The idea of archives appeals to me, but should I focus more broadly?
August 19, 2015 7:16 AM Subscribe
Finishing up my first semester in Library and Information Technology. What to choose for courses for next semester?
I know it might be too soon to start really narrowing down the field I'd eventually like to work in, but I like the idea of working one day in archives. (Ideally in the UK, but that's not the question.) My question to all the awesome MeFi librarians is: what are some good choices for my next semester? Cataloguing and reference? Or going ahead and dipping my toe into the Archives course to see if it is something I'd like to really aim towards at the end of this whole thing?
I work full-time, do school work part-time, so I'd like to make sure that whatever I choose, I can give it my all. Here is the linked program of studies that our online school recommends (though our instructor has said it is really up to each individual as to how they want to proceed).
Registration is currently open for autumn semester so I hope I can figure this out soon!
I know it might be too soon to start really narrowing down the field I'd eventually like to work in, but I like the idea of working one day in archives. (Ideally in the UK, but that's not the question.) My question to all the awesome MeFi librarians is: what are some good choices for my next semester? Cataloguing and reference? Or going ahead and dipping my toe into the Archives course to see if it is something I'd like to really aim towards at the end of this whole thing?
I work full-time, do school work part-time, so I'd like to make sure that whatever I choose, I can give it my all. Here is the linked program of studies that our online school recommends (though our instructor has said it is really up to each individual as to how they want to proceed).
Registration is currently open for autumn semester so I hope I can figure this out soon!
MLS with a concentration in archives and records management (currently not doing either professionally, however) here. If you can manage it, I strongly recommend an internship or practicum doing archival work before you invest too much in related coursework. Below the management level, you're likely to be doing a lot of processing, arranging, and cataloging of archival materials - this can be tedious-to-maddening if you're not interested in the subject matter and attitudinally suited to the work.
I'd also take a very clear-eyed look at the archives job market in your area, or in areas you'd like to work. I can only speak for the US, but right now jobs are scarce and starting salaries tend to be low. Archives / special collections jobs tend to be romanticized and, while they can be very rewarding, there is a trade off in grunt work, scarce opportunities for employment, and low pay that typically needs to be acknowledged.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:43 AM on August 19, 2015
I'd also take a very clear-eyed look at the archives job market in your area, or in areas you'd like to work. I can only speak for the US, but right now jobs are scarce and starting salaries tend to be low. Archives / special collections jobs tend to be romanticized and, while they can be very rewarding, there is a trade off in grunt work, scarce opportunities for employment, and low pay that typically needs to be acknowledged.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:43 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: I see that the Archives course has no prerequisites and is not mandatory. Go ahead, take it. Give yourself as many options as possible. I did an internship in a special library, I volunteered at the public library, and I was a grad assistant at the university library.
I don't know which of the mandatory courses you've already taken, so I don't know what to recommend. When I was in library school (2008 grad) the cataloging course was the absolute most demanding one for me- all that nitpicky where do you put the space and the period stuff drove me batty- but I already had other graduate degrees and the courses that involved writing papers didn't faze me at all.
My other graduate degrees are in an area of history and I did consider becoming an archivist, but eventually decided that I really loved being a reference librarian for undergraduates.
posted by mareli at 7:48 AM on August 19, 2015
I don't know which of the mandatory courses you've already taken, so I don't know what to recommend. When I was in library school (2008 grad) the cataloging course was the absolute most demanding one for me- all that nitpicky where do you put the space and the period stuff drove me batty- but I already had other graduate degrees and the courses that involved writing papers didn't faze me at all.
My other graduate degrees are in an area of history and I did consider becoming an archivist, but eventually decided that I really loved being a reference librarian for undergraduates.
posted by mareli at 7:48 AM on August 19, 2015
Response by poster: I literally just started taking this online course in May; so the only course I have finished (and the exam is tomorrow!) is Introduction to Library Science and Technology. I pay by semester, which is quite cheap here in Canada hence my ability to do it and afford to do it. I live in a small college city so I volunteer when and where I can in the library system; so far, only the public library has been the option as it is hard to get into the Queen's University system for this sort of thing.
posted by Kitteh at 7:56 AM on August 19, 2015
posted by Kitteh at 7:56 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: It might help to know what exactly it is about the idea of archives that appeals to you. I'd have different recommendations for broader subjects to look at depending on where your interests are.
posted by clavicle at 8:52 AM on August 19, 2015
posted by clavicle at 8:52 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: Seconding ryanshepard's recommendation to look at the archives job market in your area/target area. The US seems over saturated with folks with an archives specialization and even some professional experience as an archivist. The IMLS gave out a lot of grants to process hidden collections, and so lots of folks had temporary jobs, and now there are lots of experienced archivists looking for work. I'm in a different library field, and when hiring for that different and very specialized field, probably 80 percent of the applications were from archivists who in no way were qualified for the job because it was in a totally different area of work. And from word of mouth, the pools when we post an actual archivist position are huge and very good (so highly competitive). This doesn't make this impossible, there still seems (at least in our hiring) to be a dearth of archivists with really strong technical skills.
