The First Generation of Electronic Records Archivists in the United States: A Study in Professionalization

by Richard Cox

Overview

This book helps readers understand the current status of archivists in the United States. It addresses issues of professionalization by re-examining two major aspects of the archival community: institutional forms and structures, and the basic educational foundations that are important to any profession. While United States archivists now seem poised to develop new approaches to the management of electronic records, including research and education venues, this profession's long journey to reach this point is an interesting step on the continuing road to professionalization. The First Generation of Electronic Records Archivists in the United States represents the first major study of how and why American archivists have struggled to contend with the management of electronic records. The book provides a framework for studying this issue, includes suggestions for additional research, and serves as a basis for discussion about the continued strengthening of the archival profession.

Despite more than thirty years of striving to manage electronic records, American archivists have not developed an effective infrastructure for this purpose. The First Generation of Electronic Records Archivists in the United States considers the evidence for this failure by evaluating archival literature on the topic of electronic records management. It examines how position descriptions in state government archives and job advertisements across the discipline have reflected a bias toward paper-based formats, and the failure of graduate and continuing archival education programs to deal effectively with electronic records. The book details:

• state government archives and position descriptions
• trends and practices in the Information Age, 1976—1990
• graduate archival education and electronic records: an analysis of current approaches and their strengths and weaknesses
• the effectiveness of the NAGARA Institute as a form of advanced archival education
• problems, challenges, opportunities, and needs for additional research
  
  The First Generation of Electronic Records Archivists in the United States is an enlightening study for library and information science educators, archival graduate students, and archivists themselves as they work toward the professionalization of their field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781560246442
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/03/1995
Series:	Primary Sources and Original Works Series
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

ContentsPreface Foreword , Introduction: Archival Professionalization in the United States and This Study; Personal Notes and Acknowledgments , Prolegomenon , State Government Archives and Position Descriptions: A Case Study of Archivists and Archival Work in the Information Age , Archival Position Advertisements: Trends and Practices in the Information Age, 1976-1990 , Graduate Archival Education and Electronic Records: An Analysis of Current Approaches and Their Strengths and Weaknesses , The NAGARA Institute: An Evaluation of Its Effectiveness as a Form of Advanced Archival Education , Archivists, Archival Institutions, and Electronic Records: Problems, Challenges, Opportunities, and Needs for Additional Research , Works Cited , Index,

Editorial Reviews

Cox, experienced archivist and library science professor, takes his profession to the woodshed for its laggardness in coming to terms with the electronic records explosion in the United States. After considering several indicators on how archivists have adjusted to the electronic revolution-position descriptions at state archives and other repositories, job advertisements, classes at library schools, and archives programs-Cox concludes that, on the whole, U.S. archivists have "failed to develop sufficiently" theories, principles, or practices for preserving and employing electronic records. He chastises the profession, suggests that nonarchivists with greater electronic expertise be consulted, and proposes steps to take toward these ends. These essays (available separately from the Haworth Document Delivery Center) have something for every archivist and librarian to think about. A valuable purchase for all archival training programs and any repository struggling with electronic records questions.-Terry L. Shoptaugh, Moorhead State Univ. Lib., Minn.

Library Journal

Reviews the first 30 years of keeping records in electronic media, and explores why no effective infrastructure for such archives has been developed. Finds the fault to lie mostly with governments and other employers who design archivist positions with a bias toward paper records, and graduate and continuing education programs that have not incorporated new methods and technologies. Also published as Primary Sources and Original Works v.3, nos. 3/4 (1994). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews