Responsibilities of an Archivist:
Archivists work in various institutions and are responsible for preserving, organizing, and managing historical records and documents. Their primary objective is to ensure the longevity and accessibility of records for future generations. They acquire, preserve, arrange, describe, and provide access to materials of historical and cultural significance.
- Facilitating the gathering, storage, organization, description, and access to materials
- Assembling historical research files relevant to objectives
- Assisting staff, researchers, and interns interested in accessing the archives
- Creating policies and procedures for managing archival collections
- Providing reference services to those seeking information
Materials Managed by Archivists:
The materials managed by archivists can be in any format, analogue or digital. This includes documents, photographs, video and sound recordings, maps, artifacts, and born-digital materials.
Distinct Skills and Duties of Archivists:
Archivists have separate training and principles from librarians, though they share some similarities. Key skills needed include being forward-looking, technologically proficient, and meticulous with recording details about archival materials. A core responsibility is determining which records have enduring value and should be preserved for the future.
Archivist’s Daily Tasks:
The daily duties of an archivist involve recording details about archival records, assembling historical research files, assisting employees and researchers in accessing archives, acquiring and preserving materials, creating policies for archival collections, and offering reference services to users.
Required Skills for Archivists:
Archivists assess, collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to records of long-term value. Key skills include organizing, strong research abilities, communication skills, critical thinking, and preservation techniques. Archivists create storage systems for public use and maintain the integrity of collections with data management skills.
Education and Career Outlook for Archivists:
Archivists typically pursue postgraduate study and often hold a master’s degree in archival studies. Employment for archivists is predicted to increase and offer growth opportunities in various institutions.
Records in archival repositories serve as evidence of activities and have enduring value beyond their original purpose. Archivists play a crucial role in deciding which records should be preserved for future generations, regardless of format.