That said, taking a course doesn't commit you to that as a career path in any way, and even if you don't go that route, it is good to gain knowledge about other specialties. I went into library school thinking I wanted to do reference, got a student job on the reference desk and HATED it. But found that I really dig information organization, metadata, and the like. So I think you totally have the right idea in trying out different areas to see what clicks.
Maybe we can give a more personalized recommendation if you give us a bit more information about what you enjoy and feel you do well in. The more specific you can be the better (like, I found it really interesting to learn about how the classification system divides the information world into categories, I like helping a customer find just the right shirt, I think playing with excel is fun, I enjoy tracing my family tree, etc.)
What parts of working in an archive appeal to you?
What you found interesting/boring in your intro course?
What things in your day job you enjoy and feel like you do well at?
posted by pennypiper at 8:58 AM on August 19, 2015
That said, taking a course doesn't commit you to that as a career path in any way, and even if you don't go that route, it is good to gain knowledge about other specialties. I went into library school thinking I wanted to do reference, got a student job on the reference desk and HATED it. But found that I really dig information organization, metadata, and the like. So I think you totally have the right idea in trying out different areas to see what clicks.
Maybe we can give a more personalized recommendation if you give us a bit more information about what you enjoy and feel you do well in. The more specific you can be the better (like, I found it really interesting to learn about how the classification system divides the information world into categories, I like helping a customer find just the right shirt, I think playing with excel is fun, I enjoy tracing my family tree, etc.)
What parts of working in an archive appeal to you?
What you found interesting/boring in your intro course?
What things in your day job you enjoy and feel like you do well at?
posted by pennypiper at 8:58 AM on August 19, 2015
Response by poster: Really sorry about threadsitting! I promise I will try not to!
What I have really liked so far about my course:
*exploring the versatility of online catalogues
*I bizarrely really enjoy using the DDC and LCC systems for cataloguing (we had to do this huge list as an assignment, and being a crossword fan, I found the proper arranging of titles soothing yet pleasantly challenging)
* library history
*figuring how to best explain the myriad uses of those online catalogues from the various viewpoints of users (as well as testing them)
What I have not liked:
* Creating citations for monographs, papers, etc. I just do not like it.
* Interviewing people for assignments (people in the field) but mostly because I feel horribly awkward and have anxiety.
Why I am interested in archives:
*I am fascinated by historical documents
*I love history
*I like cataloguing.
posted by Kitteh at 9:38 AM on August 19, 2015
What I have really liked so far about my course:
*exploring the versatility of online catalogues
*I bizarrely really enjoy using the DDC and LCC systems for cataloguing (we had to do this huge list as an assignment, and being a crossword fan, I found the proper arranging of titles soothing yet pleasantly challenging)
* library history
*figuring how to best explain the myriad uses of those online catalogues from the various viewpoints of users (as well as testing them)
What I have not liked:
* Creating citations for monographs, papers, etc. I just do not like it.
* Interviewing people for assignments (people in the field) but mostly because I feel horribly awkward and have anxiety.
Why I am interested in archives:
*I am fascinated by historical documents
*I love history
*I like cataloguing.
posted by Kitteh at 9:38 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: If you like cataloging you might want to look into data librarianship or taxonomy-related work (not totally sure what the real buzzwords are for those). Money and jobs are in data, from what I've been told. I regularly hire for a very entry level position in a law library, and we get so many archives concentration applicants who are pretty desperate for any job. The US seems to be flooding the market every spring with new archives people, and I have no idea how there are enough jobs for all of them. Feel free to drop me a line if you ever have any questions about law librarianship, it doesn't get much treatment in library school, but it's super interesting and fulfilling (but the job market sucks).
