Affinity/User Groups
CoSA’s Affinity and Users Groups offer members a welcoming space to connect with peers around shared interests, challenges, and areas of practice. These informal, member-led discussion groups provide opportunities to exchange ideas, ask questions, explore emerging topics, and learn from one another in a supportive, collaborative environment. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise, troubleshoot common issues, or simply build connections with colleagues who understand your work, our Affinity Groups provide a flexible and engaging way to stay involved.
Explore the full list below and join the conversations that matter most to you.
The America250 Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members involved in planning, coordinating, or supporting America250 initiatives within their institutions. Participants can share ideas, resources, and approaches for commemorating the nation’s semiquincentennial, discuss programming and outreach strategies, and learn from colleagues navigating similar opportunities and challenges. Whether your institution is leading large-scale initiatives or developing smaller commemorative projects, this group offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional learning.
The Appraisal Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members involved in the appraisal and selection of government records for long-term preservation. Participants can discuss appraisal theories and methodologies, records scheduling, documentation strategies, collection development, and emerging challenges related to digital records. The group offers opportunities to share resources, explore case studies, exchange practical approaches, and learn from colleagues across state and territorial archives. Whether you are developing appraisal policies, conducting records evaluations, or refining existing practices, this group provides a collaborative environment for networking, professional learning, and peer support.
The APPX Users Group brings together CoSA members who use the APPX/Axaem system to support archival and records management workflows. Participants can exchange tips, troubleshoot challenges, share best practices, discuss system updates and functionality, and learn from one another’s experiences. Whether you are a long-time user, new to the platform, or considering it as an option, this group provides a collaborative environment for improving workflows and maximizing the value of the system.
The Archival Description Affinity Group provides a forum for CoSA members interested in archival description, metadata, and access. Participants can discuss descriptive standards, tools, workflows, and emerging practices; share challenges and solutions; and exchange ideas for improving discovery and access to archival collections. Whether you work with legacy finding aids, born-digital materials, or large-scale description projects, this group offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional learning.
The Archivists Who Code Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members interested in using technology, coding, automation, and digital tools to support archival work. Participants can share projects, exchange technical knowledge, discuss emerging technologies, and learn from colleagues who are developing solutions to common archival challenges. Whether you are an experienced programmer or just beginning to explore coding, this group offers a welcoming environment for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
The Conservation/Preservation Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members involved in the care and preservation of archival collections to connect, share expertise, and discuss common challenges. Participants can exchange resources, explore conservation and preservation strategies, learn about emerging practices, and seek advice from colleagues across state and territorial archives. Whether your institution has dedicated conservation staff or preservation responsibilities are part of a broader role, this group offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional learning.
The Microfilm Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members involved in the creation, management, preservation, digitization, and access of microfilm collections. Participants can discuss best practices, standards, workflows, vendor relationships, quality control, and long-term preservation strategies. The group also offers opportunities to explore the evolving role of microfilm in records preservation programs and to share practical solutions for balancing preservation and access needs. Whether you oversee large-scale microfilming operations or manage legacy microfilm collections, this group offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional learning.
The Preservica Users Group serves as a collaborative forum for CoSA members who use or are interested in the Preservica digital preservation platform. Participants can exchange questions, workflows, implementation strategies, and practical tips for managing and preserving digital records and collections. Members are encouraged to share lessons learned, discuss new features and functionality, troubleshoot common challenges, and explore innovative approaches to digital preservation. Whether you are new to Preservica, have years of experience with the platform, or just considering it as an option, this group provides opportunities for peer support, collaboration, and professional learning.
The Social Media Affinity Group provides a space for CoSA members who manage, contribute to, or are interested in social media and digital engagement efforts at their institutions. Participants can share ideas, discuss strategies, exchange resources, and learn from colleagues about content creation, audience engagement, platform trends, analytics, and outreach initiatives. The group also offers opportunities to explore the unique challenges and opportunities associated with preserving social media content as government records, including capture, retention, access, and long-term stewardship. Whether you are responsible for a well-established social media program or are just beginning to explore new ways to connect with audiences and preserve digital content, this group offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional learning.
The State Historical Records Advisory Boards (SHRABs) Affinity Group provides a space for SHRAB coordinators, board members, State Archivists, and others interested in statewide historical records programs to connect and share experiences. Participants can discuss board administration, grant programs, strategic planning, professional development initiatives, partnerships, advocacy efforts, and outreach activities. The group offers opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from successful programs across the country, and explore strategies for strengthening historical records programs and services within their states and territories.
The Territorial Archivists Affinity Group supports archivists working in the U.S. territories, Alaska, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii by providing a space to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities unique to territorial archival programs. Participants can exchange resources, discuss common issues, and learn from colleagues facing similar circumstances. The group fosters connection, collaboration, and mutual support while highlighting the important work of territorial archives.
Get Involved!
Many of CoSA's Affinity Groups are open to both individuals that work at CoSA member institutions and colleagues in other settings. Some may be limited to members-only. If there is a topic of interest to you that is not listed, let us know. Most of our Affinity Groups have been launched by our member community to meet their interests and professional needs.