The CNSA’s Digital Capacity Survey will help us understand members’ digital skills and the resources available to care for digital records. Your answers will guide new education, training, and services that respond to members’ needs and level of digital literacy. They will also help strengthen CNSA’s advocacy for greater support for archives in Nova Scotia.

Why your participation matters

Whether born-digital or digitized, digital records require ongoing care to remain usable and accessible. Caring for them requires different skills and resources than caring for physical records, to prevent file corruption, loss of context, and accidental deletion. 

The CNSA wants to understand what members already know about digital preservation, what you are doing, where your challenges lie, and what would help you build your digital capacity.

You do not need digital preservation experience to fill out the survey – far from it. Whether you’re already managing digital collections, just getting started, or unsure where to begin, your answers are valuable. In fact, understanding gaps in knowledge and resources across our membership will allow us to tailor digital preservation supports to your actual needs.

The survey results will also give the CNSA current information about archives’ staffing, funding, and infrastructure, which will strengthen our advocacy to policymakers and funders for increased support for archives in Nova Scotia.

Who should participate, and how long will it take?

All members: approx. 10 minutes total

We invite Individual and Student members, as well as staff and volunteers at member institutions, to complete the digital literacy portion of the survey. You are welcome to participate whether or not you currently work with digital records. The questions in this part of the survey are simply about your comfort levels with various types of technology and apps. 

All members, including staff and volunteers at member organizations, are encouraged to complete the digital literacy portion. The more responses we have the better! Please share the survey link with staff and volunteers at your institution.

One designated respondent per member institution: approx. 30–45 minutes total

Please choose one person from your organization to complete the full survey. In addition to the digital literacy portion, designated respondents will answer questions about your archives’ budget, staffing, and digital infrastructure, plus the size and scope of your digital collections. 

You can complete the survey in stages, saving your progress and returning later. Ideally, your designated respondent will be the person most familiar with your digital collections and the resources available to care for them. 

How will your responses be used?

Individual survey responses will be used internally by CNSA and will not be made public. Any findings or data shared publicly, including for advocacy, will be anonymized so that individual respondents and organizations cannot be identified.

Have questions or need help?

If you have questions or need help understanding or answering any part of the survey, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for helping us help you!

The post Digital Capacity Survey: Help shape the CNSA’s training and services appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

When: Every Tuesday & Thursday evening between October 13 and 29, from 6:00–8:00 pm (Atlantic)

Where: Online via Zoom & Google Classroom

Instructors: Kim Maguire, a trained conservator and the former Archives Advisor for the Council of Archives New Brunswick, and Sharon Murray, the CNSA’s Archives Advisor

Course Description

The principles of preservation management dictate that an archivist must first assess, then plan, and only then act. This course will instruct participants in the basics of archival preservation including appropriate care and handling of archival material, agents of deterioration, appropriate storage environments and enclosures, and preservation of digital records (new!).

This course is part of the CNSA Archival Certificate Program. Those enrolled in the program will need to complete an assignment at the end of the course to demonstrate their comprehension of the course content.

Learning Method

This course is taught synchronously online across six 2-hour evening sessions. Learning is done through a combination of in-class lectures, personal reading, and exercises both in-class and as homework.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Archives or experience working in an archive.

Instructors

Kim Maguire (she/her) has been working in the GLAM sector since 2013 with most of that time at the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick and the Council of Archives New Brunswick. Her focus has been on archival preservation and conservation including educating small archives and museums on what they can do to protect their collections. Kim lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is an avid reading and cat lover.

Cost

CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member rates:

• $120 for an employee/volunteer from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization, or an Individual or Student member
• $100 per person for 2-4 employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization
• $75 per person for 5+ employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization

Non-member rate: $170 per person (or join the CNSA here and unlock the member rates!)

Registration

Registration is now closed.

The post Introduction to Preservation for Archives, Oct. 2026, EVENINGS appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

In her first year as Digital Archives Coordinator, Rohini will focus on:

• Assisting members with MemoryNS and helping strengthen its use across the province
• Conducting a jurisdictional scan of members’ digital capacity
• Advising members on preserving digital collections
• Planning digital preservation training, resources, and services
• We think you’ll find Rohini a warm, capable, and collaborative addition to the CNSA team, and we’re looking forward to the energy she’ll bring to MemoryNS and our digital supports for members!

Please join us in welcoming Rohini to the CNSA!

