Bedford BC Not Protectively Marked.
Thanks Joseph, you summed up my feelings on this nicely.
Having spent this year looking at the history of Bedfordshire Record
Office I would also point out that it was an 'independently wealthy,
well intentioned, do-gooder' who managed to kick start the profession of
archivist (in local government terms at least) 100 years ago by founding
a county record office and providing on the job training, something he
continued to do until his death in 1940.
Pamela Birch
Conservator/Premises & Projects Officer
Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service
800 years of history, 100 years of service. Centenary 2013. Help us
celebrate www.bedford.gov.uk/archivecentenary
<http://www.bedford.gov.uk/archivecentenary>
Open: Mon 9am-7pm, Tues, Wed & Fri 9am-5pm. Closed Thursday.
Tel: 01234 228908 (direct line) 01234 228833 (main office)
www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/archive Twitter @BedsArchives
________________________________
From: Archivists, conservators and records managers.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joseph Bartoletti
Sent: 14 August 2013 18:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Vacancy for Archives and Records Management Intern,
Solutions
I feel compelled to offer another side to this debate. Since this
argument is continually used again and again, can someone tell me what
profession enforces a quota on University placements? I'm going to have
to say none. At the end of the day Universities are in the business of
teaching and academia, nothing more. While they may have some indirect
concern with the number of graduates employed six months after
graduation (looks good in stats) they are not there to rig the job
market. If they have turned out more quality candidates than the market
can accept, well bad for some of the graduates but good for the
profession.
Also, 'independently wealthy, well intentioned, do-gooders' are not a
new incarnation due to the current economic climate. They were in fact
the cornerstones for much of the museum profession.
Some direct points to Craig's 'simple solutions'.
1. Decide on a set number of students to be admitted to the
archive schools each year. Any archives school that admits more than
their quota should lose their accreditation.
Again, this has been stated over and over in the past. State
exactly how this should be done accurately. Continually monitor the job
market for anyone retiring or changing professions? Adequately gauging
this year after year is not pragmatic. Again, the job of the
Universities is to turn out qualified suitable candidates. Every degree
/ profession have people who for whatever reason go into another field
and there are more people who work in fields different to their degrees
than those that do. I spent eight months unemployed shortly after
finishing my course and never once did I blame the number of graduates.
I had many near misses and always lost out to experience. Certainly not
the Uni's fault.
2. Legally define and protect the term 'archivist'. Define the
term to mean someone who has a recognised qualification from one of the
archive schools.
Not possible and nor should it be. Even if it was, then what?
Maybe instead of the term 'archivist' organizations will just use titles
like 'Keepers of Old Info and Stuff'. Plus what about all those
professionals who do not have a degree and have done WAY more for the
profession than most with the piece of paper? I guess there's no room
anymore for anyone rising up through the ranks of the profession without
a degree.
3. Legally require all organisations subject to Section 46 -
Freedom of Information Act to employ an archivist.
You're leaving out people who have specifically done records
management degrees.
4. The ICO should produce guidelines strongly advising the
retention of a qualified archivist in the role of an organisations
designated Data Protection Officer.
Why? What does the qualification of archivist bring to this
role? I am a qualified archivist (so my piece of paper tells me) and
have a BCS Cert in DPA. I do not agree that having the former was a huge
factor in earning the latter. If any argument can be made it is that the
role should be taken on by someone with a degree in law not archives
management.
Maybe people should stop blaming the Universities and move on to
something more productive? Society has gone information mad, and so
there should be no shortage of opportunities. We need to better fight
the information profession's corner and prove its worth.
A good example is when a coursemate applied for a job at a
school. The job advert screamed 'Archivist', but the title was far from
that. Not one of the candidates who landed an interview had any
experience or qualification in archives. I'm sure many more have stories
similar, and while I know I don't have the answers, I do know that
'excessive' amounts of graduates is not the problem.
It should go without saying that the views express are entirely
my own and not my employer's.
Sincerely,
Joseph Bartoletti
Corporate Records Management Officer
Legal and Democratic Services
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