VRA 2020 Baltimore: Hotel Rates Ending, Add Workshops and Tours

Book before Tuesday, February 25, 5pm EST to stay in one of Baltimore's top-rated hotels for $149 per night!

We are very pleased to announce that we have exceeded our room block and recommend that you plan on making your reservations as soon as possible while space is still available.

 

The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience.  Reserve a room before special rates end on Tuesday, February 25, 5pm EST.

 

Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore

550 Light Street, Baltimore, MD  21202(410) 234-0550 / 1-800-766-3782Block Name:  Visual Resources Association 2020 Annual ConferenceGroup Code:  0329VSRSAS$149 per night, single/double occupancy, plus taxes and fees

Please contact the VP for Conference Arrangements with any questions about reservations.

Why Stay at the Official Conference Hotel?Besides being elegant, convenient, and brilliant for networking, staying at the official conference hotel helps to insure the financial health of both the conference and the association.  When the VRA signs a contract with a hotel to host a conference, the cost of the meeting and event spaces is greatly reduced by our guarantee that a certain number of sleeping rooms will be booked by our attendees.

Room Sharing Encouraged

New this year!  A link to a hotel room and ride sharing spreadsheet will be included with your registration confirmation, so you can easily find the perfect roommate(s) and enjoy huge savings on your accommodations.  After you register for the conference, find the link in your email with the subject "Form Submitted Successfully - VRA Conference Registration."

It's Easy to Add Workshops and Tours Even If You Have Already Registered

Simply email join@vraweb.org and specify the name(s) of the workshops or tours that you would like to add.  Act fast as the following workshops and tours have already sold-out:  IIIF in 2020 Workshop, American Visionary Art Museum Tour, and Hirshhorn Museum Tour.  The Introduction to Critical Cataloging for Visual Resources Professionals Workshop and the Walters Art Museum Chamber of Wonders Tour will likely sell out soon.

Don't forget that the conference continues on Friday, March 27 with more amazing professional development opportunities, including sessions, workshops, and tours!  There is a two-part Grant Writing Workshop with morning & early afternoon sessions.  Carmen Cowick has an art history and archives background and teaches grant writing courses online in addition to other courses on archives, oral history programs, digital curation, and preservation.  Cathleen Tefft is a Senior Program Officer in the Division of Preservation and Access at the National Endowment for the Humanities. She works with applicants and funded projects in all of the division's grant programs, and she coordinates the Humanities Collections and Reference Resources competition.

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Very Close to Washington, D.C.

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Very Close to Washington, D.C. Consider taking a quick trip to D.C. after the conference! D.C. is only a 45-minute train ride away! Read on for travel tips, museum information, and food picks!GETTING TO D.C. MARC Train

• MARC Schedule and Timetable
• Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the station. You will have to purchase tickets each way. It’s $8 each way from Penn Station-Baltimore to Union Station-Washington, D.C. The MARC train leaves 1x or 2x per hour until 9pm.

Drive

• 1 hour. Driving to D.C. is recommended after or before rush hour. Rush hour is typically 7-10am and 3-6pm on weekdays. Street parking in D.C. can be tricky around the National Mall, Capitol Hill, and Georgetown so garage parking is recommended ($25-50 for 6hrs+). 

GETTING AROUND D.C.Metro Rail or Bus: Residents and commuters frequently take the Metro Rail or Bus. Metro Rail fares are determined by destination and time-of-day (peak hours are 5am-9:30am and 3-7pm), starting at $2.25. Metro Bus is a flat $2 fee for each ride. Metro Rail runs 5am-11:30pm (M-Th), 5am-1am (Fri), 7am-1am (Sat) and 8am-11pm (Sun).All riders need a MetroCard. Cards can be purchased (cash or credit card) in any Metro station and costs $5 minimum with $4 to spend immediately (there’s a $1 fee for new cards). These are plastic cards and can be refilled at any station. Ronald Reagan National Airport is accessible by Metro Rail. Take the Yellow Line towards Huntington. All station managers are eager to help D.C. visitors so they’ll answer any questions you may have!D.C. Circulator: $1 flat-fee bus service along certain routes in D.C. Check the routes and schedule to see if it goes where you’re going. They accept MetroCards. Insider Tip: Take the National Mall route to enjoy a ride around the monuments for only $1. Capital Bikeshare: Find a docking station (they’re red and everywhere) and start biking! A 30-min ride costs $2 without having to sign up for a membership. Or you can buy a 24-hour pass for $8. Pick up a bike from any docking station, start biking, and return it to any docking station near your destination. Insider Tip: These are great alternatives to walking along the National Mall. Electric Scooters: You’ll find these everywhere in D.C. You’ll need the corresponding App to use any of these. Brands include Lyft (convenient because you can use the Lyft app), Spin, Skip and Jump. You can base your decision on whichever you see first on the sidewalks or pick one, download their App, and locate one nearby. Or you can look on Google Maps to see if one, of any brand, is nearby. Insider Tip: Stick to wide sidewalks otherwise use bike lanes.Walk: D.C. is a very walkable city and if the weather is nice, I highly recommend walking! Cars: D.C. is flooded with Lyft and Uber options. Costs depend on time of time (meaning traffic) and popular areas. When it rains in D.C., everyone rushes to their Lyft and Uber Apps so costs will surge suddenly. There usually is no cost difference between Lyft and Uber. Cabs: There are plenty of cabs around town especially near the Mall and airport. These will add up quickly if there’s traffic but can also cost the same, just depends on where you go. They accept cash and credit cards.STAY IN D.C.If you want to extend your stay after the conference, there are plenty of hotel options in D.C. and most, if not all, are close to a Metro stop. Some popular options that D.C.’ers even choose for staycations are the Conrad Hotel in City Centre and The Line Hotel in Adams Morgan area. Don’t forget that Arlington and Alexandria make great alternatives to D.C. and both are only 10-20 minute Metro rides away from downtown D.C. Check out AirBNB for opportunities to stay in a historic Capitol Hill townhouse or apartment with a view of the Washington Monument.WHILE IN D.C.D.C. is home to plenty of one-of-a-kind museums! There’s plenty to see and do during the day ending with a plethora of great dining options. Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian Institution is made of 19 museums, education and research centers and a zoo! All museums are free and open 364 days of the year. Here are just a few:

