Basics of Archives (Winter 2026) - Online Course
Includes a Live Web Event on 03/05/2026 at 8:00 PM (EST)
- Registration Closed
Course Description
The Basics of Archives online course is designed to give organizations and individuals who are responsible for the care of historical records an introduction to the core aspects of managing and protecting historical records collections, using appropriate principles and best practices.
The course consists of seven lessons:
- Archives and Archivists
- Acquiring Your Collections
- Processing Collections
- Housing Your Collections
- Access and Outreach
- Digital Records
- Digitization
Details
SESSION DATES: January 12 - March 8, 2026
REGISTRATION DATES: August 25, 2025 - January 5, 2026
COST: $230 AASLH Members / $330 Nonmembers / 10% discount for STEPS participants with promo code found in the online STEPS Community or by emailing learn@aaslh.org
FORMAT: Online, Instructor-led, Weekly-paced course
Registrants will also receive a discount code for Archives 101 from Bloomsbury.
Course Logistics
LENGTH: 8 weeks
PARTICIPATION: Students should expect to spend approximately 5-7 hours per week on readings, text-based forum discussions, and quizzes. Readings and quizzes can be completed at anytime during the 5-week period. There is no required time to be online.
MATERIALS: There are no required textbooks for this course. All reading materials will be provided.
TECHNOLOGY: Participants will need access to internet and a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet to participate in this course.
CREDIT: Successful completion of this course (70% or higher) will earn a Certificate of Completion from AASLH.
Who Should Take This Course
This course is a beginning level course designed for professional staff and volunteers of historical organizations and libraries with historical collections who have little to no experience with archival materials.
Having issues registering? Please contact learn@aaslh.org
Please note AASLH's Notetaking Tools Policy: During webinars and online courses, the use of any AI notetaking tools such as meeting assistants is prohibited to ensure the confidentiality and security of the discussion. Our sessions are automatically recorded and transcribed for participants. AI tools will be removed from events by AASLH staff if they appear. Please contact us at learn@aaslh.org if you need to use AI tools for accessibility reasons.
Participant Feedback
“This course was exactly what we need to improve our rather small Collection and take it to another step. Thanks for all of the ideas and information. I am especially impressed with how well the course is organized and presented online. The site was very well thought out and presented no problems for me – a slightly challenged computer geek-wanna be.”
“This was a marvelous course and now I have confidence that I can do the work: material to reference and people to communicate with as needed.”
“I just wanted to say thank you for having this course. It has really helped me decide what direction I want to make my education in and had definitely helped me with some of the smaller preservation jobs I take on at the library.”
Bradley J. Wiles, PhD
Bradley J. Wiles is the Head of the Special Collections and Archives Department at Northern Illinois University’s Founders Memorial Library. He has worked in a variety of archives and library settings since 2008 and holds a doctorate in Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. His research interests include information ethics and public policy, social and political dimensions of archives and information, organizational management, the sustainability of cultural institutions, archives in popular culture, and library and archives history. Wiles has extensive experience teaching archival research and primary source literacy as part of his work as an archivist, as well as formal instructional roles in graduate level courses for collection acquisitions and management, appraisal and description, and library administration.
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Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.
Beginning in the 2025 winter session, the BoA course will feature several live online gatherings hosted by the course facilitator. These sessions are delivered via teleconference within the courseware platform. The facilitator will prepare discussion topics related to what is covered in the course, but mostly it is intended to provide a forum for BoA participants to commiserate, ask questions, share their experiences, and network with other individuals working in the history and cultural heritage field. Participants are encouraged to join any or all of these, but attendance at the live session is not a requirement to complete the BoA course. The gathering schedule and access links are included with the course content, as indicated in this screenshot:
