Hi all,
I'm not sure I'm qualified to speak about internships generally, but I would like to make one point. I think that cataloguing is not considered as much of a skill as it should be. At the Archives Hub we work with hundreds of institutions contributing data, and we are very happy, and pleased, to help people ensure their descriptions are effective as an online finding aid. To us, cataloguing is something that requires training, experience and thought, familiarisation with standards and some understanding of data structure and format. In fact, this kind of understanding may help equip an archivist for a job more broadly within the information sector. Our jobs at the Hub are around data innovation, and as an archivist who has ended up in a semi-technical data processing role, I do think there can be opportunities to combine a love of archives with an interest in the incredible potential of data on the Web.
Volunteer work can help to give someone experience with cataloguing, but its really important to understand the principles behind good cataloguing, and not just think that its OK to describe the archive without regard for structure or consistency.
cheers,
Jane.
Jane Stevenson
The Archives Hub
Mimas, The University of Manchester
Devonshire House, Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9QH
email:[log in to unmask]
tel: 0161 275 6055
website: archiveshub.ac.uk
blog: archiveshub.ac.uk/blog
twitter: twitter.com/archiveshub
On 14 Aug 2013, at 15:08, Anna Flood <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> The internship advertised is certainly a great opportunity for those lucky or unlucky enough to be in a position to apply (ie, financially supported, or unable to find full-time employment).
>
> However, I do not think it sets a good precedent, and certainly does not reflect well on archivists, effectively advertising their services for free.
>
> The following key elements of the job description read very much like what would have been, a few years ago, a full-time, paid, professional position:
>
> 2. Cataloguing and listing series of the College’s institutional historical records using Adlib to ISADG and ISAAR standards.
> 3. Assisting the Records Manager to develop requirements for an Electronic Document and Records Management System
> 4. Assisting with collection development projects, including specialist subject guides and input of descriptions onto Archives Hub and AIM 25.
> 5. Undertaking research to develop collection descriptions
> 6. Assisting with the development of a web application to make the RCPCH catalogue available online.
>
> Involvement in key archive activities are great volunteering opportunities, and we cannot begrudge that, but this 'internship' (where candidates able to work the most hours, ie 20, would likely be looked upon favourably) is effectively asking someone to work 2.5-3 days a week for free, for 3 months. Unpaid internships may be appropriate for professions where the financial pay-off is considerable further down the line and sacrifices like this may be deemed worth it, and where the work undertaken is necessarily not that of a professionally qualified person, but that does not apply in the case of an archival internship such as that offered by the RCPCH.
>
> Although the RCPCH internship is not an extreme example, it is not an encouraging sight for archivists (re the job description and person specification in particular), in appearing to undermine their qualifications, and their paid positions.
>
> If more organisations start offering up similar volunteering/internship opportunities, I would be worried.
>
>
>
> > Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:08:24 +0100
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Vacancy for Archives and Records Management Intern
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > As a recent graduate of an archives and records mangement course I would suggest that even today it is possible to acquire good work experience and improve your employability without undertaking exploitative 'internships'.
> >
> > Many repositories have strong volunteer and work experience programmes that allow you to volunteer one day, or even half a day, per week; allowing graduates of archive/records management courses or potential graduates (or even well-intentioned do-gooders) to improve employability while also working.
> >
> > Perhaps instead of offering one person a full-time unpaid 'internship', five people could be offered one day a week. Or shorter one-two week blocks could be arranged over the 3 month period. These options wouldn't solve the problem of too many graduates, or even guarantee interns finding paid work, but would avoid outright exploitation.
> >
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