This is the week decreed for a discussion of the PR role of the Society and we have with the Imperial War Museum's advert (and implying no personal criticism of Anthony himself) a perfect example of the need for the profession to recognise its professionalism. If we don't then nobody else will.

The pay and conditions are those of an archive assistant. The requirements are for a graduate with no archival qualification. Yet it is advertised, by an archival department, as an assistant archivist's job and appears to indeed be at least partly fulfilling an archivist's function.

So long as employers feel able to use nomenclature implying professionally qualified status for a low-paid unqualified job then we still have a very long way to go.

James

James King
Assistant Archivist
Modern Records Centre
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
Tel: +44 (0) 24 7652 4493
Fax: +44 (0) 24 7652 4211
[log in to unmask]
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/

>>> Anthony Richards <[log in to unmask]> 12/18/01 10:03am >>>
The IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM's Department of Documents, which holds one of the
most important collections of British private papers relating to the history
of conflict in the twentieth century, is looking to appoint an Assistant
Archivist on a 6-month contract.


JOB DESCRIPTION:

You will spend most of your time on the preparation of collection-level
descriptions of British private papers for which detailed finding aids have
already been produced, and you will then be required to input this
information into the Department's DB/Textworks database and to do a small
amount of related filing.  You may also be employed from time to time on
public service duties in the Museum's reading room, advising and
invigilating researchers and attending to other enquiries about the
Department's holdings.  The post would be well suited to someone wishing to
obtain practical experience in a repository prior to studying for a
postgraduate qualification in archive administration.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

You must have a relevant degree and a sound knowledge of twentieth century
history.  As the post calls for an organised approach to the retrieval of
information about the Department's holdings, familiarity with this type of
work and previous data entry experience might be advantageous.


SALARY

The full time salary for this position is £15,000 per annum pro rata.


CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Normal hours of work will be Monday to Thursday from 9.00 am to 5.15 pm, and
Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm inclusive of a 1 hour lunch break each day.
Any additional hours worked will be paid at the appropriate Museum overtime
rates.

The full time annual leave allowance is 22 days on entry, and the
entitlement for the duration of this appointment will be 11 days.


SELECTION

The candidates who appear from the information available to have the best
qualities and experience will be invited to interview.  It is thus essential
that your CV and covering letter give a full but concise description of the
nature, extent and level of responsibilities you have had.

To apply, please send your CV with detailed covering letter to Anthony
Richards, Archivist, Department of Documents, Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
Road, London SE1 6HZ.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 18 January 2002.