The following guidelines are intended to lead the efforts of ARCC’s dedicated working groups. To learn more about the working groups, including how you can help, please visit: https://archivalrcc.org/working-groups.
ARCC Working Group Guidelines
Principles of Working Groups
- Goals should reflect the three principles outlined in the Boston College working document.
- Care should be taken to listen to the needs of the constituencies involved. How can issues be best solved and the constituencies served?
- Working group initiation can be originated independently by individuals associated with ARCC.
Working Group Committee Membership
- The steering committee nominates a person to be chair.
- The chair is responsible for inviting members or soliciting members to be part of the committee.
- The chair sets agendas, leads meetings and provides updates to the Steering Committee.
- Committees should number 3-8 individuals drawn from leaders, archivists, and/or scholars.
- Members serve for a period of one year and commit to monthly meetings and the spirit of membership in a “working committee.”
Developing a Charge
- Three to five sentence statement that identifies the issue and scope of the committee’s work.
- Identify the audience and stakeholders.
- Ascertain elements and values central to the discussion.
Identify an issue that needs formal attention or guidelines. Different options include:
- Review material from Boston College conference.
- Create an online survey to identify issues to be considered in developing a charge.
- Submit a query to the ARCC’s Google Group.
- Set two to three modest goals.
- Identify deliverables (report, guidelines, educational tool, statement, ongoing committee work (i.e. taxonomy).
Completion
- Vet the product/deliverable with the ARCC members and steering committee. Solicit comments and adjust as appropriate.
- Post product/deliverable on the ARCC website and share with other professional associations.
- After receiving feedback on the final product, determine if amending the document or process is warranted.
- Group can determine if committee’s work should be retired or how the committee’s role and charge may be adjusted.
Visibility
- Each group will consult the Web and Social Media Committee to discern the best way to have individuals provide input, check on progress of group, or share final product.
- Communication is central to the success of the committee’s work. The working group should utilize the ARCC Google Group, other listservs, outreach to partner organizations, and other communication channels to share work and invite comments.
We’re sure your experience and interest fits at least one of the Working Groups. Please join today by emailing your interest to the ARCC Steering Committee Coordinator, Malachy McCarthy, at archivalrcc@gmail.com.