• National Museum of African American History and Culture - The newest museum on the mall! You will need to reserve passes ahead of your visit (free!) if you plan to visit before 1pm on weekdays otherwise there will be entrance lines. Same-day passes are available at 6:30am Mon-Sun or ahead of time the first Wednesday of each month. Click for more info about passes. Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Food options available indoors. Federal Triangle Metro Stop (Blue Line). 
• National Museum of American History - Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Food options available indoors. Federal Triangle Metro Stop (Blue Line) or Metro Center Metro Stop (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).
• National Museum of Natural History - The newly renovated Dinosaur Hall is a must-see! Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Food options available indoors. Federal Triangle Metro Stop (Blue Line) or Metro Center Metro Stop (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).
• National Museum of African Art and Freer & Sackler Galleries - These two museums and galleries are next to each other and below the Smithsonian Castle Visitor Center. Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Smithsonian Metro Stop (Blue/Orange/Silver Lines) or Metro Center Metro Stop (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).
• Smithsonian Castle Visitor Center - A great way to start your Smithsonian adventure. Check-out a sampling of each museum’s collection in the west wing gallery or pick-up some souvenirs. Open Mon-Sun, 9am-5:30pm. Food options available indoors. Smithsonian Metro Stop (Blue/Orange/Silver Lines) or Metro Center Metro Stop (Red/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - Experience modern and contemporary artwork inside and outside the Hirshhorn. Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Coffee shop available indoors. Smithsonian Metro Stop (Blue/Orange/Silver Lines) or L’Enfant Metro Stop (Yellow/Green/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines). (Our Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden tour is currently full, but what’s to stop you from going on Friday, too?)
• National Air and Space Museum - Half of the museum is undergoing renovations but plenty of the collection remains on view! Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. L’Enfant Metro Stop (Yellow/Green/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).
• National Museum of American Indian - Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. L’Enfant Metro Stop (Yellow/Green/Orange/Blue/Silver Lines).

National Gallery of Art: Also along the mall and made up of the East Wing, West Wing, and the Sculpture Garden. Open Mon-Sun, 10am-5:30pm. Food options available indoors. Archives Metro Stop (Yellow/Green Lines) or Judiciary Square Metro Stop (Red Line).Library of Congress: Take a free one-hour tour in the Thomas Jefferson Building offered everyday at every hour 10:30am - 3:30pm. Capitol South Metro Stop (Blue/Orange/Silver lines). National Botanical Garden: Escape the cold and some crowds by visiting the Botanical Garden between the National Museum of American Indian and Capitol. Open everyday 10am - 5pm. Free. Federal South Metro Stop or Capitol South Metro Stop (Blue/Orange/Silver lines). A quick walk north from the National Mall is the National Archives Museum to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill or Rights. Free. Open everyday 10am - 5:30pm. In Penn Quarter/Chinatown area is the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Free. Open everyday 11:30am - 7pm.  Chinatown/Gallery Place Metro Stop (Red/Orange/Silver/Blue/Green/Yellow lines). MUSEUMS - Off-The-Beaten-PathJust south of the National Mall is the newly built International Spy Museum, worth a visit with families and/or kids. $24.95/adults, $14.95/7-12y.o. 's, FREE for 6 and under. Open everyday 9am - 6pm. Get off at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Stop or take the FREE Wharf Shuttle. Don’t miss the National Women in the Arts Museum located in the Metro Center area. $10/adults, $8/65y.o and students, FREE for 18y.o and under. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 12-5pm. Metro Center Station (Red line).A 25-minute walk from the National Zoo (FREE, open every day 9am-4p.m) is the National Cathedral where you can take the Self-Guided Tour, Gargoyle Tour, Behind-the-Scenes Tour or catch a performance indoors. Tours and performances may have a fee. Open everyday. FOODJosé Andres is a D.C. celebrity and owns several restaurants in the Penn Quarter area including Oyamel, Jaleo, Zaytinya, and China Chilcano. Stop by Songbyrd Cafe  in Adams Morgan for brunch, coffee, record shopping, and some live music up in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.Old Ebbitt Grill is a historic D.C. favorite across from the White House. Go for oysters and stay for a martini or burger.Don’t forget to have a second breakfast at Nellie’s Sports Bar’s drag brunch, in the U Street Corridor, on the weekends.Dupont Farmers Market open year-round on Sundays is one of the largest ones in the district.Eastern Market is an indoor market by Capitol Hill featuring butchers, florists, and The Market Place (great for pancakes!). There is also an outdoor market on weekends.Every D.C.’er has their favorite taco and ramen place so try them all and make your own decision! Tacos: Surfside, District Taco, Taco Bamba, Taqueria Nacional, El Centro, Espita and more. Ramen: Daikaya, Toki Underground, Haikan, Sakuramen Ramen Bar and more. Enjoy D.C.! Contributed by:Julia Murphy, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Mentoring Spotlight: Allan Kohl

Allan Kohl is the Librarian, Visual Resources and Library Instruction, at Minneapolis College of Art & Design (MCAD), and has been a VRA member for 26 years.Can you tell us a little bit about your background, and how you got into the field of visual resources?Over the past half-century, I’ve been a high school English teacher; then “Audio-Visual Services Librarian” in my first higher education job; then slide librarian and adjunct instructor in art history here at MCAD, gradually evolving into my current position, which is closer to many aspects of traditional library work, along with helping to manage the College's Archives.Which VRA mentoring activities did you participate in recently?Conference Mentor, Year-Round Mentor, and Year-Round Mentor for the Midwest Chapter Student Membership Scholarship Award.What services did you provide during your mentoring activities?Networking, professional guidance, and VRA Midwest Chapter Student Membership Scholarship Award mentoring. The latter seemed like a natural fit, in that I’m part of the selection committee for this award, and in looking over the applications I sometimes see specific ways I might help an applicant, based on that person’s career objectives.Briefly tell us about who you were matched with.I have tended to be matched with individuals who may be completing graduate degrees while also working at least part-time (on granted projects, etc.).What was your motivation for participating in the mentoring activities?Recruiting new, younger members to VRA to refresh our membership base, and helping first-time conferees have a rewarding experience.What aspects of the activities did you find the most valuable, and why?The opportunity to answer questions one-on-one. This is similar to what I do in reference work as part of my MCAD Library job, and it’s a natural segue into helping younger professionals navigate their integration into a peer community.Do you have any words of advice or wisdom for any of our members who may be thinking about participating in VRA's mentoring activities?Try it -- you'll like it! You can meet Allan at VRA 2020 in Baltimore! Want to learn more about becoming a VRA mentor? Visit our Mentorship page! httpS://vraweb.org/opportunities/mentorship/Have you had a great VRA mentoring experience? We would love to hear about it! Contact the Mentor Coordinator to find out to share your story here!

Greetings from the VRA Equitable Action Committee

Greetings from the VRA Equitable Action Committee, formerly known as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, we are pleased to announce that after several engaging discussions, our newly formed committee arrived at a new name and charge.As a committee, we believe that equity should be prioritized as an important mission of our professional organization. Equitable solutions are accomplished not only by engaging in critical discussions on issues of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community, but also by actively developing strategies that create equitable opportunities for our members.Our new name, The Equitable Action Committee, was selected to reflect our active commitment to finding and instituting equitable solutions to these pressing issues.In addition, our new charge serves to communicate our commitment to action:

"The committee will advance and support an equitable, diverse, accessible, and inclusive association. With critical reflection and a steady eye on the future, this committee seeks to strengthen the association’s membership by welcoming, embracing, and supporting historically marginalized people, voices, and narratives. The committee also aims to educate and empower the association’s membership on issues of accessibility and disability inclusion opportunities. This committee will advise the Executive Board on creating equitable and inclusive practices."

