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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.