Today is International Archives Day, which was created to raise awareness about the importance of records and archives — and archivists.
While #JeSoutiensBAnQ (I support BAnQ) was trending on Twitter yesterday in Quebec, the folks at Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) centres across the province were putting the final touches on preparations for today’s activities, under the theme, Archives, Citizenship and Interculturalism.
The provincial library and archives invites everyone to take part in the tours and other activities being offered today at their nine archival centres: BAnQ Vieux-Montréal, BAnQ Trois-Rivières, BAnQ Rouyn-Noranda, BAnQ Sept-Îles, BAnQ Gaspé, BAnQ Rimouski, BAnQ Saguenay, BAnQ Gatineau, and BAnQ Québec in Quebec City.
International Archives Day was created at an international congress in Vienna in 2004 to:
- Raise awareness among the public of the importance of records and archives, in order to make it understood that records and archives provide the foundation for their rights and identity;
- Raise the awareness of senior decision makers of the benefits of records management for good governance and development;
- Raise the public, private and public sectors’ awareness of the necessity of preserving archives for the long-term, and of providing access to them;
- Promote and bring to the attention of the larger public unique, extraordinary and rare documents preserved in archival institutions; and
- Improve the image of records and archives and enhance their visibility globally.
Montreal
At BAnQ in Old Montreal, there will be a special program for visitors between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and show a number of archival treasures.
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Presentation of original archival materials related to citizenship and multiculturalism, as well as the archival fonds of Élise Turcotte.
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Presentation of Histoires fictives, which brings together original literary works inspired by archival documents, such as coroners’ inquests, wills, maps, letters, and photos. Authors Élise Turcotte and Patrick Senécal have taken these documents and injected life into them in the form of a poem and a detective novel.
6:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Guided tour of the photo exhibition, Zoom sur Montréal, which shows the unique personality of the city and its “je ne sais quoi” through photos preserved at BAnQ.
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Guided tour of BAnQ Vieux-Montréal.
Details about the activities in all centres on the BAnQ website.
Now, go thank an archivist.
