2023 NAGARA Annual Conference

"So Much to Discover"
2023 NAGARA Annual Conference logo
Conference Overview
The 2023 NAGARA Annual Conference, themed "So Much to Discover," marked a historic event that brought together over 400 attendees in Cincinnati, Ohio. Government professionals from various levels engaged in a dynamic experience filled with knowledge-sharing, networking, and inspiration, all driven by a shared passion for government archives and records management.
As dedicated information management professionals, we recognize the critical importance of safeguarding and providing access to publicly owned information. Our ever-changing landscape demands a continuous adaptation to emerging technologies, methodologies, and opportunities. The carefully curated 2023 Conference Program was designed to equip participants with the tools and insights needed to stay ahead in this evolving environment.
The conference offered a diverse array of learning opportunities, including over 30 concurrent sessions and 3 General Sessions, spanning across 2.5 days. These sessions allowed attendees to explore topics that were most relevant to their interests and professional growth. Audio recordings of each session, along with the presenters' PowerPoint presentations, are available below to all active NAGARA members.
We believe that the knowledge and expertise shared during the conference will have a lasting impact on the field of government archives and records management, ensuring the continued preservation and accessibility of valuable information for future generations. Thank you to all the participants for contributing to the success of the 2023 NAGARA Annual Conference.
  

Disaster Preparedness and Response for Records-Keepers

Posted on 7/18/2023
(AC23 SESSION) This interactive workshop guides government staff in identifying, protecting, and recovering essential records, covering risk assessments, disaster planning, response strategies, and continuity of operations…(READ MORE)

  

The Foundations of Records Management

Posted on 7/18/2023
(AC23 SESSION) This half-day workshop introduces new and growing records management staff to essential practices, including retention, filing, electronic records, micrographics, and preservation, to ensure access to valuable government …(READ MORE)

  

Introduction to Digital Imaging and Digital Preservation Requirements

Posted on 7/18/2023
(AC23 SESSION) This workshop introduces digital imaging for government records, covering standards, metadata, preservation, and compliance while providing hands-on exercises to ensure long-term access and program success…(READ MORE)

  

Basics of Archives: Introduction to Managing Permanent Government Records

Posted on 7/18/2023
(AC23 SESSION) This hands-on workshop guides participants in managing, preserving, and providing access to historical records, covering appraisal, storage, description, outreach, and volunteer projects…(READ MORE)

  

Second Day General Session & Keynote

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Start the day with breakfast, NAGARA’s Strategic Plan update, and keynote Lewis S. Eisen on “Setting Standards for Excellence,” inspiring attendees to align records management with organizational and personal values…(READ MORE)

  

Annual Awards Luncheon & Keynote

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Celebrate excellence in government archives and records management with NAGARA’s 2023 Awards Luncheon, honoring leaders, innovators, and programs, capped by Eira Tansey’s inspiring keynote on archivists in emergencies…(READ MORE)

  

Annual Business Meeting

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) NAGARA’s Annual Business Meeting to review finances, vote on bylaws and board elections, hear leadership updates, and get a sneak peek at next year’s conference…(READ MORE)

  

Opening General Session & Keynote

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Kick off the conference with breakfast and the Opening General Session, featuring NAGARA leaders and keynote Pavan V. Parikh sharing insights on rediscovering local history and setting the stage for “So Much to Discover”…(READ MORE)

  

Session 01 - Taking the Saint Louis Zoo's Record Management Training Online!

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how the Saint Louis Zoo developed and deployed an online records management training program, including LMS selection, course development, and strategies for gaining institutional support...(READ MORE)

  

Session 02 - Disability Inclusion: A Journey Toward Digital Accessibility

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how Colorado addressed digital accessibility compliance after HB 21-1110, including document remediation strategies, resource planning, and process changes to meet WCAG standards...(READ MORE)

  

Session 03 - Archiving the Asylum: Demystifying our Hidden Collections

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how Texas state hospitals, mental health advocates, and archivists are preserving psychiatric care history while balancing HIPAA compliance, patient privacy, and public access to records...(READ MORE)

  

Session 04 - Digital Transformation as a Critical Tool in Public Records Request Management

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how digital transformation helps governments efficiently manage evolving public records requests—from body cam footage to email demands—while building constituent trust...(READ MORE)

  

Session 05 - Municipal Archives and the New Orleans Street Renaming Project

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) New Orleans City Archives details how municipal records informed the Street Renaming Commission's work on Confederate street names, discussing research challenges, stakeholder engagement...(READ MORE)

  

Session 06 - Mine the Gaps: Uncovering what you don't know about your retention schedule

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how to identify and fill gaps in your records retention schedule through systems inventory, stakeholder interviews, and legal research...(READ MORE)

  

Session 07 - Collaboration, Consolidation, and Discovering a Better Way: A Case Study on Developing

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Warren County's journey creating an in-house records inventory system on a minimal budget, replacing 25+ databases with a robust solution through IT collaboration...(READ MORE)

  

Session 08 - Deliver a unified M365 IG strategy across the records lifecycle

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how government records professionals integrate preservation into Microsoft 365 using Purview and Preserve365 to automate retention, prevent format obsolescence, and boost discovery...(READ MORE)

  

Session 09 - Promoting Archive Collections to Documentary Filmmakers

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn strategies for promoting archival collections to documentary filmmakers, including licensing, copyright protection, and showcasing visual materials to producers seeking compelling historical content...(READ MORE)

  

Session 10 - Measure Twice, Purchase Once: Proof That Assessments Empower an Effective ECM Solution