Please consider joining our committee meeting at VRA 2020 in Baltimore or dropping by our table at the Community Partnership Event where we will be collecting your concerns related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. If you are unable to attend VRA2020 and have suggestions, you may fill out the form here (http://bit.ly/EAC2020).--The Equitable Action Committee (ea@vraweb.org)Lael Ensor-Bennett, Jackie Fleming, Katherina Fostano, Cindy Frank, Bonnie Rosenberg, Chelsea Stone, Andrew Wang, & Kendra Werst

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Save $100 off Conference Registration

Register by Friday, February 14 to take advantage of early bird rates and save!

Save $100 off your conference registration for members and non-members or $50 off student, retired, and unemployed rates.

Use your savings to upgrade your conference experience by adding workshops and tours.

Perhaps you want to try your hand at storyboarding or mind mapping; use tools for editing existing collections data to more responsibly address diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility; get practical know-how about travelling with copy stands, drones, and 3D scanners; or learn step-by-step how to write successful grants.  We have workshops to teach you all of these skills and many more, with prices ranging from $20-$40.  Act Fast:  IIIF in 2020: What You Need to Know to Join the Party has already sold out, so register for your preferred workshops before it's too late!

How about a change of scenery and learning out and about in the city?  The local committee has crafted some excellent tours to experience with your fellow conference attendees.  Would you like to visit the stunning Enoch Pratt Free Library and George Peabody Library, embark on a curator-led tour of the Chamber of Wonders at the Walters Art Museum, or visit Homewood House Museum and the Artists' Books Collection at Eisenhower Library Special Collections, both at Johns Hopkins University?  See our full listing of $10 tours.  Act Fast:  the American Visionary Art Museum and Hirshhorn Museum: Conservation Lab & Library Tour are nearly sold out!  

Want to save even more?  

Book before Tuesday, February 25 to stay in one of Baltimore's top-rated hotels for $149 per night!

The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience.  This deadline is earlier than usual, so we want to make sure that all attendees get the opportunity to reserve a room before special rates end on Tuesday, February 25.

Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore

550 Light Street, Baltimore, MD  21202(410) 234-0550 / 1-800-766-3782Block Name:  Visual Resources Association 2020 Annual ConferenceGroup Code:  0329VSRSAS$149 per night, single/double occupancy, plus taxes and fees

Please contact the VP for Conference Arrangements with any questions about reservations.

Why Stay at the Official Conference Hotel?Besides being elegant, convenient, and brilliant for networking, staying at the official conference hotel helps to insure the financial health of both the conference and the association.  When the VRA signs a contract with a hotel to host a conference, the cost of the meeting and event spaces is greatly reduced by our guarantee that a certain number of sleeping rooms will be booked by our attendees.

Room Sharing Encouraged

New this year!  A link to a hotel room and ride sharing spreadsheet will be included with your registration confirmation, so you can easily find the perfect roommate(s) and enjoy huge savings on your accommodations.  After you register for the conference at the current discounted early bird rates, find the link in your email with the subject "Form Submitted Successfully - VRA Conference Registration."

Plate 12 of Birds of America by John James Audubon depicting Baltimore Oriole, detail 

[public domain] (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_Oriole_(Audubon).jpg)

Apply to be the VRA Jobs Digest Coordinator

Dear VRA Colleagues,

It's not too late - the application deadline for VRA Jobs Digest Coordinator has been extended to Monday, February 24!

This position offers a quite manageable time commitment of two hours or less per week and is ideal for those who want to be involved with the VRA, but may be short on time.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator compiles and distributes job and paid internship opportunities via the extremely user-friendly Mailchimp.  Newsletter delivery is scheduled in advance, so the coordinator can work whenever is best for their schedule.  New to Mailchimp?  No problem!  Kendra Werst, current coordinator, will have you up and running in no time!

How to Apply:

Please send a brief statement of interest to Amy McKenna (info@vraweb.org) prior to the Monday, February 24 deadline.

The two-year term will commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore.  You need not be present at the conference to serve.  See below for additional details.

Thank you for considering this rewarding opportunity!

Amy McKenna

Public Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board

Jobs Digest Coordinator

Charge:  The Jobs Digest Coordinator compiles and distributes job and paid internship opportunities to all interested parties, highlighting the diverse nature of available positions in the field.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator reports to the Public Relations and Communications Officer.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:  

 The Jobs Digest Coordinator is responsible for collecting relevant job and paid internship opportunities and compiling a weekly digest sent via a digital marketing platform, currently Mailchimp.  This board-appointed position searches for job postings on websites such as indeed, LinkedIn jobs, Metro 599, and other relevant sites, and also subscribes to other job digests, such as Archives Gig.  The coordinator also receives opportunities emailed directly to them via jobs@vraweb.org.  The scope of available positions is kept intentionally broad to not limit the definition of the field.  Positions are added to a digital newsletter template, which frequently includes VRA marketing messages such as conference travel awards, VRA Foundation internship awards, etc.  The VRA Jobs Digest is scheduled for delivery weekly and the coordinator manages the mailing list, which also allows for self-subscription and removal options, and the digest archive.  This position interacts with the Social Media Manager and the Website Content Manager to feature the jobs digest on VRA social media and VRAweb.org.The term of appointment is two years with the possibility of renewal upon request. Annual reports to the Executive Board are required and the board reserves the right to request a Mid-Year report.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator should expect to spend 2 hours or less per week in this capacity.

Scholarships available for SEI 2020!

The Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) and the Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF), along with the SEI 2020 Implementation Team, are pleased to announce the Samuel H. Kress Foundation Scholarships for the 2020 Summer Educational Institute for Visual Resources and Image Management (SEI), to be held June 23-26, 2020 at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

The Samuel H. Kress Foundation is once again generously funding six scholarships for SEI 2020. This intensive workshop is designed to serve a wide range of information professionals eager to learn about best practices and new technologies and/or update job skills in the realm of digital collections management, as well as to provide significant networking and professional development opportunities. The comprehensive curriculum seeks to address the requirements of today's cultural heritage information professional, including hands-on and lecture modules presented by expert instructors. SEI provides new professionals, current library school students, and mid-career professionals from a wide range of related fields the opportunity to stay current in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Museum professionals, archivists, visual resources professionals, digital librarians, art and architecture librarians, digital project managers, current and recent graduate students, and others in related fields are all encouraged to attend.

Details:

• The six Kress Scholarship recipients will each receive $1000 towards the cost of SEI.

• Kress Scholarship applications are due by Monday, March 9, 2020.

• Recipients will be notified no later than Monday, March 30, 2020.

• Each Kress Scholarship recipient will be required to write a report detailing how they benefitted from SEI and the scholarship upon completion of SEI 2020.

Instructions:

• Submit a resume or curriculum vitae and a cover letter (no longer than two pages) describing the effect attending SEI would have on your studies and/or your career.

