Laura Millar
Writer, Editor, Archivist, Speaker
About Me
I am an independent consultant in records, archives, and information management, and I have also worked in publishing and distance education. Over three decades, I have worked with governments, universities, colleges, professional associations, non-profit organizations, and other agencies around the world. For instance, I have helped national governments develop best practice strategies for records and archives management, and I have also advised First Nations’ communities in the Canadian arctic on methods for preserving indigenous sources of evidence.
I was named the winner of the Society of American Archivists' 2011 Waldo Gifford Leland Award for Archives: Principles and Practices, and I am the author of dozens of publications and conference presentations. I have taught records and archives management in several universities in Canada and internationally. I am often asked to speak on the value of records, archives, and other sources of evidence for society.
My husband and I live in the small community of Roberts Creek, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada.
A Matter of Facts
July 2019
The safeguarding of authentic facts is essential, especially in this disruptive Orwellian age, where digital technologies have opened the door to a post-truth world in which “alternative facts” can be so easily accepted as valid. And because facts matter, evidence matters.
In A Matter of Facts: The Value of Evidence in an Information Age, I make the case that authentic and accurate records, archives, data, and other sources of documentary proof are crucial in supporting and fostering a society that is respectful, democratic, and self-aware.
In my book, I explain the concept of evidence and discuss the ways in which records, archives, and data are not just useful tools but also essential sources of evidence, today and in the future. I include thought-provoking examples of the critical role evidence plays in upholding rights, enforcing responsibilities, tracing family or community stories, and capturing and sharing memories. And I examine the impact of digital technologies on the creation and use of records, information, and other sources of documentary proof.
A Matter of Facts is a book for the public, and I hope everyone finds it engaging and inspiring.
Archives: Principles and Practices
May 2017
The first edition of my book Archives: Principles and Practices received the Waldo Leland Gifford Award from the Society of American Archivists in 2011.
For the second edition, I completely revised the book, offering a more international perspective on archives management and providing extensive guidance on the management for both organizational archival institutions and collections-based repositories.
Archives: Principles and Practices has become a standard textbook in archival studies programmes around the world.
People die only when we forget them .... If you can remember me, I will be with you always.
Isabel Allende, Eva Luna
Contact me
laura_millar [at] telus.net