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how government agencies can assess ECM system needs, ensure M-9-21 compliance, and build strategic roadmaps. Discover proven approaches for successful document management implementation...(READ MORE)

  

Session 11 - Becoming the "MacGyver" of your Archives: There's so much history to discover on obsole

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn practical steps to digitize obsolete media formats in your archives, from assessing in-house capabilities to outsourcing decisions, and unlock valuable historical content for researchers...(READ MORE)

  

Session 12 - Building a Workflow to Scale Up Your Digital Collections

Posted on 7/19/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn to build scalable digitization workflows—from inventory to upload—by leveraging in-house strengths and external partners to expand digital archives efficiently and meet growing access demands...(READ MORE)

  

Session 13 - Inclusivity in Descriptions, Metadata, and Captions

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Explore techniques like background tagging and integrated descriptions to increase diversity and inclusion in archival holdings, ensuring underrepresented voices are present and accessible...(READ MORE)

  

Session 14 - Discovering Employee RIM Practices Through an Employee Survey – A Case Study

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn how a city-wide employee survey revealed surprising gaps in records management knowledge, leading to program improvements. Discover survey best practices and actionable strategies...(READ MORE)

  

Session 15 - The eSignature is Mightier Than the Pen: Establishing an Enterprise-Wide eSignature Ser

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Michigan's journey implementing a statewide cloud-based eSignature service: compliance, security standards, deployment challenges, and training for government agencies in the hybrid work era...(READ MORE)

  

Session 16 - Digital Preservation Meets Information Governance

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn scalable strategies for preserving and governing exploding volumes of digital government records, from risk assessment to metadata, migration, and storage…(READ MORE)

  

Session 17 - Joint Expedition: Information Security and Records Management Discovering and Mapping t

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How a joint info-security and records-management inventory reveals data locations, risks, retention, and recovery need; and the tools and lessons shaping a unified approach…(READ MORE)

  

Session 18 - A Journey of Understanding: A Century in the Harding Archives

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Explore the rehousing and cataloging of 900+ Warren G. Harding boxes, revealing archival ethics, history, and new digital access strategies for complex legacy collections…(READ MORE)

  

Session 19 - Using Gamification in Records Management Training

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How UNC Charlotte used simple gamification to boost records-management training, engage liaisons, reveal knowledge gaps, and offer easy, hands-on tools for creating learning games…(READ MORE)

  

Session 20 - FOIA Paranoia and How to Avoid the Lawyers

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) A lively look at tricky public records requests, FOIA history, and best practices to stay compliant, transparent, and prepared when challenges arise…(READ MORE)

  

Session 21 - Our Nightmare Before Christmas: Surviving Catastrophic Leaks

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How Colorado State Archives managed a catastrophic holiday-weekend leak, from crisis response and facility failures to staff coordination and real-world lessons for archival disaster recovery…(READ MORE)

  

Session 22 - Wait, there was a Lit Hold? Improving the Defensibility of Litigation Holds Through Sha

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How Ohio’s Attorney General automated litigation holds with SharePoint to streamline eDiscovery, cut manual work, and strengthen defensible records-management practices…(READ MORE)

  

Session 23 - Embracing RAD Assistance: Automating the Request for Archival Description (RAD) Process

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How UT Austin used no/low-code automation to streamline archival transfer workflows, cut manual steps, and strengthen collaboration between records managers and archivists…(READ MORE)

  

Session 24 - Leave Nothing on the Table: Discovering Records Management Opportunities in COVID Relie

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) How Alabama and Georgia archives tapped unused ARPA funds to digitize, preserve, and expand access to public records—and how you can secure support for your own projects…(READ MORE)

  

Session 25 - 3-2-1 Takeoff! M-19-21 and exploring the digital government galaxy

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Federal agencies share strategies and lessons learned to comply with M-19-21 and M-23-07, transitioning to electronic records and closing paper storage facilities…(READ MORE)

  

Session 26 - Discover Your Potential: Implementing Records Management and Archival Programs from Scr

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Learn from FEMA and Huntington Beach case studies how to transform disorganized records into accessible, well-managed archives using practical workflows, inventories, and innovative RM strategies…(READ MORE)

  

Session 27 - Know Thyself: Safeguarding Institutional Knowledge

Posted on 7/20/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Alabama Archives shares how scanning, modernization, and improved documentation preserved institutional knowledge, empowering staff and strengthening partnerships with state and local agencies…(READ MORE)

  

Session 28 - Digitize Once. Preserve Forever. Establishing workflows to protect investments in dig

Posted on 7/21/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Explore the digital lifecycle from digitizing analog collections to automated preservation, ensuring long-term access, efficiency, and broader audience reach for valuable organizational content…(READ MORE)

  

Session 29 - CANCELLED

Posted on 7/21/2023

  

Session 30 - Discovering Your Hidden Passion: Mentorship in RIM & Archives

Posted on 7/21/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Discover how mentorship can inspire and guide new professionals in archives and records management, share your passion, and build meaningful connections across the field…(READ MORE)

  

Session 31 - Discovering the need for electronic record preservation and an archives management syst

Posted on 7/21/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Follow Greene County Archives’ journey implementing digital preservation and archival management systems, setting priorities, training staff, and improving access to records in a local government context…(READ MORE)

  

Session 32 - Just Add Water: Standing up a new History, Archive, and Museum Program for the Departme

Posted on 7/21/2023
(AC23 SESSION) Explore how the VA built a federal history program from scratch, navigating team culture, archival choices, leadership, and lessons learned from successes and setbacks…(READ MORE)