<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="480" data-permalink="https://archivesincontext.archivists.org/2020/03/03/season-3-episode-1-elevator-going-up/copa-elevator-speech/#main" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/copa-elevator-speech.jpg?fit=214%2C217&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="214,217" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Abigail Christian&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1582037768&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="COPA Elevator Speech" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/copa-elevator-speech.jpg?fit=214%2C217&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/copa-elevator-speech.jpg?fit=214%2C217&amp;ssl=1" class=" size-full wp-image-480 alignleft" src="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/copa-elevator-speech.jpg?resize=214%2C217&#038;ssl=1" alt="COPA Elevator Speech" width="214" height="217">
&#8220;What&#8217;s an archivist? Who uses archives? Isn&#8217;t everything online?&#8221;
As archivists, we sometimes find ourselves answering questions about what exactly we do and why we do it. During <a href="https://www2.archivists.org/am2019">ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2019</a> in Austin, Texas, hosts Chris Burns, Colleen McFarland Rademaker, Nicole Milano, and Anna Trammell &#8220;took to the streets&#8221; to ask attendees to respond—on the spot with no preparation—to questions archivists commonly receive. Listen to their responses and find some ideas for your own elevator speech. Elevator going up!
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-461-4" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/s3e1-elevatorspeaches.mp3?_=4" /><a href="https://archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/s3e1-elevatorspeaches.mp3">https://archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/s3e1-elevatorspeaches.mp3</a></audio>
<h4>Episode Extras</h4>
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="463" data-permalink="https://archivesincontext.archivists.org/2020/03/03/season-3-episode-1-elevator-going-up/elevator-speech/#main" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/elevator-speech.jpg?fit=597%2C291&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="597,291" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Abigail Christian&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1580223561&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Elevator Speech" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/elevator-speech.jpg?fit=300%2C146&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/elevator-speech.jpg?fit=597%2C291&amp;ssl=1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-463" src="https://i0.wp.com/archivesincontext.archivists.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/elevator-speech.jpg?resize=300%2C146&#038;ssl=1" alt="Elevator Speech" width="300" height="146">
Learn more about crafting an elevator speech with this <a href="https://www2.archivists.org/advocacy/public-awareness/elevator-speech">step-by-step template</a> and be ready to advocate for your institution and the archives—no matter where you are!

Season 3, Episode 2: Finding Aid to My Soul, Part 1

Archives in Context is a podcast about archives and the people behind them. Members of the podcast team include Mary Caldera, Adreonna Bennett, Conor Casey, Lauren Kata, Emily Mathay, Camila Zorrilla Tessler, Carmela Furio, Kate Greenberg, and Hannah Stryker. All opinions expressed in this podcast are our own and are not reflective of a particular institution.