Dear Joseph, Emily etc
I have a PhD and have been working in Archives and Libraries (and as a university lecturer) for over 10 years now. Before I embarked on the Archives MA, I had to same attitude - how could yet ANOTHER Masters possibly make up for all that experience? I put off doing the course for years.
However, my attitude soon changed after starting the course. I realized that much of the course - Archival Theory, Records Management, Appraisal for instance - was so incredibly complicated that no amount of practical experience in the field could make up for it. I now have a much broader understanding of national and international archive theory and practice which stands me in good stead when making decisions which affect my own repository, and questioning the merits (or otherwise) of past practices.
I would also like to add that most Masters courses let you exit with a Diploma if you already have an MA or PhD. So there is no need to write the dissertation.
In addition to all this, I would advise potential candidates to enroll on courses asap before the universities put up the fees to the extent that no one can afford to undertake professional qualifications.
Thanks
Ellie
Dr Ellie Pridgeon
Archivist and Librarian
Wiltshire Heritage Museum
41 Long Street
Devizes
SN10 1NS
Telephone: 01380 727369
The Archive & Library is open from Tuesday to Friday (10am-5pm). Please note the Reading Room is closed for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. If you wish to view items from the collection, please make an appointment (with me) by email, specifying the material you wish to use.
To search our collections, please use the online document and book catalogue:
www.wiltshireheritage.org.uk/library
Our White Horses and Hill Figures Exhibition is now on!
The Wiltshire Heritage Museum and Library are owned and operated by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (WANHS). Funding comes primarily from private sources, but also through annual grants from Wiltshire Council, Devizes Town Council and parish councils, as well as other sources for specific projects.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joseph J Dunne
Sent: 02 May 2011 20:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Job vacancies for unqualified archive assistants
Hello,
I am 26 and a visiting lecturer in theatre studies. I do not have a PhD but
have been lecturing for over a year now which has been a fantastic
experience, but because I do not have a permanent contract i.e. I am
hourly paid my position is reasonably precarious, and I of course do not get
the advantages of applying for research fellowships etc. I know that I am
very fortunate to have paid workin academia, but know in my ebart of hearts
that until I start or compelte my PhD most institutions will not even
consider offering me a permanent position. I am often told that institutions
must ensure students receive the best possible education, but I like Emily
believe it is the responsibility of employers to nurture employees and,
basically, just give them a chance. It is very depressing seeing that I am
not eligible for jobs because of a lack of qualifications or need at least
three years experience or whatever (although I have never seen the point of
these timescales-what does it actually prove?) and my other skills will not
even be considered. And after having lived and worked with archivists I find
it crazy that people need to have a year's worth of work exprience before
they will even be considered for an archiving course-it justifies Cameron's
plans whilst providing cheap labour.
I echo Emily's desire to one day be in a position to train people on the job
and not expect a readymade package in employees.
Best,
Important petitions to sign...(YOU MAY NEED TO COPY THESE LINKS INTO BROWSER)
"Humanities and Social Sciences Matter"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/humanitiesmatter/
SAVE EMA: http://emacampaign.org.uk/sign/.
These are important causes, and I'd like to encourage you to add your
signature, too. It's free and takes just a few seconds of your time.
Joseph Dunne
________________________________
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers. on behalf of Emily
Richards
Sent: Sun 5/1/2011 13:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Job vacancies for unqualified archive assistants
Dear all
I realise that there have been a number of replies to this already, but I
would like to extend the debate beyond the specific unemployment problem in
the archive sector, although I I too am personally, and profoundly, affected
by this.
There is a much bigger, general problem here which affects the academic
sector as a whole, whether we are talking about archivists, researchers,
lecturers, librarians, curators.... The overwhelming trend in the UK is for
the bar to be set higher and higher in terms of qualifications and
internships, before any actual paid work is ever offered - "working your way
up" in a profession has somehow become outmoded. For example, as recently as
20-30 years ago it was still possible to be offered a job as a lecturer in
the humanities without a PhD. One of my best ever teachers at university was
a middle-aged man who had never done his PhD, but had published numerous
books and articles and was generally agreed to be one of the most innovative
and successful teachers in his field. Now, a PhD has become the bare minimum
needed to apply for - and more relevantly, to gain - a job in the academic
sector. (Compare this to a recent situation in Germany, where a lecturer of
mine completed his PhD after 7 years in post and, due to the immense
practical experience he had gained while teaching, was shortly afterwards
made Director of his research institute.)
