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By Guest Contributor, on February 11th, 2010
We are very pleased to have D.S. Apfelbaum as a Guest Contributor this week. D.S. will be graduating from the M.S.L.I.S./Archives Certificate program at Long Island University this May. Please be sure to also check our her blog at http://thebookofdan.wordpress.com. Thanks for the contribution! ~ ed.
When Lance recently blogged about resolving to get more involved in community service projects in 2010, I was reminded of a time – now, almost two years ago – when I first began to consider volunteering at an archival repository. For me, it was an easy decision – not only was I fortunate enough to have a schedule that would accommodate volunteer work, but, as Lance also mentioned, I knew it would complement my courses while building my résumé. Three organizations and a couple of jobs later, I would say I made a fairly safe prediction. The obvious benefits aside, though, volunteering has paid off in ways I could have never imagined at the outset. I hope that in sharing my experiences I will: 1) bring some of those hidden perks to light and 2) elucidate essential aspects of the volunteer process as it relates specifically to archives.
Finding a Gig
Finding repositories can be difficult if you don’t know where to look, especially if you’re just starting out and aren’t familiar with your local, regional, and/or national archival associations. The best place to begin is the SAA site. There, you’ll find a listing of local and regional archival organizations in the U.S. and Canada, which will lead you to institutions in your area. For example, those of us in the New York have the Archivist’s Roundtable (NYART), as well as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) and the New York Archives Conference (NYAC). Both NYART and MARAC maintain an extensive listing of member sites, so it’s easy to find the contact information for a variety of archival repositories.
Another great resource: your graduate program (that is, if you’re currently enrolled). Whether you’re going for the full M.S. or just the archives certificate, chances are your program has at least one email listserv and/or a wiki (the Palmer School, where I’m currently a student, has both). Granted, if you’re in a distance-learning program or on a satellite campus, much of the local service opportunities posted on that particular listserv/wiki may not be of much help. However, it never hurts to shoot a quick email inquiring into information about opportunities or organizations in your area. Incidentally, if you find that your listserv advertises far more internships than volunteer gigs, feel free, if there’s an organization you’re drawn to in particular, to inquire about the possibility of volunteering there. The worst they can do is to refuse you (and it does happen, but more on that in a bit).
Getting the Gig
Of the four archival repositories I’ve applied to as a volunteer, three have required an interview. Though interviewing, itself, is rarely pleasant, the experience is definitely one those less-obvious perks. Think about it – where else will you get a no-stakes opportunity to practice convincing an established professional that your coursework and experience make you the choice candidate? It’s also the perfect occasion to start thinking about your transferable skills and how to turn specific aspects of your non-archival professional experience into assets for future archival work.
That said, if you are asked to come in for interview for a volunteer position, treat it as if it’s the real deal: dress appropriately, have a decent grasp on the organization, and know how much time you will be able to commit. Remember: you never lose points for professionalism.
Of Mentors and Moolah
If I hadn’t realized at first how helpful the interview process would be, I certainly never imagined that volunteering would allow me to cultivate serious professional relationships to the extent that it has, let alone put me in the running for paid positions.
When it comes to mentors, I have been extremely lucky. I have had gracious supervisors who have not only been willing to discuss their experiences, but who have also gone out of their way to actively engage me in discussions about relevant trends and issues in archival science. What’s more, their faith in my abilities has boosted my confidence as a burgeoning archives professional. In particular, I regard it as a privilege to have been allowed by the archivist at the Oyster Bay Historical Society to plan, create, and install the Archives Month Exhibit (which has now traveled to LIU). It was a completely unexpected experience that has now left me with an invaluable skill set.
While my volunteer work has yet to secure me a full-time position with ample vacation and an opt-in dental plan, it has led to paid, part-time work in archival repositories. My first experience was with the National Archives at New York. In the spring of 2009, I found myself having to commute from Long Island to NYU for classes. With a 4:30pm start time, it was a bit of a day-killer, so I contacted NARA about volunteering at the agency’s Varick Street location during the morning and early afternoon. Admittedly, it didn’t work out the way I had planned – only three months in, a change in personal circumstances and scheduling precluded my volunteering with the organization further. Needless to say, after committing to volunteering the whole semester and having to pull out half-way through, I was extremely embarrassed. I never expected, after such a short time and an abrupt departure, that I would later be contacted with the opportunity to work for NARA over the summer as a temporary Archives Technician.