• All applications will be evaluated by three SEI co-chairs based on the criteria established for the award (including current or future career goals as well as financial need) and any additional directions from the Kress Foundation staff.

• Submit your application materials via e-mail in a single document (PDF preferred), using the following file naming convention: LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_KRESS2020 to SEI 2020 Senior Co-Chair Courtney Baron at courtney.baron@louisville.edu. 

Best wishes,Courtney Baron, SEI 2020 Co-Chaircourtney.baron@louisville.eduBridget Madden, SEI 2020 Co-Chairbridgetm@uchicago.edu

Reminder: Choose Your Own VRA Adventure and Apply Today

Reminder: Applications are due Monday, February 10.

Dear VRA colleagues,

It's a new year and a great time to reflect on your career path and your professional development goals.  Have you considered charting a course that benefits both you and the VRA?  Serving as an appointee for the VRA strengthens your leadership abilities and helps you learn new skills that easily transfer to the workplace.  The VRA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community and all members are encouraged to apply.The VRA Executive Board is now accepting applications for two engaging and rewarding appointee positions: Jobs Digest Coordinator and VRA Bulletin Content Editor.  Which one is right for you?Jobs Digest CoordinatorAre you interested in learning more about how the profession is expanding and changing in exciting ways? Perhaps you would like to serve the VRA and build your resume while you job hunt?  This volunteer appointment may be the ideal opportunity for you.Charge:  The Jobs Digest Coordinator compiles and distributes job and paid internship opportunities to all interested parties, highlighting the diverse nature of available positions in the field.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator reports to the Public Relations and Communications Officer.For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.The two-year term will commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore.  You need not be present at the conference to serve.  The candidate will have the opportunity to train with the current Jobs Digest Coordinator Kendra Werst to make the transition a smooth one.  Kendra has done an exceptional job and the board is most grateful for her service and that of Jasmine Burns, the originator of the digest.VRA Bulletin Content EditorWould you like to develop leadership skills in digital publishing and open access?  Do you have a passion for writing and editorial work looking for an outlet?  Does your employer place high value on your editorial and publishing pursuits?  This paid appointment may be an excellent match.

Charge:  To solicit and select news articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication and to manage content uploaded to the electronic journal system. Partners with the Production Editor to plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the VRA Bulletin in electronic form.

For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.The three-year term will officially commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore.  You need not be present at the conference to serve.  The Bulletin is published twice per year and the Content Editor is compensated $750 per issue. The candidate will have the opportunity to train with current Content Editor Hannah Marshall.  The board wishes to express our most sincere gratitude to Hannah for her service to the Bulletin as both Content Editor and Production Editor over the past four years. The Content Editor will also have the advantage of partnering with the VRA Bulletin Production Editor Amy Lazet and working closely with peer reviewers and copy editors.The mission of the VRA Bulletin is to serve the membership of the VRA by providing a professional forum for the discussion and dissemination of ideas and information directly related to the field of visual resources. It is a journal of professional practice documenting the research, ideas, projects, activities, and history of the Visual Resources Association as well as the broader work of information professionals in image management. Articles authored by members of the Association and like-minded information professionals from outside VRA, cover a wide range of topics including: digital imaging and digital projects; cataloging and classification systems; historical collections and archives; digital humanities; data standards; education and professional development; intellectual property rights and copyright; library systems; collection development; digital curation and preservation; visual literacy and instruction; and, professional standards and ethics.How to Apply for Either Position:Please send a brief statement of interest, highlighting relevant experience and/or skills to Amy McKenna (info@vraweb.org).The deadline for applications is Monday, February 10, 2020. Thank you for considering these vital and rewarding positions.Amy McKennaPublic Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive Board Jobs Digest CoordinatorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities:  The Jobs Digest Coordinator is responsible for collecting relevant job and paid internship opportunities and compiling a weekly digest sent via a digital marketing platform, currently Mailchimp.  This board-appointed position searches for job postings on websites such as indeed, LinkedIn jobs, Metro 599, and other relevant sites, and also subscribes to other job digests, such as Archives Gig.  The coordinator also receives opportunities emailed directly to them via jobs@vraweb.org.  The scope of available positions is kept intentionally broad to not limit the definition of the field.  Positions are added to a digital newsletter template, which frequently includes VRA marketing messages such as conference travel awards, VRA Foundation internship awards, etc.  The VRA Jobs Digest is scheduled for delivery weekly and the coordinator manages the mailing list, which also allows for self-subscription and removal options, and the digest archive.  This position interacts with the Social Media Manager and the Website Content Manager to feature the jobs digest on VRA social media and VRAweb.org.The term of appointment is two years with the possibility of renewal upon request. Annual reports to the Executive Board are required and the board reserves the right to request a Mid-Year report.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator should expect to spend 2 hours or less per week in this capacity.VRA Bulletin Content EditorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities:The VRA Bulletin Content Editor is appointed by and reports to the VRA Executive Board.  The term of appointment is four years and any change in term is subject to board approval.  The term may be renewed or reduced by the board.  The VRA Bulletin Content Editor works in conjunction with the Production Editor.General

• In partnership with the Production Editor, plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the electronic VRA Bulletin.
• Develop and maintain editorial staff, peer reviewers, and occasional guest editors.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with Executive Board, Production Editor, Membership Services Coordinator, and attend Communications and Publications Group meetings at the annual conference whenever possible.
• Maintain VRA Bulletin editorial working files related to content.

Editorial

• Define and develop the content of the publication.
• Send out calls for content at least two times a year.
• Solicit and select articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication.
• Work with editorial staff to review content and ask authors for revisions or copy editing.
• Make final decisions on the content for each issue.
• Oversee the progress of materials for publication, including editing for style, content, and organization.
• Write publication copy as needed.
• Communicate with the Production Editor on content readiness.

Administration 

• Prepare the Mid-Year and Annual reports for the Executive Board with the Production Editor and include any budgetary information and requests.
• Work with the Executive Board to keep the electronic journal current with trends in electronic scholarship.

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Museums and Attractions

Have some free time during your conference stay? Besides the provided conference tours, there are many more museums, houses, historic sites, and parks to visit. Step out of the conference hotel right into the Baltimore Inner Harbor where you will find the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, and the Historic Ships of Baltimore.

Nearby is the American Visionary Art Museum*, America’s national museum for self-taught art. Here you will find art galleries, an outdoor wildflower sculpture garden, and a fun museum store.

The Walters Art Museum is located in the historic Mt. Vernon Cultural District, just one mile north of the Inner Harbor. From ancient Egyptian mummy masks and medieval armor, to 19th-century French impressionism and turn-of-the-century art deco, the Walters presents exotic and significant works of art from around the world.

Farther afield are the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture*, highlighting the history and accomplishments of Maryland’s African American community, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Home to the world-renowned Cone Collection of unparalleled work by Matisse and Picasso, the BMA showcases a dazzling collection from ancient mosaics to contemporary art.

