members from BIPOC communities, students, and new professionals.

The BitCurator Forum Committee has created a Google spreadsheet to be used as an informal tool to connect folks who are seeking ideas and/or collaboration on session proposals for the 2024 Forum.

For more information, see the Call for Proposals page on our website.

On Behalf of the BitCurator Program Committee

Kari R. Smith
Digital Archivist and Founder, Global Archivist LLC
Kari@Globlarchivist.com | GlobalArchivist@gmail.comSchedule a meeting with me here

Our hearts go out to all Mainers affected by the tragedy in Lewiston last night.  We are holding space for our members who have and will be impacted by this awful event.

Dear Maine Colleagues,

Hurricane Lee is forecast to approach the coast of New England Friday as a large hurricane. Hurricane conditions are possible in portions of Downeast Maine beginning Saturday. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches across New England are expected beginning Friday night through Saturday night, producing potential localized urban and small stream flooding.

Please share the following resources with your members and constituents in Maine:

•  Monitor the storm via the National Hurricane Center and the Maine Emergency Management Agency. 
• Review and share these HENTF Hurricane Preparedness Tips for cultural institutions, artists, and arts organizations. Customize your preparedness messaging using this Word document.
• Visit FEMA’s Ready.gov for information on preparing for, staying safe during, and returning home following a hurricane.

•  

 

Although many of you may not feel the full impact of the storm, please be prepared to help those who will. And please stay safe!

Lori

Lori Foley

Coordinator | Heritage Emergency National Task Force

Office of Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation

Resilience

Mobile: (202) 826-6303

lori.foley@fema.dhs.gov

fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency

fema.gov

         

For folks planning to attend the MAM conference October 12-13 in person, discover the spreadsheet to share carpooling information, also linked under Transportation in "show details" section of the conference website.  Thanks for MAM program planners for making this tool available!

Hello Colleagues -- 

I am working with an historical society that is just getting their collections housed and described.  There is a small budget for supplies, and I'm hoping to supplement it with donations. If you have gently used cartons, records boxes, folders, book rests, or other supplies such as object cartons we will surely appreciate them!  If you do and can spare them, I am located in Mid-Coast and can drive to pick them up.  Or we can do a meet up at the MAM Conference in October. 

Very sincerely!  Kari Smith, Global Archivist LLC.  

Maine Archives and Museums is pleased to announce that Tia Doering is our new Administrative Coordinator.  Tia worked in donor relations at the Portland Museum of Art and currently is an assistant clerk with the State of Maine Judicial Branch.  The hiring committee was impressed with her energy and attention to detail.

The Board of MAM has split the traditional Executive Director position into two parts.  Tia’s charge is to run the administrative side of the operations.  When you email info@mainemuseums.org, Tia will be the one responding to your inquiries about MAM day to day operations, such as membership renewals or registrations for programming and conferences.  Although she will be behind the scenes for the most part, her diligence will be felt in the smooth operations of MAM.

Maine Archives and Museums is pleased to announce that Judy Ashby is our new Executive Director.  Judy was Bangor Public Library’s Head of Reference Services Department, and has worked in New York as a public school library media specialist, and regional school library system administrator.  The hiring committee was impressed with her energy, confidence, and enthusiasm to lead MAM into its next chapter of serving the collecting institutions of Maine.

The Board of MAM has split the traditional Executive Director position into two parts.  Judy’s charge is to be the visionary for the organization.  As MAM seeks to support our members in the archival, museum, and collecting community, Judy will create ties between and with members,  nurture a robust continuing education program, and represent our members’ interests to the broader society.  You will be hearing more from her at our annual MAM Conference and Annual Meeting in October, through our newsletters, and in personal communication.  Judy can be contacted via email at: executivedirector@mainemuseums.org

Maine Historical Society will be presenting its 2023 Maine History Maker Award to Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. for his immense contributions to Maine and the preservation of Maine history. The Award will be presented during a special evening at Hannaford Hall at the University of Southern Maine in Portland on Tuesday, May 16, 5-8pm.

Through his 40-year tenure as Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and as Maine State Historian, Earle has worked tirelessly with communities in every corner of the state to support the preservation, sharing, and celebration of their stories—the stories of Maine people, communities, and ways of life. Earle cherishes his relationships with local historical organizations, and I know that countless friends, colleagues, and admirers across Maine are deeply appreciative of his efforts.

Maine Historical Society invites you to join in on May 16 to celebrate and say thank you to Earle for all that he does for Maine.

We hope that you will consider:

• Forwarding this invitation to members of your community
• Joining us as an organizational sponsor. We have created a special sponsorship category for Maine historical societies and libraries that includes discounted sponsorship and tickets.