My second experience was just as surprising as the first. Again, faced with a little extra time during the week, I decided to volunteer at LIU’s B. Davis Schwartz Library in the Digital Initiatives/Art Slide Department, which is currently working on a huge project involving the archives of William Randolph Hearst. During my time there in the fall of 2009, I worked on small things, like rehousing documents and scanning photo files. But, being a student in the M.S.L.I.S. program and having familiarized myself with the staff and department projects, I suppose it made it that much easier for me to slip into the graduate assistant’s position after she accepted a job at another library.
The bottom-line: even a few hours of quality volunteer work can make a big impression on potential employers.
Thanks, But No Thanks
Free, skilled labor – it’s not welcome everywhere. Such was the case, I found, when I contacted a local library about helping out with the archival materials in its history room. Though the call, which had been posted on the Palmer School listserv, had been made specifically for an intern, I decided to touch base with the library anyway. I made it explicitly clear that I was at the start of my degree and that my time with the library would not accrue course credit. With that understanding, I came in, had my interview, and was told they couldn’t wait for me to start. Then, without warning, they dropped the I-bomb on me: “But we only take interns.”
If you find yourself in a similar situation, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news, first: if you’re not enrolled in an accredited program during the time in which you plan to volunteer for an organization that enforces an interns-only policy, there’s very little you can do. However, if you are in a program, consult BOTH your academic advisor and your university’s career office for further guidance. Unfortunately, when I petitioned my graduate advisor for advice, I was given only the option of doing an independent study. I declined, since I didn’t think it was an experience worth the $800 I would have had to shell out for a single credit.
For whatever reason, I wasn’t pointed in the direction of LIU’s cooperative education office which would have ameliorated several conflicts. First, participating in the Co-op program would have solved the problem of needing official university support. To take part, students must register for a section of Experiential Learning; thus I would have been able to call myself an intern. Second, since the class functions as a no-credit course, it would have been free.
Had I known then what I know now – that I should have consulted with the career office before giving up – I might have been able to volunteer at that small library after all. Nevertheless, I still managed to find professionally meaningful service opportunities.
Go Forth & Archive (For Free!)
I can’t guarantee that if you volunteer you’ll have the same experiences I’ve had, even though I hope that you do (well, except for the whole rejection bit – that sucked). What I will say, though, is that if you’re on the fence about volunteering, consider the potential perks: a chance to flex your muscles as an interviewee; a career-long mentor; a new skill; a job. And, let’s not forget — the chance to do some good. After all, altruism looks great on everybody.
By Bria, on February 9th, 2010
We are very happy to have another post by Bria Parker this week. Even better, after much begging on my part, she has joined the NewArchivist team as a Regular Contributor. Welcome Bria! ~ ed.
Fact: Slow-moving bureaucracies are slow. Like, “being able to feel the rotations of the earth” slow.
I started my first job six months ago. I was gung-ho and ready to change the world (or at least the world of audio preservation at my library). I worked with fervor, reviewing literature, brainstorming, developing documentation, completing tasks. Then I would proudly send out what I had accomplished in an email to those involved in that particular aspect. I would receive a reply of “great – let’s have a meeting to discuss this sometime in [insert name of faraway month here].” Now, I knew that it would take a while to get everyone on the same page and get the project moving forward, but I just was not prepared for things to drag on for months.
Yikes. What was I supposed to do in the meantime? Sure, there were other tasks and aspects that I needed to address. But what happens when several of these tasks hinge on the decisions waiting to be made? When you’re coming right out of graduate school, the land of ever-imminent deadlines, it can be hard to get out of the “I must get this done RIGHT NOW” kind of attitude and realize that sometimes you have more time than you think you do to finish something.