Looking for a smaller museum? Check out the following suggestions.

 The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is the nation’s first and most comprehensive wax museum of African American history and culture.Located on the site of the University of Maryland’s first “Dental Infirmary and Laboratory Building,” which was then part of the Dental Department in the School of Medicine in 1882, the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry boasts an extensive 40,000 object collection of dental instruments and equipment, pop culture and personal oral care items, artwork, and everything in between.The B&O Railroad Museum holds the most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western hemisphere, and the Baltimore Museum of Industry celebrates Maryland’s industrial legacy and shows how innovation fuels ongoing progress.Opening day for Major League Baseball starts while the conference is in Baltimore. What could be more appropriate than a trip to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum or Oriole Park at Camden Yards?If you have access to a car head out to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and the towns of Ellicott City, Annapolis, or Washington D.C.For more information as well as additional venues to visit, see our Baltimore museums and attractions list.*Denotes discount with your conference badge! Also available at the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House. 

Contributed by:

Catherine Adams, Pennsylvania State University

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Announcing our Convocation Speaker Ashley Minner

The VRA Executive Board is pleased to announce that the Visual Resources Association Foundation Legacy Lecture will be given by Ashley Minner.

Ashley Minner is a community based visual artist from Baltimore, Maryland. An enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, she has been active in the Baltimore Lumbee community for many years, and regularly visits communities throughout the U.S South and Latin America as well. Ashley is a professor of the practice and folklorist in the Department of American Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she also serves as the inaugural director of the minor in Public Humanities. She is a doctoral candidate in the Department of American Studies at University of Maryland College Park, where she is completing her dissertation on the changing relationship between Baltimore’s Lumbee community and the neighborhood where they first settled.

Learn more about Ashley Minner here, http://ashleyminnerart.com/ and take her walking tour of the Lumbee neighborhood.

Join us Wednesday, March 25th  from 4-6pm for the VRA Convocation.The Convocation begins with recognition of the Association’s honors and awards recipients, along with the generous donors who have made these awards available, followed by Ashley Minner's lecture titled “Repatriating the Archives: An Urban Reservation Reunion.”

The Board hopes that Ashley Minner’s insights, in conjunction with other conference content, will prompt dialogue and new forms of inquiry into questions of representation and inclusion we encounter in our institutions. Following the presentation, join Minner and conference attendees for the Convocation Reception to forge new connections.

Want to know more about the VRA 2020 Baltimore Annual Conference? Visit the Schedule here https://vra2020.sched.com/ and feel free to contact me!

Photo Credit: Ashley Minner from http://ashleyminnerart.com/about/

VRA Activities at CAA in Chicago

The CAA conference in Chicago is approaching fast. For those of you fortunate enough to be able to attend this year. Here is some current news to help with your planning, even if you are jumping in late.

I'm happy to report that CAA is offering Pay-as-You-Wish registration for one day only, Friday, February 14, thanks to generous support from the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation. But, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, they also offer a variety of onsite registration options including:

• Single-session timeslot ticket— $20
• Book & Trade Fair only pass— $20
• One Day Pass— $100
• Full conference registration— prices vary depending on your membership tier .

Also, with your conference badge, you can get into many of Chicago's museums and cultural institutions for free or reduced admission. There is a list of participating institutions here:

https://www.collegeart.org/programs/conference/conference2020/resources/museums

I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to Bridget Madden of the University of Chicago for taking the lead on a VRA Business Meeting turned Forum and a VRA Session since I am unable to attend this year. She is your best contact on the ground in Chicago, but I'm happy to answer any questions that I can from afar.

Both events take place on Wednesday, February 12^th, starting with a VRA Business Meeting scheduled midday (free and open to the public), which we have turned into a discussion forum opening with a presentation entitled "From Archive to Classroom: The Use of Omeka and Companion Tools in the Curation of Digital Stories and Exhibits" involving Matt Taylor, Director of the Media and Design Studio, and Rebecca Zorach, Mary Jane Crowe Professor of Art and Art History, as well as their students from Northwestern University. It will be followed by what will surely be an engaging discussion about online exhibitions and other current trends in the field of visual resources. This takes place on the 3rd floor of the Hilton Chicago in the Williford B room.

In the afternoon, a formal session entitled, "Hands-On to Eyes-On: From Material Collections to Digital Exhibitions" will take place at 4 pm on the 3rd floor in the Wilford C room. A distinguished panel of artists, art historians, librarians, museum and information professionals will discuss the hands-on use of materials and museum collections to allow students to apply their knowledge in real-life contexts (full slate below). The presenters will discuss: the use of a materials collection in teaching art history survey courses to studio art and design students; fashion and textile resources transitioning from physical to digital collections for enhanced access; and a two-term curatorial practice course sequenced to design and install a museum exhibition. In all cases, the collections used in teaching are prioritized and sustained, not treated as occasional visits or demonstrations. The role of professional staff supporting these collections and facilitating their use by faculty and students is integral. It will be shown how effective these collaborations can be, including how they can lead to more engaging, active learning experiences in the classroom.

Here is the terrific lineup:

1) "Materials in Context: Experiential Learning in Art History" at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with Allan T. Kohl, Librarian in charge of Visual Resources and Library Instruction, presenting a collection curator's perspective, partnered with Jessica M. Dandona, Associate Professor of Art History, providing a faculty perspective.

2) "Materiality Made Visible" will be presented by Melanie E. Emerson, Dean of the Library + Special Collections, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

3) "Exhibition in Practice" at the Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, will be presented with Leslie Wilson, Curatorial Fellow for Diversity in the Arts, providing  "A Perspective from the Classroom" and Berit Ness, Assistant Curator of Academic Initiatives, talking about "Execution in the Museum."

Thank you to all of the participants for bringing together this terrific content and sharing their expertise with this important CAA audience. Hope you can get to Chicago to experience these VRA events and more!

With best wishes,Maureen BurnsVRA CAA Affiliate Liaison

2020 VRA Foundation Professional Development Grant: Call for Applications

The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the VRAF Professional Development Grant program. This program offers two $1000 grants yearly. This grant can be used to support conference participation, enroll in a workshop, for an online education opportunity, or for research activities. For consideration, please submit your application by Friday, February 14, 2020, 11:59PM Pacific Time. If you have any questions about the VRAF Professional Development Grant, please contact the VRAF Board of Directors at vrafoundation@gmail.com. The recipient of the 2020 VRAF Professional Development grant will be announced by Friday, February 28, 2020, and must be used before February 28, 2021.APPLY HEREPurpose: The purpose of the VRAF Professional Development grant is to support professional development in the field of visual resources and cultural heritage information management. The grant can be used to participate in a professional development opportunity of the grantee’s choosing (such as a conference, symposium, workshop, online education), or to enroll in relevant research activities (such as hands-on field work or a site visit for scholarly purposes). Priority will be given to applications that include participation at a conference (giving a paper, teaching a workshop, chairing a committee, etc.); research that shows promise to lead to publication or contributes to the visual resources and cultural heritage information management community; or to applications that can demonstrate that the receiving the opportunity will have a broader benefit to an institution or region. Please note that recipients of the award are required to submit a report outlining how the award contributed to his or her professional development within 30 days following the event.Eligibility

• Applicants should have a professional interest in visual resources and cultural heritage information management, and may include retirees, the currently unemployed, or students seeking educational and training opportunities in support of broad access to cultural information.
• Membership in the Visual Resources Association is not required.
• Statements of financial need will be strongly considered.