The post The CNSA’s new Digital Archives Coordinator! appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in strengthening digital archival services and capacity across Nova Scotia. The successful candidate will focus on three main areas:

• MemoryNS Support and Development – serving as primary administrator for the CNSA’s province-wide collective archival database, supporting member institutions, and developing training and learning resources;
• Digital Capacity Assessment and Planning – working with the CNSA’s Born Digital Working Group to assess member digital needs and help shape future CNSA digital services, education, and training; and,
• Digital Preservation Advisory Services – providing guidance to member institutions on digital preservation, born-digital records management, and digital stewardship practices

The position is remote, with a preference for candidates based in Nova Scotia. The CNSA intends to pursue funding to expand the role to full-time in future years.

Candidates should have a degree in Archival, Library, and/or Information Studies (or equivalent), experience in an archival setting, and working knowledge of AtoM, archival descriptive standards, and digital preservation best practices.

Application deadline: June 30, 2026.

Questions about the position and applications should be emailed to the CNSA’s Archives Advisor, Sharon Murray: advisor[at]councilofnsarchives.ca.

The post We’re Hiring: Digital Archives Coordinator appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

The Vice President and Secretary are important leadership roles within the CNSA Executive Committee, and we encourage expressions of interest from members who want to help support the archival community in Nova Scotia, especially in this challenging time.

The CNSA Executive Committee consists of seven officers: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and three Members-at-Large. Together, the Executive provides leadership to the organization, supports staff, and oversees CNSA activities, including advocacy, education, preservation services, member engagement, and collaboration across the archival sector.

About the Vice-President role

The Vice-President serves a two-year term and then succeeds to the role of President. This position is well suited to someone interested in helping guide the organization’s strategic direction and preparing for a future leadership role.

Key responsibilities include:

• attending all Executive Committee meetings and the AGM, and acting in place of the President when required;
• participating in major decisions about CNSA activities, programs, policies, procedures, and funding;
• assisting the President with advocacy priorities, sector positioning, and official communications as needed;
• leading Executive recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning in 2027 and 2028;
• preparing the slate of candidates and chairing the election of Executive Committee members at the 2027 and 2028 AGMs; and
• assisting with oversight of permanent staff as a secondary supervisor.

About the Secretary role

The Secretary serves a two-year term, renewable for one additional two-year term. This role is ideal for someone who is organized, attentive to detail, and interested in governance, documentation, and records management.

Key responsibilities include:

• attending all Executive Committee meetings and the AGM;
• assisting with meeting agendas and circulating meeting notices and materials;
• recording and circulating minutes for Executive meetings and the AGM;
• supporting transparency and accountability through accurate governance documentation;
• overseeing governance documents such as bylaws, policies, and the governance manual, including coordinating periodic review; and
• overseeing records management practices, deposits at the Nova Scotia Archives, and approval of records for destruction.

About serving on the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee meets monthly on Zoom, typically on the third Friday morning of the month. The team breaks for the summer in July and August.

All Executive Committee members contribute to the governance and strategic leadership of the CNSA. This includes participating in planning, supporting accountability to members, contributing to recruitment and succession planning, and helping advance the organization’s mandate to promote archives and archival work across Nova Scotia.

Serving on the Executive is an opportunity to:

• contribute to the strength and sustainability of the archival sector in Nova Scotia;
• support professional development, preservation, and access initiatives;
• help shape advocacy and collaboration across the province; and
• work closely with a committed group of colleagues supporting the CNSA’s mission.

Want to learning more or put your name forward?

If you are interested in either the Vice-President or Secretary position, please contact Sharon or Hansel Cook by or before May 8.

We also welcome informal conversations with members who would like to learn more about the roles before putting their names forward. Please don’t hesitate to reach!

The post Call for Nominations: Vice-President and Secretary appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

Course Dates: Every Monday afternoon from October 19 to November 23, 1:00–3:00 pm (Atlantic)

Where: Online via Zoom & Google Classroom

Instructor: Sharon Murray, CNSA’s Archives Advisor

Course Description

Providing effective access and reference services are essential to any archives. This course offers practical knowledge and examples of providing access in archives, covering topics such as access policies, reference interviews, digitization best practices, copyright and other reproduction restrictions, social media, professional ethics, dealing with sensitive material in your holdings, security concerns, and collecting statistics on use. Considering outreach as an extension of access, this course also offers strategies for building public awareness of your archives and how best to serve your community.

This course is part of the CNSA Archival Certificate Program. Those enrolled in the program will need to complete an assignment at the end of the course to demonstrate their comprehension of the course content.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Archives or experience working in an archive.

Cost

CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member rates:

• $120 for an employee/volunteer from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization, or an Individual or Student member
• $100 per person for 2-4 employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization
• $75 per person for 5+ employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization

Non-member rate: $170 per person (or join the CNSA here to get the member rates!)

Registration

Sorry. This form is no longer available.

