Archives and Records

The ARA Conservation & Preservation Group is sending out a call for papers for a special issue of the ARA journal. This issue will focus on the conservation of archives, encompassing work on books, paper, parchment, seals, maps, plans, photographic materials and audio-visual formats.

We invite submissions from the UK and Overseas for in depth, reflective and comparative case studies, examinations of current and new treatments, research studies, articles on the history of conservation and the physical make-up and storage of archive collections. This is open to all members of the archive
community and anyone who has a responsibility for the care, preservation and conservation of archive, library or museum collections.

We are calling for abstracts for papers covering topics such as, but not
restricted to:

* Advocacy for conservation – engagement and engaging others, using
conservation to promote and improve access to collections.
* Challenges for the profession - difficult decision making and applying ethical principles.
* Working to standards and developing guidelines.
* Managing large scale projects - surveying collections, working with limited resources or volunteers.
* Controlling and monitoring the repository environment – HVAC system shutdowns, integrated pest management.
* New or newly retrofitted archive buildings – professional considerations, studio and repository design, planning the decant with the subsequent recant of collections.
* Managing sustainability in conservation – researching and selecting
sustainable materials, updating and reviewing studio practices to implement improvements.
* Developments in conservation science - identifying and testing materials.
* Conservation issues of collecting and storing audiovisual formats.
* Advances in technology and applying them in a conservation setting including AI, 3D technology and software.
* Conservation for digitisation projects
* Exhibitions and loans - associated conservation procedures and issues.
* Emergency planning & response, reflecting from past incidents.
* Cross disciplinary collaborative working.

Articles should be no more than 8,000 words (including footnotes and references) and written in accordance with the style guide and reference guide (Chicago endnotes and bibliography) provided by Archives and Records. Shorter papers may be considered or authors may be encouraged to collaborate if they submit similar proposals. For an informal discussion about publishing in the special issue,
contact [email protected].

In the first instance, please send a 500 words (maximum) proposal to:
[email protected], by 31 August 2024. Proposals should contain a brief outline of the proposed article, up to five key words, a title and author affiliations.

All submissions will be double-blind peer reviewed prior to acceptance for publication. An invitation to submit an article does not guarantee publication in the final issue. All submissions should be presented in line with the
Archives and Records Instructions for Authors.

Submission deadlines can be found at the top of this page. Invited articles will form the Archives and Records Special Issue, 45-3, due to be published in October 2025.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article