#AskArchivists Day June 9th - ideas on how to engage followers and let them know what questions you welcome.

1. Ideas on how to promote your participation in ASK ARCHIVISTS DAY on June 9th. 2011

2. What language to use? It´s a good idea to tweet in English, if both you, and the people asking, are OK with it. That way more people will understand both question and answer. But it is of course also just fine to use any language, that you and your tweeps are comfortable with.

3. Use your website or blog Make a page about your participation in #AskArchivists on the regular website or blog of the archive. Present the people tweeting & answering on June 9th. Show their competences, knowledge and special interests. Give a short description (just 3-4 lines) of your collections. Tweet the link to your presentation page in the days before June 9th. That way your followers will get a better impression of the type of questions you welcome.

4. Countrycodes Maybe you would like to have questions on records, that will interest people in a another country? Try using countrycode hastags: Ask about our manuscripts from #ISL and #IRL #AskArchivists Codes on the sites listed below were used at WorldCup last year. But check them – is the code you want, still what people use? http://thephoenixsun.com/about/twitter-country-codes-international-hashtag-abbreviations and http://www.socialblogr.com/2010/06/country-flag-on-twitter-with-hashtag.html

5. Reach out to groups On Twitter, many people follow hashtags A hashtag # is like a topic or subject. Do you have collections and knowledge, that could interest followers of a topic? Make them aware of your records - and the questions you can answer. Use relevant tags, when tweeting in the days before June 9th. We welcome questions about records from #WWI #WWII #AskArchivists

6. About genealogy The genealogical community is vibrant - also on Twitter. If you would like to answer questions on this topic, it could be a good idea to narrow down your competences. Another idea is to highlight it, if your genealogical activities could be of interest other professionals. We welcome questions abt #genealogy in #surrey Ask abt our new research project #genealogy #genetics #biology

7. Boost online ressources If you have great stuff online, now´s the time to tell the world! Users could have questions on how to use them, and fellow archivists on how they were made. Check out our #maritime database of #medieval sailors at (link) – any questions for #AskArchivists ?

8. ...you could use tags like .... genealogy recordkeeping appraisal history preservation localhistory business archives design transfer maps photo interpretation familyhistory drawings medieval parchments digitization access WWII outreach paleography reading rooms......

9. ...last but not least HAVE FUN on AskArchivists Day!