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 10:25 AM on August 19, 2015
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 10:25 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: *exploring the versatility of online catalogues
*I bizarrely really enjoy using the DDC and LCC systems for cataloguing (we had to do this huge list as an assignment, and being a crossword fan, I found the proper arranging of titles soothing yet pleasantly challenging)
*figuring how to best explain the myriad uses of those online catalogues from the various viewpoints of users (as well as testing them)
Based on this, I think you should look at working with digital collections. It can give you the opportunity to have a piece of the "oh, look at those awesome photographs/diaries/data sets" and the "how does the system work" and taking it farther, "how could it work better, how can we make that happen".
You can get to that point through a number of directions depending on your talents and the opportunities you have to learn and develop them. I went the metadata route, with a healthy dose of knowledge organization theory, a lot of dabbling in programming/database design/emerging technologies and with a sprinkling of traditional library theory to ground it all.
If I was you I'd test the metadata and technical waters. I think you might enjoy metadata theory and design (and maybe description), and whatever field you end up in, the technical stuff will help make you stand out from the crowd. And you may fall in love with RDF or digital forensics, and then you will really stand out from the crowd!
A grab bag of buzzwords you might look for: semantic web, linked data (or Linked Open Data - LOD), research data curation, digital forensics (for archives), digital preservation, xml, rdf, openRefine, digital humanities, schemas/ontologies -- just to be clear a lot of these are the more challenging and less well definied areas of work/skills in libraries, they aren't entry level library science I don't think. That's why they are in demand and what lots of folks are talking about. Don't be scared off if RDF makes your head hurt, it makes most peoples head's hurt (but it's also kinda fun if you're mind works a certain way : ) You never know what you'll find enjoyable.
Also, be aware that the particular strengths of library schools vary quite a lot, so you might need to go outside of the box if something you're interested in isn't offered or is just taught at an intro level at your school. Check out Library Juice Academy. And experience is good, even if it's experience in something you decide you don't want to do. So maybe you can volunteer for a few hours each week at your public library and try and work with their system's librarian or in the cataloging area.
Good luck!
posted by pennypiper at 11:40 AM on August 19, 2015
*I bizarrely really enjoy using the DDC and LCC systems for cataloguing (we had to do this huge list as an assignment, and being a crossword fan, I found the proper arranging of titles soothing yet pleasantly challenging)
*figuring how to best explain the myriad uses of those online catalogues from the various viewpoints of users (as well as testing them)
Based on this, I think you should look at working with digital collections. It can give you the opportunity to have a piece of the "oh, look at those awesome photographs/diaries/data sets" and the "how does the system work" and taking it farther, "how could it work better, how can we make that happen".
You can get to that point through a number of directions depending on your talents and the opportunities you have to learn and develop them. I went the metadata route, with a healthy dose of knowledge organization theory, a lot of dabbling in programming/database design/emerging technologies and with a sprinkling of traditional library theory to ground it all.
If I was you I'd test the metadata and technical waters. I think you might enjoy metadata theory and design (and maybe description), and whatever field you end up in, the technical stuff will help make you stand out from the crowd. And you may fall in love with RDF or digital forensics, and then you will really stand out from the crowd!
A grab bag of buzzwords you might look for: semantic web, linked data (or Linked Open Data - LOD), research data curation, digital forensics (for archives), digital preservation, xml, rdf, openRefine, digital humanities, schemas/ontologies -- just to be clear a lot of these are the more challenging and less well definied areas of work/skills in libraries, they aren't entry level library science I don't think. That's why they are in demand and what lots of folks are talking about. Don't be scared off if RDF makes your head hurt, it makes most peoples head's hurt (but it's also kinda fun if you're mind works a certain way : ) You never know what you'll find enjoyable.
Also, be aware that the particular strengths of library schools vary quite a lot, so you might need to go outside of the box if something you're interested in isn't offered or is just taught at an intro level at your school. Check out Library Juice Academy. And experience is good, even if it's experience in something you decide you don't want to do. So maybe you can volunteer for a few hours each week at your public library and try and work with their system's librarian or in the cataloging area.
Good luck!
posted by pennypiper at 11:40 AM on August 19, 2015
Response by poster: pennypiper -- my fear about that is I am not very mathematically inclined. But my school does offer a course in Metadata, but there are a couple of prereqs I have to tackle first!
posted by Kitteh at 11:47 AM on August 19, 2015
posted by Kitteh at 11:47 AM on August 19, 2015
Best answer: I agree with pennypiper about pursuing technical aspects. I'm not an archivist, but the library where I work has large "heritage collections" including maps, manuscripts, pictures of all types, original documents, rare books. In terms of a sustainable career path, getting involved with making this kind of historical information available electronically through digitisation is a real boom area (if there is such a thing) in libraries. I think traditional reference is dying a slow death.
