In the three and a half years I've worked on the HCI-PSAR project, I've met hundreds of individuals at area small repositories who are passionate about preserving the archival collections under their care. I've been impressed at how proactive many of you have been in seeking opportunities to learn professional standards, but I've also noticed that you each bring a unique perspective and innovative ideas to the tasks at hand. It is your hard work and dedication that inspired us to begin planning the Small Archives Forums, a series of FREE programs to explore archival concepts and build connections. The forum series aims to teach new skills, but more than that, it aspires to foster community among area small archives and lay the groundwork for knowledge-sharing and possible collaborations far into the future. 

Approximately once per month in 2015 and early 2016, HCI-PSAR staff will organize events focused on particular aspects of archival practice, such as collections processing, digitization, preservation, and more. Most programs will be offered three times - once each in the Philadelphia, Chester/Delaware, and Bucks/Montgomery county areas - so that they are accessible to all. So far, the schedule is confirmed through April 2015. If you'd like to learn about future forums, stay in touch! Join the email list for Pennsylvania Small Archives by sending a blank email to pa-small-archives-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, and follow HCI-PSAR on Facebook and Twitter.