Archivist
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An archivist is a professional who assesses, collects, organizes, preserves, maintains control over, and provides access to information determined to have permanent value. The information maintained by an archivist can be any form of media (photographs, video or sound recordings, letters, documents, Electronic records, etc.). According to Richard Pearce-Moses, archivists keep records that "have enduring value as reliable memories of the past, and they help people find and understand the information they need in those records."
Duties and Work Environment
Archivists' duties include acquiring and appraising new collections, arranging and describing records, providing reference service, and preserving materials. In arranging records, archivists apply two important principles: provenance and original order. Archivists are also guided by a [code of ethics]. Alongside this work behind the scenes, archivists are also there to assist users in interpreting the collections and answering enquiries.Archivists work for a variety of organizations, including government agencies, local authorities, museums, hospitals, historical societies, businesses, charities, corporations, colleges and universities, and any institution whose records may potentially be valuable to researchers, exhibitors, genealogists, or others. Alternatively, they could also work on the collections of a large family or even of an individual.
Archivists are often educators as well; it is not unusual for an archivist employed at a university or college to lecture in a subject related to their collection. Archivists employed at cultural institutions or for local government frequently design educational or outreach programs to further the ability of archive users to understand and access information in their collections. This might include such varied activities as exhibitions, promotional events or even media coverage.
Skills
Because of the very varied nature of the job and the different organisations that archivists could work for, they therefore need to have a very wide range of skills]:
- Those who work in the public sector and in other heavily used archives will need to be good with people, so that they are able to help them with their research.
- Although many archives are older records, increasingly archivists are going to have to deal with the new challenges posed by the preservation of electronic records, so they need to be forward-looking and open minded
- Because of the amount of sorting and listing, they need to be very logical and organised and be able to pay attention to detail.
- When cataloging records, or when assisting users, archivists may need to have research skills
Educational Preparation
Most archivists have earned a one or two-year Masters degree in archival science, history, library science, or library and information science. In 2002, SAA published [Guidelines for a Graduate Program in Archival Studies]. Many archivists hold a second master's degree in a subject related to their work.In the United Kingdom, there are currently only four Masters courses in Archives which have been recognised by the Society of Archivists, which tend to be full or part-time, although there are also an increasing number of distance-learning courses available. Due to their popularity, in order to get a place on one of these courses, most students will be expected to have done some sort of relevant work experience before applying.
It is also possible for archivists to earn a doctorate in library, or library and information, science. Archivists with a Ph.D. often work as teaching faculty or deans and directors of archival programs.
In the United States, the Academy of Certified Archivists offers archival training by means of a certification program, although SCA certification is controversial. Criticism against SCA's certification program commonly pertains to its yearly membership fees, the theoretical versus practical nature of its tests, and the need for members to re-certify every five years. In Great Britain, certification can be pursued via the Registration Scheme offered by the Society of Archivists.
Many archivists belong to a professional organization, such as the Society of American Archivists, the Association of Canadian Archivists, or the Society of Archivists (UK/Ireland), as well as any number of local or regional associations. These organizations often provide ongoing educational opportunities to their members and other interested practitioners.
History of the Profession
Pioneers of the archival profession include Sir Hilary Jenkinson, T.R. Schellenberg, Ernst Posner, and Maragaret Cross Norton.In 1922, Sir Hilary Jenkinson published his "Manual of Archive Administration", the first scholarly look at Archives. In this work Jenkinson states that the moral and physical defence of the archive is a central tenet of archival work, and outlines his ideas of what an Archive should be and how it should operate.
In 1956, T. R. Shellenberg published "Modern Archives". Shellenberg's work was intended to be an academic textbook, and it defined archival methodology, giving archivists specific technical instruction on workflow and arrangement.
In 1972, Ernst Posner published "Archives in the Ancient World". Posner's work emphasized that archives were not new inventions, but had existed in many different societies throughout recorded history.
In 1975, essays by Margaret Cross Norton were collected under the title of "Norton on Archives: The Writings of Margaret Cross Norton on Archival and Records Management". Norton was one of the founders of the Society of American Archivists, and wrote essays based on her decades of experience working in the Illinois State Archives.
References
- Richard Pearce-Moses, "Identity and Diversity: What Is an Archivist?" Archival Outlook, March/April 2006.
See also
External links
- [Occupational Outlook Handbook]
- [Society of American Archivists]
- [Directory of Regional, State and Local Archival Organizations in the United States]
- [Association of Canadian Archivists]
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