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Archival Studies:. A general guide to an information professional in a local, history museum Presented By: Shelley Maag & Melissa Wehunt. What is an Archive? .
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Archival Studies: A general guide to an information professional in a local, history museum Presented By: Shelley Maag & Melissa Wehunt
What is an Archive? • Archives are the non-current records of individuals, groups, institutions, and governments that contain information of enduring value • Photographs, films, video and sound recordings, computer tapes, video and optical disks, letters, diaries, and manuscripts. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ZFt7tXUyU&feature=related
Assumptions of the Profession • Motivated and passionate about the subject of their collection • Financial obstacles • Interdisciplinary field / various educational backgrounds • People skills & a desire to teach • Feelings of obligation towards preserving our legacy
Similarities Place to gather information Organize, catalog and store information Different types and levels Differences First-hand facts, data and evidence Often dependant upon donated materials Specialized patrons Archives & Information Science
Core Competencies • Knowledge of Archival functions • Appraisal and acquisition • Arrangement and description • Preservation • Reference and Access • Outreach and advocacy • Management and administration
Core Competencies Cont. • Knowledge of the Profession • History of archives and the archival professional • Records and cultural memory • Ethics and values • Contextual Knowledge • Social and cultural systems • Legal and financial systems • Records and information management • Digital records and access systems
Interdisciplinary Knowledge • Information Technology • Conservation • Research Design and Execution • History and Historical Methods • Management • Organizational Theory • Liberal Arts and Sciences • Allied Professions
Recent Evolution in Archives • Increased awareness of necessity and value of archives • Increase use due to availability • Organization and access • Internet • Digitization • Paper archives not accessible when digital records exist
Outlook & Prospects • Historical archives often staffed by History PhDs • Faster than average employment growth is expected through 2016. (14%) • Competition is expected because qualified applicants generally outnumber job openings. • Demand for archivists who specialize in electronic records and records management will grow more rapidly than the demand for archivists who specialize in older media formats.
Challenges • Not enough jobs for qualified applicants • Funding and resources • Personal privacy issues • Archives are often secondary in museums
Summary • As a field in which most people are satisfied in their jobs and in which demand for qualified professionals is increasing, archives is an excellent career option for SLIM students.
References • Archival Standards (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2008 from http://archives.utah.gov. • Guidelines for a graduate program in archival studies. (2003). Retrieved January 29, 2008, from http://www.archivists.org. • So you want to be an archivist: An overview of the archival profession. (2003). Retrieved January 29, 2008 from http://www.archivists.org. • What is an archives? (2007). Retrieved January 29, 2008 from http://www.archivist.org. • V. A. Walsh (1999). Archival census & education needs survey in the United States. Part 3. A*CENSUS: a closer look. Retrieved January 29, 2008 from http://www.archivists.org/a-census/