Preserving the Legacy: Saving.Ourselves

1. “Saving Ourselves”A List Serv’s campaign to preserve it’s pastKate Colligan25th April, 2007

2. History of “LIST SERV” Timeline of the original “LISTSERV” application software that gave us the term. Many other similar applications exist, such as Majordomo. The Archives&Archivists List Serv currently uses LYRIS ListManager.

3. Eric Thomas "I am always amazed by the creativity and ingenuity of LISTSERV users. Who would have thought that LISTSERV lists would be used to help cure cancer, find lost dogs or solve crimes?" – Eric Thomas (LISTSERV Choice Awards 2004) Engineering student, 1986 The corporate CEO

4. History of A&A List Serv • Archives and Archivists (A&A) List Serv: • > Established in 1989 by Donna Harlan and John Harlan as an open forum for discussing archival theory and practice. • > In 1993, the list was migrated to Miami University of Ohio. • > In 1998, the Society of American Archivists (SAA) assumed sponsorship of the list. But It remained hosted at Miami University under the care of Robert M. Schmidt • > In September 2006, SAA assumed full ownership of the list and responsibility for its ongoing maintenance.

5. Scope of the A & A List Serv “Calls:” (Calls for papers, survey participation, etc.) “Disc:” (Discussion on various topics) “Event:” (Conference, seminar, workshop announcements) “FF:” (“Friday funnies”) “FYI:” (General announcements and information) “Job:” (Job announcements) “Media:” (Links to archives and archivists in the news) “Qs:” (Questions) “Pubs:” (Announcements re: books, chapters, papers dissertations, and reviews)

6. Data Collection In March 2007 the List Serv was notified of a decision NOT to retain any List Serv content prior to 2006. This triggered a large response on the List Serv itself. Data set: 94 individual posts to A&A List Serv on this issue. (posts on topic were identified by the header) Gathered over a 4 day period, post announcement.

7. Research emphasis • Why save the List Serv? • What archival concepts were exemplified? • How did posters portray themselves?

8. Methodology Combination of: • Grounded theory • Emic analysis • Concepts derived from computer • mediated communication • Theoretical framework of • appraisal construct

9. CODING SCHEMA Filtered by header Data set: 94 total on- topic posts Attributes (in altas.ti) Attribute determination: Inductive method *some not retained analysis

10. Specific example – “gender” • Motivation – stratification by gender might in of interest - e.g. CMC bias • General problems: extracting gender differences + danger of focusing on this. • Specific problems • Names used “handles” often unrevealing of gender. • Even real name if known can be ambiguous

11. Specific example – “gender” Conclusion: • Gender differences require survey for self identification • Approaching gender related hypothesis requires careful consideration GENDER

12. Retained attributes DISTRUST ELITISM ETIQUETTE ENFORCERS HEAVY POSTER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IRONIC PETTY QUIPS OTHER MODELS OVER THE TOP PASSIVE/AGGRESSIVE PERSUADED BY OTHERS PROTECTING SAA QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED RESTATING PROBLEM SOLUTION STUDENT VOICE TRANSPARENCY UNANTICIPATED USES ACTIVISM AFFINITY OR COMMUNITY APPRAISAL ARGUMENT FOR USE OF LIST BLOGS COMPLAINTS DIGITAL PRESERVATION DISPOSITION OF LIST

13. Leading attributes 35% 34% 33% 20% 33% 28% 27% Other attributes at < 20% of posts

14. Lowest reported attributes Attribute #Posts %of total

15. What was learned • List Serv functions as primary networking and educational resource for archivists who cannot attend meetings or engage in other professional development activities. • List Serv content viewed skeptically as it is generally assumed part of ongoing debate (inherent fallibility). • Distrust a major factor in the archivist’s world view