Acceptable Uses of Award Money

• Transportation costs to and from the event venue
• Registration fees or tuition
• Required course materials (e.g., workbooks, DVDs)
• Lodging
• Meals – including meals in transit to and from the educational event
• Research expenses
• Grant monies may not be used to cover indirect costs (For example, a percentage of the grant money/funding taken by the grantee's institution to cover perceived overhead.)

Application Criteria

• A goals statement outlining the opportunity, how it will benefit your work, and any potential contributions this opportunity may allow you to make beyond your own professional development.
• A comprehensive budget and breakdown of your proposed travel, lodging, meal, and other expenses. When costs are estimated, please explain (e.g., “roundtrip airfare on United as determined via Expedia search”; my lodging costs reflect an estimate for a shared room). If your institution requires you to use a specific airline, or has set a corporate airfare rate, please note this in the comments section. Be as clear and complete as possible about other funding support you will receive or are applying for, such as from your home institution, or other grants and awards.
• Your resume/curriculum vitae

ApplicationPlease submit an online application to be considered for a VRAF Professional Development Grant.Past recipients include Anne Young, Manager of Rights and Reproductions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to attend the 2013 American Law Institute Continuing Legal Education (ALI CLE) Legal Issues in Museum Administration course. Her attendance was crucial in the production of Rights & Reproductions: The Handbook for Cultural Institutions, an indispensable resource. About the grant, Anne wrote, “The Grant funded a portion of my course tuition and associated travel costs to attend the program. It is my belief that this Grant was also a contributing factor to my receiving a partial-scholarship, half of the course tuition, from ALI CLE that further supported my attendance… Without my attendance at ALI CLE’s LIMA and the VRAF’s Grant support, I would not have been able to make the vital connections to make the Handbook contributors and legal review panelists as robust as they are today.” The Handbook is now available and can be downloaded from the American Alliance of Museums website.The VRAF Professional Development Grant Program reflects the broad mission of the VRAF to support professional development in the field of visual resources and cultural heritage information management. The grant can be used to participate in a professional development opportunity of the grantee’s choosing (such as a conference, symposium, workshop, online education), or to enroll in relevant research activities (such as hands-on field work or a site visit for scholarly purposes). For more information about the VRAF, the VRAF Professional Development Grant, and other VRAF programs, please visit vrafoundation.org.https://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundationhttps://www.facebook.com/visrafoundation/

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Special Room Rates Ending Soon

Book before February 25 to stay in one of Baltimore's top-rated hotels for $149 per night!

The VRA will have almost exclusive use of the conference hotel, Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore, and we want to encourage you to take part in this amazing networking and community building experience.  This deadline is earlier than usual, so we want to make sure that all attendees get the opportunity to reserve a room before special rates end on Tuesday, February 25.

 Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore550 Light Street, Baltimore, MD  21202(410) 234-0550 / 1-800-766-3782Block Name:  Visual Resources Association 2020 Annual ConferenceGroup Code:  0329VSRSAS$149 per night, single/double occupancy, plus taxes and fees

Why Stay at the Official Conference Hotel?Besides being elegant, convenient, and brilliant for networking, staying at the official conference hotel helps to insure the financial health of both the conference and the association.  When the VRA signs a contract with a hotel to host a conference, the cost of the meeting and event spaces is greatly reduced by our guarantee that a certain number of sleeping rooms will be booked by our attendees.

Room Sharing Encouraged

New this year!  A link to a hotel room and ride sharing spreadsheet will be included with your registration confirmation, so you can easily find the perfect roommate(s) and enjoy huge savings on your accommodations.  After you register for the conference at the current discounted early bird rates, find the link in your email with the subject "Form Submitted Successfully - VRA Conference Registration."

We are just two months away and hope to see you soon!

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Take a Tour and Marvel at Baltimore's Treasures!

Take advantage of your time in Baltimore with tours of some of the exciting cultural sites in the area. The local planning committee has thoughtfully curated a slate of activities to introduce you to what the city has to offer, from books to bejeweled walls!

Baltimore’s Beautiful Libraries Tour - Tuesday, March 24 • 9:00am - 11:30amBaltimore, known as the City that Reads (and other memes), boasts a significant number of libraries and library collections, and is the hometown of writers such as H.L. Mencken, Edgar Allan Poe, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and David Simon. Set your sights on two iconic libraries during this morning tour of the recently-renovated Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Branch, and the George Peabody Library at the Peabody Institute.

George Peabody Library, Interior, Photo: Daderot [Public domain] (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Peabody_Library,_Peabody_Institute_-_view_3.jpg)

Enoch Pratt Central Library, Interior. Photo: J. Hoover

The American Visionary Art Museum - Wednesday, March 25 • 12:00pm - 1:00pmThe American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is the universe’s only museum dedicated to self-taught artists. The docent-led tour will take you inside the Museum’s exhibition “The Secret Life of Earth” (October 2019 - September 6, 2020): Beckoning all Earthlings — from climate change skeptics to the world's leading eco-scientists and kid activists — to an exhibition that's one part visual Earth love feast and two parts environmental crash course on the wonders and fragility of life on our one blue homegirl planet.  The building itself is a sight to behold, with a curved, mirrored-mosaic exterior. Inside, see a larger than life sculpture of Divine, and a kinetic sculpture poodle, Fifi!

 

Photo: Sarah Stierch - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15883090

 The Walters Art Museum: Chamber of Wonders. Thursday, March 26 • 4:00pm - 5:00pmThis entertaining tour of a delightful “collection of collections” that educates and amazes visitors of all ages will be led by Curator Joaneath Spicer.  Three galleries in the museum are installed to suggest the collection of a 17th century nobleman, including an entry hall of arms and armor, a study for intricate small objects, and a larger chamber of arts and wonders.

Curiosity Figure (Seed Man), ca. 1600, Photo: The Walters Art Museum, Creative Commons License (https://art.thewalters.org/detail/11531/curiosity-figure-seed-man/)

 Stick around after the tour to experience extended hours at WAM and visit the renovated 1 West Mount Vernon Place galleries and exhibitions, and other special exhibitions: Excursions through the Collection (through October 11, 2020) and From Mucha to Morris: Books of the Art Nouveau (through April 19, 2020). After you get your museum cup filled, stroll around Mount Vernon to enjoy one of the many great restaurants in the area. Be sure to save room for a night-cap at The Brewers’ Art.  Stayed tuned for more info about dine arounds on Thursday evening!