So there's a few aspects to that kind of work, if it appeals to you:
- knowledge of the collections to identify priority material to be digitised (significance assessment type stuff) - this can tap into your interest in history
- the physical digitisation process, which may require conservation work or other treatment depending on the condition of the material, in addition to photography etc - this is a different kind of technical skill but you may be drawn to it!
- how to describe and organise digitised material - everything from the metadata describing the material to file naming structures to keep things identifiable and findable at different levels of granularity (an individual page of a work/the whole work/the series the work belongs to/the subject or topic, etc)
- working with software to manage all of this, when technology is constantly evolving and products that people were using 5-10 years ago to manage their digital holdings are increasingly superseded
- for printed works, what else needs to be done to the digital images? Do you need an OCR layer to make the text searchable? How are you going to clean that up? (See the digitised newspapers on Trove for an example of the difference between the image and how the computer parses the characters; Trove is fantastic in allowing users to do "text correction" to clean up that data). If you are working with non-printed material, how do you describe/transcribe it and manage those descriptions/transcriptions and connect them with the images?
- making digitised material available to the general public through the catalogue, which will usually involve at least two separate systems trying to interoperate with each other, much joy abounds in this intersection (I do some of this kind of thing).
- copyright, reproduction arrangements - a whole world of complexity there, especially if you are working with culturally sensitive material, private manuscripts, etc - and also how to communicate any restrictions on usage to the public whilst also maintaining accessibility
- born-digital archival/manuscript material - for example, early drafts of novels as Word files; archiving websites; etc - and how to add that into whatever tools are managing digitised material as well.
Anyway, the more of a grasp you can get on technological aspects, working with getting different types of technology to talk to each other and work together, wrangling software to give up its secrets to users, all that kind of thing and there will be a lot more options and opportunities for you. So I'm saying yes, take the archives course because there's a lot of scope for that in the future. But definitely explore as much tech as you can as well, because that's where the future of the profession lies. Feel free to memail me if I've gotten too technical!
posted by Athanassiel at 7:55 PM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
So there's a few aspects to that kind of work, if it appeals to you:
- knowledge of the collections to identify priority material to be digitised (significance assessment type stuff) - this can tap into your interest in history
- the physical digitisation process, which may require conservation work or other treatment depending on the condition of the material, in addition to photography etc - this is a different kind of technical skill but you may be drawn to it!
- how to describe and organise digitised material - everything from the metadata describing the material to file naming structures to keep things identifiable and findable at different levels of granularity (an individual page of a work/the whole work/the series the work belongs to/the subject or topic, etc)
- working with software to manage all of this, when technology is constantly evolving and products that people were using 5-10 years ago to manage their digital holdings are increasingly superseded
- for printed works, what else needs to be done to the digital images? Do you need an OCR layer to make the text searchable? How are you going to clean that up? (See the digitised newspapers on Trove for an example of the difference between the image and how the computer parses the characters; Trove is fantastic in allowing users to do "text correction" to clean up that data). If you are working with non-printed material, how do you describe/transcribe it and manage those descriptions/transcriptions and connect them with the images?
- making digitised material available to the general public through the catalogue, which will usually involve at least two separate systems trying to interoperate with each other, much joy abounds in this intersection (I do some of this kind of thing).
- copyright, reproduction arrangements - a whole world of complexity there, especially if you are working with culturally sensitive material, private manuscripts, etc - and also how to communicate any restrictions on usage to the public whilst also maintaining accessibility
- born-digital archival/manuscript material - for example, early drafts of novels as Word files; archiving websites; etc - and how to add that into whatever tools are managing digitised material as well.
Anyway, the more of a grasp you can get on technological aspects, working with getting different types of technology to talk to each other and work together, wrangling software to give up its secrets to users, all that kind of thing and there will be a lot more options and opportunities for you. So I'm saying yes, take the archives course because there's a lot of scope for that in the future. But definitely explore as much tech as you can as well, because that's where the future of the profession lies. Feel free to memail me if I've gotten too technical!
posted by Athanassiel at 7:55 PM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]
« Older Looking for more recent love songs. | Let's say I'm a nuisance at the DMV: can they... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by clone boulevard at 7:38 AM on August 19, 2015