The post Access, Reference, and Outreach, Oct–Nov 2026 appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

Course Dates: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon from June 15 to June 26, from 1:00–3:00 PM (Atlantic)

Where: Online via Zoom & Google Classroom

Instructor: Sharon Murray, CNSA’s Archives Advisor

Course Description

Introduction to Archives provides an overview of archives and archival practice. By the end of the course, participants should be able to distinguish archival records from other types of records, recognize common risks to preserving archival materials, know what a fonds is an how it’s organized, plus have a basic understanding of the seven core archival functions: acquisition, accessioning, appraisal, arrangement, description, and access & reference.

This course is part of the CNSA Archival Certificate Program. Anyone wishing to enrol in the program will need to complete an assignment at the end of the course to demonstrate their comprehension of the course content.

Learning Method

This course is taught online across four half-day sessions. Learning is done through a combination of lectures, personal reading, and practical exercises.

Prerequisites

An interest in archives!

Cost

CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member rates:

• $120 for an employee/volunteer from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization, or an Individual or Student member
• $100 per person for 2-4 employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization
• $75 per person for 5+ employees/volunteers from a CNSA/CANB/ACPEI member-organization

Non-member rate: $170 per person (or join the CNSA here to get the member rate!)

Registration

The post Introduction to Archives, June 2026 appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

The NEW Award

We are excited to introduce an award that recognizes archival projects that have creatively worked with community members and/or community organizations. This may include initiatives that have ventured off-site, actively bringing the archives alive in the community. 

Now more than ever, it is important to recognize the positive impact that archives have on the well-being of the people who visit and support you. We can’t wait to hear about your projects that have connected and educated your local communities, while preserving archival holdings and making them accessible!

Help us name the Outreach Award!

We would love your suggestions for a name for the Outreach Award! Is there a person your archive would like to honour for their community service? Someone who has dedicated years to developing archival outreach initiatives in your community? Please, let us know!

Nominations for all four Awards

Please find the links below for all four Award nomination forms, which can be filled and submitted online. The nomination deadline is Monday, May 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

The Awards Ceremony will be held virtually following our 2026 AGM on Tuesday morning, May 26, 2026 – details and registration HERE. We are very much looking forward to celebrating your resourcefulness, volunteers, and creative, community-centred projects!

Information about all the CNSA Awards can be found here, but in brief, the four CNSA Member Awards are:

The post Nominations Open for the 2026 CNSA Member Awards! appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

The post CNSA’s 2026 AGM appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

As many of you know, the recently tabled 2026-27 Nova Scotia Provincial Budget, Defending Nova Scotia, included significant cuts across the arts, culture, and heritage sectors. While the majority of these reductions – totalling $130 Million – fall within the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH), one program critical to archives in Nova Scotia, falls outside of that department.

The Provincial Archival Development Program (PADP) – a modest but foundational $50,000 funding program administered by the Nova Scotia Archives – falls under the Department of Service Nova Scotia.

Why PADP Matters

We are very grateful that CCTH has maintained the CNSA’s annual operating grant. At the same time, we are deeply concerned by the decision within Service Nova Scotia to eliminate PADP.

PADP is the only funding program in Nova Scotia specifically tailored to the needs of archives.

For an overview of projects funded through this program over the past several years, please see the compiled PADP Adjudication Reports since 2018, prepared by the Chair of PADP Adjudication, CNSA’s Vice President.

PADP’s elimination, combined with the recent discontinuation of the federal Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP), leaves our province’s 100+ archival institutions with very few options for funding archival projects. This is a serious loss for the archival community and for the documentary heritage these institutions preserve on behalf of the public.

How You Can Help

We believe it is important that the provincial government hears from archivists, heritage workers, researchers, and community members – near and far – about the value of archives to communities and the potential impact of PADP’s elimination.

We encourage you to write to the Minister of Service Nova Scotia and/or your MLA to express your concern and request that they restore PADP. To make this easier, we have created a customizable template letter.

1. Download the Template Letter here
2. Personalize it: Add information about your organization and PADP-funded project(s), if applicable. Whether you’re a CNSA member, an archival colleague, or a researcher, your voice brings important perspective on the unique role of archives in Nova Scotia, and the funding programs that help sustain them.
3. Email you letter to:
   • Minister Jill Balser (SNS-Min@novascotia.ca) and Deputy Minister Joanne Munro (Joanne.Munro@novascotia.ca)
   • CC your MLA – find the contact info for your MLA HERE

Please help us show the Government of Nova Scotia that our documentary heritage not ‘discretionary’ – it is essential to communities, institutions, and the collective memory of this province.

The post Call to Action: Help Save PADP appeared first on Council of Nova Scotia Archives.