Highlights of Hopkins Tour Friday, March 27 • 2:00pm - 4:00pmTwo stops, one location! Johns Hopkins (yes, JOHNS) Homewood House Museum 2-3pm andEisenhower Library Special Collections, Highlights of Artists’ Books Collection: 3-4pm

Homewood Museum, Photo: Daderot [Public domain] (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homewood_Museum,_Johns_Hopkins_University,_Baltimore,_MD.jpg)

 Homewood House is one of the nation’s best-surviving examples of Federal-period Palladian architecture. Since its original occupancy in 1801, the house has been used as a private residence, a boys’ school, a university faculty club, an administration building, and a public museum. With each of its varied usages, Homewood has accumulated histories that speak to the development of the American republic, the city of Baltimore, and the Johns Hopkins University. It has operated as a full-time museum since 1987.Eisenhower Library Special Collections has a growing and eclectic collection of artists’ books, highlights of which will be showcased in the Richard Macksey Seminar Room and will include works by Henri Matisse, Robert Motherwell, Hanne Darboven, John Ashbery, and other contemporary artists of note.

 Space is limited!  Register for one of these fascinating tours today!Meghan Gross, Baltimore Museum of ArtJodi Hoover, Enoch Pratt Free LibraryDonald Juedes, Johns Hopkins University, Milton S. Eisenhower Library

Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) Announces Can We Do That? Regional Workshop

The Visual Resources Association Foundation (VRAF) is pleased to announce that Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media will be held on March 13, 2020 at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media is one of the four workshops being offered in the fifth year of the VRAF Regional Workshop Program. The VRA Foundation is grateful to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation for their continued support of this exciting opportunity to partner with cultural heritage and educational institutions.How do I know whether something is protected by copyright? What is fair use and how can I apply it? What copyright exceptions are available for library or archival use? How can I clear a copyright? How do I navigate and negotiate licensing agreements? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, this workshop is for you! Aimed at providing real-world applications within the academic, archival, library, gallery and museum environments, we will use relevant case studies to explore issues such as educational and scholarly usage, securing academic publication rights (including for online use), creative reuse, fair use guidelines, VARA and moral rights, licensing from vendors and rights holders, and the public domain. Participants will also be introduced to tools and resources to help them and their constituents in making decisions regarding appropriate use and dissemination of visual media.Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media will be taught by Cara Hirsch, Deputy General Counsel at The Virtual Reality Company, a studio focused on the creation of content for virtual reality film and other experiences. At VRC, Cara oversees all intellectual property matters relating to the company’s business. She is the former Associate General Counsel at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, where she supported Guggenheim’s legal affairs in a wide variety of areas including intellectual property. Prior to the Guggenheim, Cara was Deputy General Counsel for Artstor, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use digital technology to enhance scholarship, teaching, and learning in the arts, humanities and other fields. Among her duties at Artstor, Cara collaborated in refining Artstor’s intellectual property and other legal strategies for the organization. She also supervised the rights review and clearance process for media collections in the Artstor Digital Library, a digital image resource that makes available to nonprofit institutions over 1.7 million digital images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences. Cara also worked as an Associate at the law firms of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Andrews Kurth LLP, where she practiced in the field of intellectual property. She served as Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Rights Committee of the Visual Resources Association from 2011-2014. Cara received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.Registration for Can We Do That? Intellectual Property Rights and Visual Media is now open. The fee for the workshop is $125. For more information about the workshop and to register, visit here. If you have any questions about registration, please feel free to contact Beth Haas, VRAF Director, bwodnick@princeton.edu. For questions about the venue, please contact Anne Mar, Assistant College Archivist/Metadata Specialist, amar@oxy.edu.https://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundationhttps://www.facebook.com/visrafoundation/

Choose Your Own VRA Adventure and Apply Today

Dear VRA colleagues,It's a new year and a great time to reflect on your career path and your professional development goals.  Have you considered charting a course that benefits both you and the VRA?  Serving as an appointee for the VRA strengthens your leadership abilities and helps you learn new skills that easily transfer to the workplace.  The VRA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community and all members are encouraged to apply.

The VRA Executive Board is now accepting applications for two engaging and rewarding appointee positions: Jobs Digest Coordinator and VRA Bulletin Content Editor.  Which one is right for you?

Jobs Digest CoordinatorAre you interested in learning more about how the profession is expanding and changing in exciting ways? Perhaps you would like to serve the VRA and build your resume while you job hunt?  This volunteer appointment may be the ideal opportunity for you.

Charge:  The Jobs Digest Coordinator compiles and distributes job and paid internship opportunities to all interested parties, highlighting the diverse nature of available positions in the field.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator reports to the Public Relations and Communications Officer.

For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.

The two-year term will commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore.  You need not be present at the conference to serve.  The candidate will have the opportunity to train with the current Jobs Digest Coordinator Kendra Werst to make the transition a smooth one.  Kendra has done an exceptional job and the board is most grateful for her service and that of Jasmine Burns, the originator of the digest.

VRA Bulletin Content Editor

Would you like to develop leadership skills in digital publishing and open access?  Do you have a passion for writing and editorial work looking for an outlet?  Does your employer place high value on your editorial and publishing pursuits?  This paid appointment may be an excellent match.

Charge:  To solicit and select news articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication and to manage content uploaded to the electronic journal system. Partners with the Production Editor to plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the VRA Bulletin in electronic form.  

For more details, see the characteristic duties and responsibilities of this position below.

