As the cries of 'Not that bloody Schofield again!' echo around the
country...
I have to agree wholeheartedly with that which Steve Bailey writes. I am
also rather puzzled as to why those in managerial positions are so surprised
at the lack of applicants for jobs. Would you take them? After spending a
year undertaking an MA, people want rather more from a job than
day-after-day in front of a computer, slotting information into ISAD(G)
templates or adding reams of EAD tags. Some departments are enlightened
enough to realise that they should allow contract staff to get involved with
both everyday departmental tasks (answering enquiries/searchroom duties) and
have an input into longer term initiatives, as well as allow them to attend
training courses, but all too often it is the monotonous cataloguing that
wins out. Newly qualifieds can take this for maybe their first job, but
beyond that... What new skills are they learning from undertaking the same
task but in another part of the country?
Regional Cataloguing units are a very interesting idea (would they need
charitable status?) and are perhaps something that could be considered when
the new Single Regional Agencies are set up. Perhaps this would give people
the opportunity to work across all three sectors, gain a broader range of
skills and undertake further training. Conversely, museums and library
graduates might take the opportunity to experience archive work. After all,
as Simon Mckeon remarked yesterday and Peter Emmerson implied today, much of
the work of these funded projects does not require the skills of a qualified
archivist. A bit of basic training in archive principles and practice will
often be sufficient. Whether such initiatives spring up as public or private
initiatives (or perhaps both - the govt is very keen on its PPPs!) I think
they are to be welcomed.
Rich
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Richard Schofield
The Rothschild Archive
New Court
St Swithin's Lane
London EC4P 4DU
tel. +44 (0)20 7280 5808
fax +44 (0)20 7280 5657
http://www.rothschildarchive.org
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