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Archives
History
Archival
and Manuscript collections are the records created by organizations as
well as individuals in the course of ongoing activities, and
then saved in
repositories because of their continuing value. To
preserve information about their
origin, context, and use, repositories keep the
records from a common creator
together intellectually if not physically, and
where feasible maintain them in
their original file order. The records with a
common creator are described
collectively in finding aids known as inventories,
which like archival collections
they are arranged by file series. The collection-level MARC
records direct
users not to individual documents, but to
finding aids. Repositories may also
develop other tools to describe their holdings
such as automated in-house
indexes, subject-specific lists, and published
guides. The ability to be linked
electronically is a goal. Providing both available
through searchable databases on
the Internet.
There are three kinds of institution
in which archives services operate. The
national,
local or provincial and specialist. The national archive is the main
specialist
institution in the archives field. Often sitting among the central
departments
of government.
Through
out the years their remained a consistent archivist practice. The reference
process proceeds through stages of registration,
identification, orientation, the
initial reference interview, continuing
interaction during the user’s search and
ending with the exit interview.
Current
While
the techniques and procedures of archival reference service have not
changed greatly, a certain level of
standardization has been reached. Access and outreach remain their traditional
ties to reference. Archivists have become less willing to accept access
restrictions. The increase in archive reference, in users and in the use has
increased however, not much. With the technology providing a new means of a
delivery mechanism new approaches have been proposed for archival reference in
the digital environment.
There is an international model of
how such a service might be established, the
depth of
duties it should undertake, and the resources it would need to dispose.
The common elements in modern
practice include:
Chief Archivist Deputy
Secretariat
Archivist Archivist Conservator
(records (output (repository,
repair,
management services) reprographics)
Departmental Archives Archives Repair staff
records assistants assistants manual / transport
managers reprographics
(Cook, 1986, p.
28)
Collection
Photographs
Maps, plans
Films
Machine-readable electronic files
Paper records
Letters
Title deeds
Sound
Subject Headings
The
lack of any rigorous system-wide authority control has significantly
hampered
the success of subject indexing done to date in North American
archives.
The reliance on cataloging for authority control ultimately harms
retrieval.
Archivists utilize topical lists for archives. Topical lists are different
from those developed
for libraries. the difference being that library
subject index
entries do not usually use archaic terms or
out-of-date terminology. Older
terminology usually is replaced by new terms. For
archival purposes, one would
need to define the historical parameters of the term used. A
controlled vocabulary
for archives must allow both terms to be used. Elizabeth Beck
has an excellent
introduction to authority control for archivists.
Patrons
The
future users could turn out to be “Screenagers” who
are used to interaction
and
immediate response-they may not be content with sites which are simply
information
and feel less of a responsibility to learn how to find and retrieve the
needed
material. These users would be more likely to use the easiest (online)
source or
to respond to an e-mail address on the Web. This in turn may lead to
more
“non-traditional “users because of the electronic nature of the internet.
The users will have a higher expectation
of what archives can provide and require
repositories
to devote an increasing amount of resources, placing more and more
material online. These internet users will expect
a version of the original and manipulate the material dynamically.
Staff
The
personality traits of an archivist may be: Sensor – judger, who are demanding
of
themselves and of others, driven, impatient, practical and tangible. Often
natural
historians, willing to take on new and additional responsibilities. Usually
the
archivist has no problems seeing the right way from the wrong way of doing
things. The
profession consists of far fewer extroverts then introverts.
As with any facility the staff
varies in size. A librarian with extensive archive
background
with fellow staff also trained in archives as well as the technologies
utilized. For public contact the archivist will
need to be a people person more toward the extrovert personality.
Organizations Associated With
Association
of Record Management
ALA- American Library Association
AALA- American Archives Libraries
Association
National Association of Archivists
SAA- Society of American Archivists
ACA-Association
of Canadian Archivists
Job Opportunities
Salary
14,560 – 48,750
Average 22,280
The National Inventory of
Documentary Sources in the
Association of Record Management
Society of
University Library
Government Library
Historical Society