How can archival science be popularized and a balance maintained between classical and digital archiving? These are the central questions of this year's 35th Mednarodni arhivski dnevi conference, which is currently taking place in Ljubljana.
The event, organized by the International Institute for Archival Science (IIAS) and Alma Mater Europaea University, brings together renowned experts from more than twenty countries to discuss the future of archival science in the digital age, encompassing topics such as artificial intelligence, data protection, and the accessibility of archival materials.
The opening of the conference took place on Tuesday, November 11, with welcome addresses by the head of the archival studies programs at Alma Mater and the director of IIAS Prof. Dr. Peter Pavel Klasinc, the rector of the Alma Mater Europaea University Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak, the director of the IIAS archival school Dr. Grazia Tató, the Director-General of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia Špela Spanžel, the president of the Archival Society of Slovenia Mojca Horvat and the director of the Historical Archives of the European Union Dieter Schlenker,.
In his keynote address, Dr. Klasinc spoke about sixty years of personal and professional work in the field of archival science and highlighted some key milestones – from 1965, when he first encountered the archival materials of the Herberstein family, to the establishment of the International Institute for Archival Science in 1985 and the development of archival studies at Alma Mater Europaea.
The education of archivists at all three levels is the foundation for the future operation of archives. We need greater autonomy for archives, better spatial and staffing conditions, and stronger state support for archival activities. Unwarranted mergers of archives with other institutions can jeopardize the development of archival science; therefore, we must strive for a greater role of the International Council on Archives in supporting archives in countries where conditions still do not meet minimum standards.
Prof. Dr. Peter Pavel Klasinc
In conclusion, Dr. Klasinc emphasized that archival science, as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field, must stand alongside museology, librarianship, and information science and actively engage in discussions on digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
The conference will run until November 15, concluding with panel discussions on the future of the archival profession in the era of artificial intelligence and digital archives.