This is not a post on how to look busy so your boss doesn’t give you more to do. That’s not how I roll. This is about how to plan ahead, how to (try to) take the lead, and how to gently poke and prod people until you see some progress. Delay is inevitable. I am near, if not on, the bottom rung, so my responsibilities number few, so when I have to rely on others whose responsibilities exponentially outnumber mine it’s hard to press for progress without feeling like a petulant toddler. “Want juice, want juice!!” (or “want metadata, want metadata!!).
So what should a new archivist (or new librarian) do when faced with this reality? How can we continue be efficient with our work when faced with delay? Here are a couple tips to help ease the frustration:
First, before setting off on any task, outline it in detail. Don’t just outline the actual content you hope to collect, or the desired outcomes of the task, but map out who you will need to communicate with in order to get it through the next step, or who you will need to hand it off to when you’re done. Keep open communication with these people, and do let them know that you hope to finish “xyz” soon and want to know if they have time in the near future to look at it/give feedback/move forward with it. I know it can be hard to do this without seeming like a nag, but it is worth it. It lets both parties know where each other is at.
Second, use all of this information to create a clear and flexible timeline for when you need to have these things ready. I have also found it helpful to ask straightforward questions about the timelines of others. For example, I need some programming done for some creation and digital validation routines for the project I’m working on. I am not a programmer. Thus, I’ve asked when this programming will fit into the production schedule of that department. Not only does it give me a better idea, but it let’s others know “Hey, don’t forget about this. We need to get this worked in soon.” This is better than just handing something off and waiting. Don’t assume that anyone will tell you anything about any timeline.
Third, I suggest initiating meetings with people. Yes, I know, everyone dreads meetings. But my experience thus far is that it has been the best way to meet people, and conversely, let them know who I am and what I am doing. When you’re new, it helps for people to have a face and a personality to match to the countless emails you plan on sending them. If they recognize your name, they’re more likely to help you. Even if you just drop by someone’s office to chat for ten minutes, it is ten minutes well spent. That brief encounter can help remind someone to finish something up for you. Again, don’t be a nag. Be friendly and respectful.
Hopefully by doing the above, you will be able to prioritize your work based on a more realistic timeline and will spend less time waiting. The planning and outlining may also help you notice other work that has yet to be done or assigned. Be proactive and do it!
I realize this is wishful thinking, as it does not always work out this way. Sometimes you just have to wait. In the meantime, revisit other things waiting in the queue with fresh eyes. You may find that you have completely different ideas about how to approach something than you did a month ago when you first worked on it. If you find yourself with absolutely nothing to do, don’t sit on your hands, do research! It’s always a good idea to go through the literature looking for new ideas and trends.
So that’s my take on staying sane. What about you? What tips do you have for us?
By Lance, on February 3rd, 2010
Rebecca Goldman of the archives webcomic Derangement and Description began Crash Space for Archivists (CSFA) as a way for people in the profession to find free places to stay (or crash, as the kids say) while traveling for conferences and such. Her inspiration came from a post at Beaver Archivist, which itself was inspired by a generous offer on the A&A listserv! In response to my Mini Rant on the need for more affordable SAA educational options, she graciously offered to share the hosting of CSFA with NewArchivist. We agree with her assumption that we new professionals are most in need of finding free lodging, and are thrilled to add to this archival 2.0 synergy (yes, I say things like synergy).
Please see the Crash Space for Archivists page for more info, to see the list of people who have volunteered space, or to offer your own crash space. We plan on keeping the CSFA page up permanently, so feel free to bookmark it.
Thanks to Rebecca and all of those who have already offered to help out your fellow archivists!
By Sophie, on January 27th, 2010
This is the first post in our From The Trenches Series focusing on the archival job hunt. Please see the preceding link for more info and Sophie’s bio. Thanks so much for your contribution, Sophie! ~ ed.
Looking for a new job is never easy, no matter how you land in that position. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they actively enjoyed it, whether they found themselves doing so voluntarily or involuntarily. While I never planned on staying at the position I had been at for several years, I certainly never planned on leaving it as I did. I was slightly blindsided when I had found out that my position was being eliminated. The economy has certainly been in sorry shape and my institution was feeling the effects, but I had been assured multiple times due to the nature of my library and our very small staff, my position was secure, simply because there wasn’t someone else in the department who could absorb those duties. “You’ll be fine because no one can do what you do.” I held on to that. But despite all earlier assurances, I was blindsided when I was gently told by a very upset manager that despite her best efforts, my position was being eliminated. After the various stages of shock, anger, and resignation, all I could ask myself was “Now What?”
