This is an issue that crops up again and again and will not change. Not
because those who are hiring do not wish to pay their staff more, but
because those who hold the purse strings see no reason to do so. Having said
that, I am aware of jobs that have been advertised at lower rates than
institutions can afford or would wish to pay because there were fears that a
higher salary would put people off applying, thinking posts entailed greater
responsibilty than they did!! So much for steps forward in this matter.
Unless trends are set, no one will follow.
I, and many of my mates in the profession (if I make take the liberty of
speaking for them), think most starting salaries are fine; although,
inevitably, some public sector offices will always suffer in this respect.
We perceive the real problem as the lack of any defined career structure for
archivists and the commensurate rises in salary that progressive steps up
would bring in any other, larger, profession. Surely, the opportunities of
cross-sectoral work are a key way forward in this. At present the number of
archivists who have charge of bodies or departments controlling archives,
libraries and museums can be counted on one hand and I would suspect that in
any appointment process for such posts the archivist would always suffer. If
training with Museums and Libraries were increased and archivists could
broaden their skills in these areas, then a whole new area of opportunity
would open up, allowing a greater degree of movement between sectors and
providing a broader and more varied career path.
Regards
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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