On Thursday 14th November, we had the privilege of presenting at MARAC’s third virtual event, 'The Renaissance & Renewal Conference', which brought together archivists from across the community to celebrate creativity, advocacy, versatility, and innovation in archival work.
We had the opportunity of introducing attendees to ArchivalOne - our collaborative effort to simplify and enhance archival management and digital publishing.
A collaboration between PastView (by Townsweb Archiving), History Associates Incorporated (HAI), and National Office Systems (NOS), ArchivalOne combines decades of expertise to provide a seamless, one-stop solution for the digitisation and management of cultural heritage collections.
Paul Sugden, CEO of Townsweb Archiving, opened the session with a warm welcome, emphasising the vital role archives play as the "living narratives of our shared history and culture." He introduced PastView, Townsweb's SaaS platform, designed to revolutionise how cultural institutions manage, search, publish, and monetise their digital collections. Paul underscored the unique value of ArchivalOne, a synergy of best-in-class services tailored for the North American Cultural Heritage sector.
Expert Archival Services:
Brandon Werts from HAI provided an insightful overview of their 40+ years of experience in archival and historical services, solidifying their role as a vital partner within the ArchivalOne ecosystem. With expertise spanning archival management, exhibit planning, and digital storytelling, HAI offers unmatched capabilities in archives and information management. Their team of skilled historians and archivists meticulously preserves and organises historical records, ensuring they remain accessible and valuable for future generations.
Brandon highlighted the key steps in preparing collections for digital access:
- Collections Assessment: A deep dive into your collections to identify the roadmap for digitisation.
- Processing Collections: Applying industry standards to describe materials for online access.
- Governance and Policy Development: Creating sustainable collection management frameworks.
- Digitisation Playbooks: Detailed guidelines to ensure high-quality outputs during digitisation.
You can learn more about each of these points by viewing our presentation deck - link at the bottom of this article!
Advanced Digitisation Solutions:
Brandon then passed the spotlight to Danny Harbison from NOS, highlighting how our partnership guarantees the digitisation of collections to the highest standards. With state-of-the-art digitisation services, NOS transforms physical materials into high-quality digital formats with precision and care. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, they capture every detail with exceptional accuracy, ensuring the integrity of original documents are preserved while making them accessible to a wider audience.
Innovative Digital Archive Access & Discovery:
Returning to the stage, Paul offered a compelling vision of how PastView transforms archives into immersive, interactive experiences. Through advanced search capabilities, dynamic storytelling tools, and virtual engagement technologies, the platform redefines how audiences connect with history. Whether you're a researcher, curator, or history enthusiast, PastView empowers users to explore the past in ways that are both accessible and engaging.
The session concluded with a live demonstration of PastView by Townsweb Archiving’s COO, Casper Smithson, showcasing its innovative features. As the ArchivalOne team demonstrated, the future of archives is not just about preservation—it’s about making history come alive for everyone, everywhere.
Join the Archival Revolution - revisit our presentation slides and stay tuned for further updates on ArchivalOne's offerings:
As always, our MARAC colleagues shared a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, inspiring us to push the boundaries of what is possible in our profession. The event was a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of fresh ideas, bold insights, and collaboration in shaping the future of archives.