Finding yourself looking for a job especially when you weren’t planning on doing so is harrowing. It doesn’t help that libraries, archives, and institutions which employ information professionals across the board are hurting, resulting in downsizing, hiring freezes, if not outright closure (which is what’s likely to happen to where I used to work soon). So… now what? I’m in a particularly fun situation (in both the genuine and sarcastic) sense in that due to my partner’s work situation, relocation is not really an option for me, so I’m confined to jobs within a certain area. I received my MLIS with an emphasis in archival studies and after almost two years of working as a librarian, I’m primarily gunning for archival positions, which has always been my primary interest. Especially after attending SAA 2009, I was reminded that being archivist is what I want to do, it’s why I stayed in library school and it’s what I love, so now what’s left to do dive in and hope for the best.
What I’ve done so far is update my resume, got my references in order, and put out some feelers through colleagues that I’m looking for archival work. I’m a Certified Archivist, so I’m hoping that’ll help given that my most recent experience has been working in a research library. I have resumes sent out and I’m waiting to hear back. This process is nerve-wracking in the best of circumstances, but now we have something else to contend with… archivists with more experience who have been forced back into the job market are going to be applying for the same jobs as those fairly new in the field and those just entering the field. I’d be lying if I said this didn’t scare me. Why hire me when they may get someone with more experience for less money? But you can’t think like that. I’ve been told this more than once, it’s critical once you’re applying for a professional job to see yourself as such. If you meet the qualifications, you have the education, you are a professional, not a student seeking an internship. Don’t brag or be overconfident, but this is not the time to be shy, not on paper in your cover letter/resume, not in the interview. I’m making a point to try and apply for jobs that I know based on past experience and my own personality I know I would enjoy doing. I’ve learned this the hard way that if you apply for something because you think you should, it comes across and usually works against you.
Now here’s hoping that I’ve followed my own advice and for good news as I wait to hear back from the places I applied. All the best.
By Lance, on January 14th, 2010
We are please to announce the beginning of the new blog series, From the Trenches, an examination of two people’s journey through the search for their first jobs in the archival profession. Our From the Trenches bloggers, Jason and Sophie, will be providing semi-regular posts covering the ins and outs of their search. Both bloggers will be using pseudonyms, and only the NewArchivist editorial staff will know their true identity (like All the President’s Men, without the naughty nickname). We hope to have posts from them up very soon. A hearty thanks to Jason and Sophie for their willingness to contribute!
Please see the From the Trenches Series page for Jason and Sophie’s bios and more information.
Thanks!
By Lance, on January 7th, 2010
It is that time of year again, when we all shake off the effects of holiday cookies, champagne, and time with the family to take a sober look at the things we need to improve upon. Hence, the New Year’s Resolutions. Of course I have made the usual list of resolutions this year, such as actually using my gym membership, getting on top of my student loans, and stop challenging people to fist fights when they question my use of the Oxford comma. However, for the first time I have also made a list of professional resolutions. The following are things that I believe I can do to make myself a better archivist as I enter my second year in the profession (thanks to Emi for the idea and help with this post).
I hereby resolve to:
Contribute to Archival Literature I am currently finishing coauthoring an article with one of my recent professors. Working with a person who has experience in the peer-reviewed writing process has been very helpful. The question will be can I do it on my own. I think my writing is strong enough (I can actually write an entire piece without movie references, I just choose not to on this blog). The interest is there too. The challenge will come from budgeting my time wisely enough to sustain the writing and research required for an article. It is one thing to devote time to something through a partnership where you do not want to let the other person down, it is another to make yourself the sole taskmaster. I am already thinking of some topics, so lets hope I can devote the time and write, write, write (not to mention convince someone to publish it).
