Session E
Tracks
Corinthian Room
| Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Corinthian Room |
Overview
PANEL: The archivists/data primer 2 with guests Margaret Warren, Ingrid Mason, Peter Green, Tatiana Antsoupova and Dr Tom Honeyman
Hosts: Julia Mant and Duncan Loxton
Hosts: Julia Mant and Duncan Loxton
Speaker
Julia Mant
NA
The archivists' data primer 2
Abstract
Data as a record has been a key consideration for information managers and digital archivists for many years, but for many of us data remains a complex format to use, appraise and preserve. How will we tell our stories when our main source is a data asset comprised of lines of data, or 200 million emails or vast web archives? Following a successful session considering key data governance questions at ASA Melbourne 2023, the Archivists' Data Primer team is back to look at key concepts in data research and practical tips for archives in providing access to data assets. Duncan Loxton and Julia Mant will host a dynamic panel session with up to 6 special guests and plenty of opportunity for audience questions. Topics will cover:
1. The Vancouver Statement on Collections as Data released in September 2023 provides a guide for collecting institutions to support access to data within a framework that considers ethics, sustainable labour, community relations, non-open data, climate impact, artificial intelligence, and organisational structure. We’ll find out more about this framework and how archivists can translate the concepts into a practical framework to support data access.
2. In considering applicable tools of interrogation and interpretation, we ask how can we use technology to support our work? What are the methods and strategies that help archivists and researchers deal with vast digital archives – is it all just machine-learning and AI? What other tools are archivists offering to assist researchers?
3. How do you as the manager of an archive prepare for providing access to data collections? We will explore practical strategies that can be employed at any level.
1. The Vancouver Statement on Collections as Data released in September 2023 provides a guide for collecting institutions to support access to data within a framework that considers ethics, sustainable labour, community relations, non-open data, climate impact, artificial intelligence, and organisational structure. We’ll find out more about this framework and how archivists can translate the concepts into a practical framework to support data access.
2. In considering applicable tools of interrogation and interpretation, we ask how can we use technology to support our work? What are the methods and strategies that help archivists and researchers deal with vast digital archives – is it all just machine-learning and AI? What other tools are archivists offering to assist researchers?
3. How do you as the manager of an archive prepare for providing access to data collections? We will explore practical strategies that can be employed at any level.
Co-Author/s
Duncan Loxton
Biography
Julia Mant is a professional archivist currently working in senior management for a federal agency with responsibilities for managing compliance with the Archives Act 1983 including the challenge of managing data as a record. Julia has presented at a number of conferences and written articles on a range of topics including a monograph on digital preservation and access: 'The Romance of Form' in Use and Reuse of the Digital Archive, Sept 2021.
Duncan Loxton is an archivist involved in scholarly communication and managing research data. Duncan works for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA) at the University of Technology Sydney Library where he strives to support the individual and collective rights of researchers, community groups and institutions to control the circumstances in which their knowledge is shared and applied. Duncan has previously worked at the Australian Museum, and State Archives and Records NSW.
Duncan Loxton is an archivist involved in scholarly communication and managing research data. Duncan works for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Archive (ATSIDA) at the University of Technology Sydney Library where he strives to support the individual and collective rights of researchers, community groups and institutions to control the circumstances in which their knowledge is shared and applied. Duncan has previously worked at the Australian Museum, and State Archives and Records NSW.