Competition means that a Catch-22 situation ensues: Students study for more
and more qualifications in their anxiety not to miss out on anything that
could give them an advantage, so that employers are almost forced to increase
the number of qualifications required for the job in order to narrow down the
field and make the recruitment process viable. (Note that I say almost
forced - some employers do have a choice here. However, anxiety around
funding means that in turn, employers prefer to play what they perceive is a
"safe game".) In their wish to be fair and observe good recruitment
guidelines, employers also look for what are perceived as "objective" ways of
measuring difference, i.e. qualifications, a previous job... This in turn
leads to students spending more and more time and money hunting for that
elusive je ne sais quoi that will give them "the edge" over other students -
which means, as we know from media coverage of A level results, that what
starts out as an objective way of measuring difference pretty soon becomes
almost worthless as more and more people obtain it. (An A grade is no longer
enough, we need an A* grade to show we are good!). An endless game of
catch-up ensues, with the result being increased anxiety without necessarily
any pay-off: how can I become not only employable, but MORE employable than
anyone else?
I think this belief in a holy grail of employability is a fallacy which in
reality makes life harder for all. At the risk of sounding platitudinous, I
think that employers and employees need to show solidarity with those who are
just starting out, and with students in general. I know it is hard for
institutions, but we need to think about what we want for the future - is it
all about keeping our heads down and waiting for better times? How can we
design realistic and constructive learning paths to help people into
employment, rather than asking for more and more qualifications before we
even glance at their CVs? If a job is advertised as not needing a
qualification, will this actually be put into practice while recruiting? Are
people really thinking about what the individual has to offer? More and more
voluntary work is not the answer (pace David Cameron) as once volunteering
goes beyond a certain level, it may simply add to the feeling that it is
acceptable to pay people nothing and eventually has the effect of devaluing
our work.
I don't have the answers - but I hope one day I'll be in a position where I
can help to find these new solutions! I would welcome anyone else's views on
how this situation has come about, and how the archive sector is planning to
address it.
Good luck to all those still searching for work - but let's also keep the
bigger picture in mind!
Emily
On 17 April 2011 19:27, Kate Brennan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I have applied for a number jobs for pre-qualified archive assistants
but unfortunately, I have not been successful.
I am a History graduate but from 20 years ago. I have been
unemployed for over two years but volunteered as a documentation assistant
and archive assistant at four different museums, libraries and archives for
months at a time since being unemployed. I also took a one year course in
Cultural and Heritage Studies at a local college.
I immediately loved the work I did. I researched all I could about
the career and professional qualifications. My application for a distance
learning post-graduate course was accepted and, although sent in time, it
'fell between the cracks' and it was not processed in time for that in-take.
I had a placement confirmed which I then lost as result of this. I felt
very low indeed.
Apart from moaning a bit in this post about my lot (and sorry about
that) I wondered if jobs advertised for unqualified archive assistants are
primarily aimed at recent graduates rather than a middle-aged career changer
like me? Although, I realise no organisation would ever admit to any type of
bias I becoming aware that I am not the type of person they're looking for.
I live in Dublin, Ireland and the job market here in general, and in
particular in this area, is extremely depressed. Most of the jobs I've
applied for have been in the UK. I am fully prepared and very happy to move
to find work. I wonder if there is a slight, possibly unmeaning, bias
towards UK applicants rather than those from abroad. I do not think that I
am being discriminated against directly at all, or in any way, but I think
the jobs I've been able to apply for may actually be aimed younger and
domestic applicants.
The ARA no longer has any placement opportunities listed for Ireland.
I have found volunteer work by approaching organisations directly myself.
Another problem I've encountered is insurance concerns. Not all
organisations willing to take on volunteers have insurance in place on an
on-going basis and therefore, must seek separate arrangements. This can be
off-putting to organisations due to the cost and time it takes for this to be
arranged. I have found myself waiting 2-3 months for the go-ahead to
actually begin working from the time I made initial enquiries. I notified
the learning organisation I've applied to about the insurance issue and they
were surprised by it.
I dearly love this work and was fully committed to pursuing a career
as an Archivist but I wonder, given the many obstacles I face now (and will
probably will face for a few years given the dismal economic growth
projections), if I should simply give up? Maybe there are enough Archivists
already given the jobs potentially available and I should be starkly
realistic about my prospects.
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