Keep Learnin’ I think I speak for most recent graduate students when I say that the last thing I want right now is more school. However, I do think professional educational and training opportunities are important. I have been toying with taking a programming, database, or other technical class to compliment my archival education. Some of the SAA courses also look interesting, although some are out of my range. I figure I will start out with short time commitments and inexpensive tuition so I do not conflict with my student loan debt and gym resolutions. No PhD for me yet…
Find Community Service Opportunities During my time in graduate school I participated in the student SAA group’s community service program, where we would go out and lend a hand at several local cultural heritage locations. At first, I expected this to be similar to the type of volunteering that usually happens at archives and libraries. While we did move some boxes and sort some papers, what was surprising to me was that the people who worked at these institutions really desired our archival expertise. Even though we were only grad students, they wanted us to give them advice on a variety of archival topics. One place wanted us to tell them the proper way to merge two large topical files. Another place wanted us to recommend what materials should be separated so she could go to the governing board with reassurances that it was OK to throw away some material. Another wanted help updating their acquisition policy. While I was in school I saw community service as a great way to get your hands dirty and complement all the theoretical learning, not to mention a great resume builder. Now, I see it as a way to help those small or in-need places that could benefit from just an afternoon of advice from a professional (albeit New) archivist. I especially want to look for opportunities in the historically rich city of Detroit. Maybe we can get a group of area charitable archivists together!
 Lauren Lippert working hard during a visit to the Canton Historical Society in Canton, Michigan Well, there you have it. I will try to keep you all posted on my progress throughout the year. Or, if they end up in the same place that I think the gym membership will, I will delete this post in March and never speak of these archival resolutions again…
Happy New Year!
Off Topic Mini-Rant: I wish SAA would offer more online educational and training opportunities. I can afford the class, but can’t afford the travel. I bet a lot of people are in the same boat and would be interested in such offerings. Just a thought.
By Lance, on December 9th, 2009
We here at NewArchivist Headquarters are interested in beginning a series of posts focusing on a job search as it happens. We are all familiar with the drama associated with a job search and think it would be quite valuable for readers to get updates on the sometimes exciting, sometimes frustrating job hunting process. This series would be quite useful for those who are currently looking for employment, soon to be entering the job market, or who have not had to go through a search in a while.
Image courtesy of Flickr member Kevin H. / CC-BY-NC-ND
To facilitate the production of this series, we are looking for a current job hunter to regularly add posts to the blog. We would prefer that this person be looking for their first professional position in the archives field, and can be someone in their last year of grad school. The contributor will have the option to blog under their real name or, if they prefer, blog under a pseudonym so they can dish, dish, dish (all names will be changed to protect the innocent, of course).
If you are interested, please contact Lance.
Update: Thanks for all of the responses, the level of interest took me by surprise! We will be making an announcement soon.
By Lance, on December 7th, 2009
While I am not sure if three links really constitute a “O-Rama” type situation, we wanted to pass along some interesting things that have been posted over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!
By Lance, on November 24th, 2009
My Thanksgiving usually is comprised of gorging myself on deviled eggs, watching football, and taking crap from the Buckeye wing of the family, again… *sadness filled pause*
Anyway, besides the usual thankfulness of health, happiness, a wonderful family, and a spouse who likes college hockey, this year I will be adding things that have either helped in my budding career, or that helps our profession. Here are some highlights:
Open Source Software and Freeware OK, I know this is an geeky way to begin my list, but it is true. The computer on which I am currently typing also has local installations of Archivist’s Toolkit, Drupal, WordPress, and Apache. I know that open source is not necessarily free because of the learning curve involved, and sometimes it can be kind of frustrating being on your own. However, I love the fact that I can download these tools and play with them. Imagine if we had to go to Microsoft or some other vendor for all of this stuff. I am hoping soon to make the switch to Open Office, and maybe even a Linux based system as well (perhaps it will run on a solar powered machine made of granola and hemp).
