Save the Date! ODNFest will be returning on September 30, 2025. ODNFest will be held in person at the State Library of Ohio in Columbus, Ohio. Registration will open in summer 2025. The State Library of Ohio is excited to announce the theme of this year’s ODNFest: Trauma Informed Care and Archiving.
The State Library of Ohio is currently accepting proposals for the 7th Annual ODNFest. Proposals on topics related to digital collections, archiving, and more are encouraged. CFP extended until July 7, 2025. Proposals may be submitted via Microsoft Forms.
Announcing the ODNFest 2025 Keynote Speakers
Looking at Vicarious Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care in Archives | Rachel Weiher and Erin McBrien
Looking at Vicarious Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care in Archives by Rachel Weiher (she/her) Macalester College Collections archivist, and Erin McBrien (she/her) curator of Upper Midwest Literary Archives at the University of Minnesota, looks at how to acknowledge vicarious trauma in university archives and special collections, as well as how to introduce discussions of this topic among archival staff. It will also touch on how to begin addressing vicarious trauma’s impacts through a framework of trauma-informed care, specifically geared towards student workers. Rachel Weiher previously worked as a psychiatric counselor and has been working to bring the principles of trauma informed care into archival work.
Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma, is becoming increasingly recognized within the archival field as an occupational hazard. Archival materials can profoundly affect us as we process, uplift, and contextualize our work. Many of these materials document histories of violence, oppression, displacement, and personal tragedy. They are vital to preserve and provide access to, but can be emotionally damaging to work with. As archivists, we are typically not trained in trauma-informed care or self care, leading us to become more affected by trauma with fewer resources on how to cope with the negative effects. Acknowledging and discussing vicarious trauma can be challenging in an archival workplace, but is key to moving towards trauma-informed practices.
A trauma-informed framework in archives prioritizes creating a supportive environment for both researchers and archivists by integrating principles of safety, transparency, peer support, empowerment, and cultural awareness. It creates strategies that promote well-being while ensuring responsible and ethical stewardship of sensitive materials. The session will conclude with the steps taken so far towards a model of trauma-informed archival practice, as well as what is still needed for ideal implementation.
Tools for Processing Vicarious Trauma | Daron Larson
This workshop will explore strategies for library archivists regularly working with traumatic and distressing digital records. It will focus on practical techniques and emotional coping strategies to help archivists manage their roles while maintaining personal well-being.
- Tips for integrating regular self-care practices into a busy work schedule to prevent burnout.
- Practical strategies for managing emotions in response to handling traumatic records.
- Cultivating emotional resilience through mindfulness—with and without meditation.
- Developing a supportive environment within archival and library teams to share the burden and foster emotional well-being.
Daron Larson is a mindfulness coach with over 22 years of daily practice. He uses his Attentional Fitness framework to personalize guidance for individuals, small groups, and organizations. His approach emphasizes taking ownership of one’s mental strength and emotional resilience to develop a more satisfying relationship with life. His TEDx Talk, “Don’t Try to Be Mindful,” has been viewed 600,000 times.