B - Organizational Settings
Describe and compare different organizational settings in which information professionals practice.
Introduction and Explication
Archivists practice in numerous organizational settings including government archives; corporate archives; college and university archives; historical societies; museums; religious archives; and special collections (Society of American Archivists, 2019). While this variation is an exciting aspect of the field, it is also necessary for emerging archivists like myself – and the profession as a whole – to have a working knowledge of the organizational similarities and differences between these settings so that we may make informed decisions in the best interests of ourselves, the organizations, and the stakeholders we seek to represent. Within this context, I will articulate my knowledge of the various environments in which archivists work by describing some key organizational similarities and differences among three types of archives: federal archives, religious archives, and museums.
Federal Archives, Religious Archives, and Museums
Federal archives are the record keepers of nations and, as such, they collect and ensure the long-term preservation of essential federal records so they may function as evidence of government decision-making and the nation’s documentary heritage (National Archives, 2018; NARA, n.d.). Because federal archivists bear responsibility for the selection, description, usability, and integrity of these archival collections, their work-related decisions and actions directly impact citizens’ access to and use of information and evidence related to the nation’s civil governance (National Archives, 2018). As a federal agency, these archives are subject to the cyclical funding decisions of the government. Collection and preservation of these records is an ongoing strategy and federal archives are actively employing digitization strategies to meet their mission and mandates (National Archives, 2018; Travers & Tregenza, 2021).
The Society of American Archivists (n.d.) defines religious archives as those which collect and preserve historical evidence “relating to the traditions or institutions of a major faith, denominations within a faith, or individual places of worship”. As with all archivists, those working in religious settings are responsible for the long-term preservation of the archival collections under their care. Identification and accessioning of new collections or items, however, may or may not be a priority. Unlike federal archives, religious archives’ target audiences may be limited to a specific community, a fact that impacts the level of priority an archives assigns to its digitization and digital assets management programs (Rochat et al, 2020). As such researchers’ access and use of materials may be limited to the physical archives, or not available at all. Generally speaking, these archives are affiliated to a parent institution such as a synagogue, cultural association, or academic institution. Funding is generally secured via private donors, grant programs, and/or public or private grantmakers.
The mission of museums is to facilitate and promote “collaborative, human-centered experiences, education, and connections to histories, cultures, the natural world, and one another” with the aim of contributing to the emergence of “a just and sustainable world informed and enriched by museums that contribute to the resiliency and equity of their communities” (Menne, n.d.). Archival personnel in museums are responsible for those essential institutional records which provide evidence of the museum’s mission, vision, functions, and activities (Society of American Archivists, n.d.-a). Further, while not always the case, museums may employ archivists to manage archival collections which function as reference material for their material displays. In some cases, items from a museum’s archival collection may be used in a display. Museums focus generally on collecting and preserving material objects over textual records, and display objects individually and with limited descriptive aids; a practice which conflicts with archival best practices by disconnecting objects from their original contexts. Museums may be public or private entities funded through private and/or public grants and donations.
Evidence
Evidence 1: Archives in the News: Funding the National Archives of Australia Links to an external site.
My first piece of evidence for Competency B is a blog post I created for my Archives & Manuscripts course ( INFO 256, Su21). Archives in the News: Funding the National Archives of Australia elucidates the funding challenges experienced by a national archives and the disconnection between the National Archives of Australia’s (NAA) archival principles, values, and best practices and the federal minister overseeing that organization. Specifically, the minister facilitated the underfunding of the archives’ strategic initiative to: improve research services and backlogs by increasing staff size; update and improve the archives cybersecurity infrastructure; and digitize those collections at risk due to technology obsolescence so as to ensure their long term preservation and usability.
In my post, I discuss archival issues related to this crisis and which impact the organizational environment, including government accountability and the public right to know; the impact of technology obsolescence on archival principles and best practices; the implications for loss of evidence due to degradation; archives staffing shortages, related backlogs, and waitlists; and the problems which arise in relation to the preservation of specific cultural knowledge, languages, and identities. The post reflects my ability to articulate key aspects of the organizational setting of a federal archives, the conflicts which can arise between the organization and its parent body, and the strategies employed by archivists and key stakeholders to successfully advocate for public funding of these essential resources, services and technologies toward an inclusive and just national narrative.
I created and recorded this video presentation as one of my tasks for a group project assigned in my Preservation Management course (INFO 259, S23). It provides an organizational overview of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) including information about its mission, organizational setting, and relationship to its parent organization. As a mid-project update, the video’s central aim is to report on the strategies, phases, and tools required to perform a survey of the AJA’s preservation management program goals, priorities, policies, and target audience.