The National Treasure Franchise Yes, the Nicolas Cage character is not an archivist and there are several things in that movie that made us all cringe, but let me tell you a story. The first movie was released to video at about the same time I did a short internship at NARA. I watched the video with my then 6 and 10 year old nephews and offhandedly mentioned that I was just at the National Archives. The six year old asked me if my job was like what Nicolas Cage’s character does in the movie. As I pondered my answer, I first looked at the TV, on which Nicolas Cage was rolling the Declaration up like a Bon Jovi poster and partaking in some witty banter with the beautiful conservator. I then looked at my nephew, who was waiting for my answer, his trusting eyes looking at me with anticipation. I said: “Yes, yes it is.” I will continue this lie until he is old enough to understand that the truth of what Uncle Lance does is actually as cool as the lie. So, despite the bad preservation practice and historical inaccuracies, anything that makes me look cool and puts butts in the seats at the National Archives is alright by me. Besides, if you are going to misrepresent what an archivist does, it could be worse (before I get sucked into the debate on the preceding clip, I refer you to Derangement and Description, whose take on this matter is spot on).
Grad School Cohort/Twitter Before I went to grad school, a friend of mine, whose wife earned a MBA a couple of years earlier, told me that my grad school cohort will become quite important to me. Well, Chris from New Jersey was right. Even though I am older than most of my former classmates (that is why this blog is called NewArchivist, not YoungArchivist), they have proved to be an invaluable help to me by providing a place to ask “dumb” questions and vent about the common frustrations of a new professional. I see the group of archivists on Twitter as a similar type of resource. While Twitter interaction obviously lacks the face to face element (and you run the chance of broadcasting your ignorance to the world), where else do you have an opportunity to communicate with archivists from all different locations, expertise, and experiences (without having to risk getting mired in #thatdarnlistserv)? I do not get a chance to contribute as much as I would like on Twitter, but I hope to increase my participation in the future and help add my small part to that discussion.
Well, there is a sampling. Please feel free to add some of your thankfulness to the comment section, and happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NewArchivist!
 Deviled Eggs are Freakin' Awesome
By Katherine, on November 8th, 2009
When you’ve just graduated and are still looking for a job, it’s easy to feel like getting that first job will solve all your problems. Then you get the job offer and it comes with a whole new set of adventures to tackle. If you’re like me, you plan and implement your move half way across the country in the span of three weeks. If you’re really adventurous, desperate, or the job is just awesome, you might find yourself moving to a place where you don’t know anyone.
During and for the first month after my move, I enjoyed the challenges that were coming my way. The people in my office are simply amazing. They’re really good at answering my questions about things like where I should look for curtains and how cold I can expect it to get in Boston this winter. I actually found my apartment because my boss has a friend who is a realtor. You have to love the boss who meets you when you get off the bus from the airport and presents you with a city map. (I have to say this is probably one of my favorite gifts ever because it is useful and expresses confidence in my abilities, sort of like when Dad gave me a car jack the Valentine’s Day after I turned 16). During this time, I had fun pretending that I was a pioneer, striking out on my own to make my way in the world. As Dad pointed out before I left, it’s not like things were two hundred years ago when people left home and never came back, when it could take weeks or months to get a letter half way across the country. For a while, it was fun to wander around and buy new things, building my professional wardrobe and decorating my new apartment.
Then the adrenaline rush wore off. It hit home that there wasn’t anyone in this city that I’d known longer than six weeks. I felt (and often still feel) lonely and isolated. There are many days when I wake up and just want to see the familiar face of someone, anyone that I have history with. (Even if it was someone I hadn’t talked to often or maybe even actually liked when I knew them previously, I would love them just for being in this city at this time.)
I know that feeling at-home in Boston is largely dependent on me. I won’t feel completely comfortable here until I have commitments (outside of getting up and going to work every day) and friends that I can call at the last minute when I suddenly decide that I absolutely must go out for pizza or who will help me sneak snacks into the movie theater and then make fun of me while I talk to the characters on screen. This weekend I joined a brunch group that I found on meetup.com. I figure that brunch is a nice, safe way to meet new people. In the spring I’m planning to take some sort of lessons that involve boats; I’m not sure whether it will focus on rowing or sails, but regardless, it will not be an activity I could easily pursue in Missouri. And until I have memories in Boston, I still have my phone and friends all over the country who are going through the same thing.
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