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New Member and Education



Good morning,
 
Ah, the debate over Archives and education.  Has anyone ever noticed that this topic comes up right around graduation?  I have worked in Preservation, Archives and Libraries, and I can honestly say that although each area is different, there are fundamental skills learned in Library Science which pertain to all of them.  One of my previous supervisors, the former Head of Preservation, had worked in other Library-related jobs, including being an Archivist and Reference Librarian.  An MLS teamed with a second Masters, perhaps History, is also versatile, and in some cases a PhD could also lead to higher position.  Before the creation of the MLS, many Archivists had History degrees and previous experience processing and arranging collections.  The reason why many Archivist job postings require an MLS is that institutions are trying to bring a professional outlook into the organization, that and some Archives are part of a larger Library system or Special Collections.  In recent years, it has become increasingly important to have experience in electronic records management and migration - to keep up with changing formats and technologies, and at many schools, Library Science has kept up with the demand for these types of skills.   
 
Harrison Wick, MLS, MA
Acquisitions Coordinator
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

 
 
 
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: Gunnar Berg [mailto:Gunnberg@AOL.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 7:23 PM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: New Member

Hello Molly, et al.

First of all I am of the school that does not see the need for an MLS to be an Archivist. Although related, they are two separate fields with different approaches to the task at hand.

When I see "MLS required" in a job announcement I figure that the archivist's position reports to a Librarian and they are more comfortable with "one of their own". I would prefer a Masters in History, hopefully specializing in the area of the hiring institution's holdings.

While there are basic standard practices in Archival arrangement and description, I think that a lot of what I do involves plain common sense; setting up a collection for ease of access for the researcher. What I see as logical perhaps stems from my background as an electrical engineer and computer programmer and I'm perplexed as to why an English major or other creative type can't lay something out in an organized way.

In my career change, I got a graduate certificate in Museum Studies with a minor in Archival Studies. This came out of my love for art and history. My interest was picqued by the archival part and I did my internships at historical societies. After I got my certificate, I continued "working" (pro bono) at historical societies and historic house museums, to beef up my resume. The archival approach to a collection, with the definition of series, etc. based upon the materials at hand, rather than strictly being locked in by some SAA standard, allowed me to get a wide variety of experience in arranging and describing.

Another route I would recommend would be to get into local professional organizations. In the New York area, the Archivists Roundtable and the multi-state Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) are excellent groups, both for the educational seminars and workshops offered and the networking (read job opportunities) that  goes on. I have found both groups to be filled with very friendly, supportive people; everyone helping everyone else with no exclusive cliques. I can't speak for the SAA since I'm not a member.

Well, so much for my opinion based upon my experiences. Good luck in your future path and welcome to our profession !

Gunnar M. Berg