The three-year term will officially commence on March 25, 2020 at the Annual Business Meeting in Baltimore.  You need not be present at the conference to serve.  The Bulletin is published twice per year and the Content Editor is compensated $750 per issue. The candidate will have the opportunity to train with current Content Editor Hannah Marshall.  The board wishes to express our most sincere gratitude to Hannah for her service to the Bulletin as both Content Editor and Production Editor over the past four years. The Content Editor will also have the advantage of partnering with the VRA Bulletin Production Editor Amy Lazet and working closely with peer reviewers and copy editors.The mission of the VRA Bulletin is to serve the membership of the VRA by providing a professional forum for the discussion and dissemination of ideas and information directly related to the field of visual resources. It is a journal of professional practice documenting the research, ideas, projects, activities, and history of the Visual Resources Association as well as the broader work of information professionals in image management. Articles authored by members of the Association and like-minded information professionals from outside VRA, cover a wide range of topics including: digital imaging and digital projects; cataloging and classification systems; historical collections and archives; digital humanities; data standards; education and professional development; intellectual property rights and copyright; library systems; collection development; digital curation and preservation; visual literacy and instruction; and, professional standards and ethics.How to Apply for Either Position:Please send a brief statement of interest, highlighting relevant experience and/or skills to Amy McKenna (info@vraweb.org).The deadline for applications is Monday, February 10, 2020. Thank you for considering these vital and rewarding positions.Amy McKennaPublic Relations and Communications Officer, VRA Executive BoardJobs Digest CoordinatorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities:  The Jobs Digest Coordinator is responsible for collecting relevant job and paid internship opportunities and compiling a weekly digest sent via a digital marketing platform, currently Mailchimp.  This board-appointed position searches for job postings on websites such as indeed, LinkedIn jobs, Metro 599, and other relevant sites, and also subscribes to other job digests, such as Archives Gig.  The coordinator also receives opportunities emailed directly to them via jobs@vraweb.org.  The scope of available positions is kept intentionally broad to not limit the definition of the field.  Positions are added to a digital newsletter template, which frequently includes VRA marketing messages such as conference travel awards, VRA Foundation internship awards, etc.  The VRA Jobs Digest is scheduled for delivery weekly and the coordinator manages the mailing list, which also allows for self-subscription and removal options, and the digest archive.  This position interacts with the Social Media Manager and the Website Content Manager to feature the jobs digest on VRA social media and VRAweb.org.The term of appointment is two years with the possibility of renewal upon request. Annual reports to the Executive Board are required and the board reserves the right to request a Mid-Year report.  The Jobs Digest Coordinator should expect to spend 2 hours or less per week in this capacity.VRA Bulletin Content EditorCharacteristic Duties and Responsibilities:The VRA Bulletin Content Editor is appointed by and reports to the VRA Executive Board.  The term of appointment is four years and any change in term is subject to board approval.  The term may be renewed or reduced by the board.  The VRA Bulletin Content Editor works in conjunction with the Production Editor.General

• In partnership with the Production Editor, plan and supervise the preparation and publication of the electronic VRA Bulletin.
• Develop and maintain editorial staff, peer reviewers, and occasional guest editors.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with Executive Board, Production Editor, Membership Services Coordinator, and attend Communications and Publications Group meetings at the annual conference whenever possible.
• Maintain VRA Bulletin editorial working files related to content.

Editorial

• Define and develop the content of the publication.
• Send out calls for content at least two times a year.
• Solicit and select articles, professional information, and manuscripts for publication.
• Work with editorial staff to review content and ask authors for revisions or copy editing.
• Make final decisions on the content for each issue.
• Oversee the progress of materials for publication, including editing for style, content, and organization.
• Write publication copy as needed.
• Communicate with the Production Editor on content readiness.

Administration 

• Prepare the Mid-Year and Annual reports for the Executive Board with the Production Editor and include any budgetary information and requests.
• Work with the Executive Board to keep the electronic journal current with trends in electronic scholarship

VRA Foundation (VRAF) has a New Website

Dear VRA Foundation Friends,With the new year and new decade upon us, the VRA Foundation has a new website! Visit us at vrafoundation.org.We have updated the VRA Foundation logo, the aesthetic of the website and the domain. While the appearance of pages and posts has been refreshed, there are no major structural or programming changes at this time. As always, we are continually considering new forms of educational programming and support for professional development and research in the field. We hope you enjoy the updates to the website and if you need to contact us please do so at vrafoundation@gmail.com.Best wishes,On behalf of the VRA Foundation Board of Directorshttps://vrafoundation.org/vrafoundation@gmail.comhttps://twitter.com/vrafoundationhttps://www.facebook.com/visrafoundation/

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Workshops to Promote Communication and Success

Hello all!

Our exciting slate of workshops for 2020 Baltimore continues, with three more options for fostering efficacy in your communications. These workshops only have a limited number of seats available, so register for the conference today!

What to improve your retention and communication of key ideas?Visual Communication for Knowledge Acquisition, Processing and Dissemination on Tuesday, March 24: 8:30am - 10:30amJohn Trendler (Scripps College) and Rebecca Moss (University of Minnesota) help you learn how to mind map, sketchnote, draw, and storyboard for exploiting the power of visual communication.

Want to communicate your need and vision to successfully get grant funding?Grant Writing I on Friday, March 27: 8:30am – 10:30amCarmen Cowick (Preserve This) walks you through the grant process and how you start to identify grants to match your need and write clear goals and objectives that will resonate with granting agencies.

Grant Writing II on Friday, March 27: 11am – 1pmCarmen Cowick (Preserve This) leads you through the grant proposal and how to communicate your project in an elevator speech, a narrative/story statement of need, and through email correspondences. Cathleen Tefft (National Endowment for the Humanities) will discuss the ways of preparing for an NEH grant and tips for navigating the federal application process.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sara SchumacherVice President for Conference ProgramVisual Resources Association

Architecture Image LibrarianArchitecture LibraryTexas Tech University Librariessara.schumacher@ttu.edu806.834.1245Pronouns: she, her, hers

SEI Registration is OPEN!

Registration for SEI 2020 is now open! We are very excited about this year's curriculum, and hope to see many of you at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL from June 23-26, 2020.SEI is a fantastic learning and networking opportunity for students and professionals interested in creating and maintaining sustainable digital collections. The workshop offers participants the chance to meet colleagues from various institutions who are facing similar challenges. Faculty and students share ideas and solutions to these challenges and make lasting professional connections. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from ARLIS/NA-VRAF, signed by the ARLIS/NA president and the VRA Foundation chair.SEI is committed to creating and supporting inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities of practice. We invite you to read our Code of Conduct.This intensive workshop has a limited number of seats and fills up fast, so be sure to register soon!If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

VRA 2020 Baltimore: Workshops to Advance Your Digital Collections

Hello all,

As we have an exciting slate of workshops for 2020 Baltimore, I wanted to share some details of three that can improve your skills and help you make an impact. These workshops only have a limited number of seats available, so register for the conference soon!

Want to know how to optimize your digital collections functionality through IIIF?IIIF in 2020: what you need to know to join the party on Tuesday, March 24: 8:30am - 10:30amJeff Mixter (OCLC) and Piotr Adamczyk (Artstor) provide a hands-on workshop of the tools and solutions to deploy an IIIF server with vendor or local support and use IIIF Image APIs, Manifests, and Presentation APIs to unlock the full potential of your image collections.

Want to learn how to address diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility in your collections?Introduction to Critical Cataloging for Visual Resources Professionals on Thursday, March 26: 8:15am -12:15pmKaren Li-Lun Hwang (Asian American Arts Centre) and Treshani Perera (University of Kentucky) provide the theory and tools for expanding digital collection descriptions for greater inclusion and crafting responsibly ethical policies at various stages of the digital project lifecycle.

Want to discover dynamic digitization practices to incorporate at your institution?Taking Your Digitization on the Road on Thursday, March 26: 3:45pm - 5:45pmChris Strasbaugh (The Ohio State University) and Doug Daniels (UCLA Library) give you the opportunity to get your hands around traveling copystands, drones, and 3D scanners, so that you can make the case for deploying these solutions at your institution.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sara SchumacherVice President for Conference ProgramVisual Resources Association

Architecture Image LibrarianArchitecture LibraryTexas Tech University Librariessara.schumacher@ttu.edu806.834.1245Pronouns: she, her, hers