Centered on the information needs and historical memory of the American-Jewish population, the AJA provides limited access to its collections, has no public facing digital repository, and encourages interested researchers (including the general public) to visit the archives in person, by appointment only. The post underscores my awareness of the variations among religious archives’ collection and preservation programs and policies, target audience, organizational affiliations, and operational settings and priorities. As a result, my ability to describe religious archives to a broad audience is enhanced, and my new knowledge informs my decision-making processes as I seek work opportunities which align with my own professional goals and values.
Evidence 3: The Museum at Warm Springs: An Organizational Profile Links to an external site.
Created for my Indigenous Cultural Institutions and Practices of Librarianship seminar (INFO 281, S23), this document is a cultural institutional profile of the Museum at Warm Springs Links to an external site.. The organization is a community-centered museum and archives representing the cultural heritage and knowledge of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, a sovereign tribal nation located in central Oregon. Under the guidance of a stellar executive director, the museum evolved as a direct result of the confederation’s efforts to reclaim their cultural heritage and knowledge, and to collect, preserve, share, and maintain it as an archives in a manner that aligns with their own cultural values (Museum at Warm Springs, n.d.).
Framed within the context and guidance provided in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP Links to an external site.) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGRPA Links to an external site.), this post reflects my deepening understanding of the complex relationship of sovereign tribal governments to federal governance and oversight. Further, it expresses my understanding of the concepts and principles of indigenous approaches to archival knowledge management, including how Warm Springs Museum is using Plateau Peoples Web Portal Links to an external site. to build and manage their digital collections from an indigenous point of view while still conforming to archival best practices.
This post supports the requirements of Competency B by expressing my conceptualization of effective museum leadership, informs my archival outlook as relates to transparent and accountable cultural heritage and knowledge management, and represents my awareness and practical knowledge of the priorities of culturally-centered museums, and of the tools, strategies, and best practices available to ethically collect, describe, preserve, and make accessible indigenous knowledge objects.
Conclusion
Regardless of setting, all archivists are responsible for the transparent and reliable long-term preservation, access and usage of records of enduring historical and cultural value to their constituents within the scope of their organization’s mission, strategic goals and capacity (Society of American Archivists, 2020). Additionally, archival standards and best practices direct archivists to maintain records at the collection level so as to preserve their provenance and original order, thus preserving their contexts and ensuring that they may continue to serve as evidence of their creator’s functions and activities (Franks, 2018, p. 305; 318). Despite these overarching similarities, differences between archives types exist due to variables which include but are not limited to: organizational missions, collection purposes; target audiences; funding sources; access and use policies and procedures; and the extent of their digitization initiatives. As such, it is important for me, an emerging archivist, to understand the key elements which make up archival environments so that I may make a meaningful contribution to the profession and the organizational stakeholders that I serve.
References
Franks, P. C. (2018). Records and information management (2nd ed., pp. 305–358). American Library Association.
Menne, K. (n.d.). About AAM. American Alliance of Museums. https://www.aam-us.org/programs/about-aam/ Links to an external site.
Museum at Warm Springs. (n.d.). Museum story. Museum.warmsprings-Nsn.gov. https://museum.warmsprings-nsn.gov/the-museum-story Links to an external site.
National Archives. (2018, April 5). About the National Archives of the United States: General information leaflet, number 1. National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/publications/general-info-leaflets/1-about-archives.html Links to an external site.
Rochat, D., Young, K., Villefranche, M., & Choudry, A. (2020). Maison d’Haïti’s collaborative archives project: archiving a community of records. In J. A. Bastian & A. Flinn (Eds.), Community archives, community spaces : heritage, memory and identity (pp. 113–127). Facet Publishing.
Society of American Archivists. (n.d.). Museum archives guidelines. Www2.Archivists.org. https://www2.archivists.org/groups/museum-archives-section/museum-archives-guidelines Links to an external site.
Society of American Archivists. (2019). Types of archives. Archivists.org; SAA. https://www2.archivists.org/usingarchives/typesofarchives Links to an external site.
Society of American Archivists. (2020, August). SAA core values statement and code of ethics. Society of American Archivists. https://www2.archivists.org/statements/saa-core-values-statement-and-code-of-ethics Links to an external site.
Travers, P., & Tregenza, H. (2021, April 26). National Archives warns Australian history will be lost without more funding. Www.abc.net.au https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-26/national-archives-warns-history-will-be-lost-without-funding/100095012 Links to an external site.