Who are you and what do you do?
Executive Summary:
I am a less-lone arranger than I once was. I work at a small, non-profit religious library and archive. I am responsible for a number of activities, including but not limited to: reference, collection management, book repair, preservation, outreach & education, overseeing our web site, assisting in a number of other digital projects that feed into a greater digital program. Sometimes I actually process a new collection.
I’m writing this up to give people an idea of what it’s like to work in a rather unstructured, lonely environment. Having co-workers are only so good for combating isolation if they actually see you throughout the day! As you’ll discover, I’m pretty much on my own in many respects. One of the blessings of this specific library is that I can talk to people in the building about a current project, they can help me problem solve to a certain degree, even if they don’t understand all the archive-specific logistics.
Because I’ve spent the lion-share of my career in this state of isolation, I felt it would be an ideal class topic for a continuing education class. Happily, the folks over at Simmons thought it was, too.
The longer version...
How the girl who arranged her mother's colored pencils and Tupperware drawer became an archivist
My father asked me in my junior or senior year of high school if I'd ever considered becoming a librarian. In a Malcolm Gladwell Blink, I decided that this was, in fact, what I wanted to do. At the time I didn't know about archives and archivists, but I did love books and visiting our local library (2 blocks from my parents' house) was a favorite activity. History seemed a reasonable path towards graduate school, and it turned out to have more interesting lectures than English class.
I graduated from Ohio University in 1997 with my BA and I moved directly to Boston for the Simmons GSLIS program, which was chosen because it was in Boston and because it has an archive concentration. It also turned out to be a very good school, but I didn't know that as a solid fact when I arrived. In 11 months, I completed the program; you can't do that anymore, and for this I am glad. Leaving with no opportunity for practical experience is not ideal. In Boston, a young archivist is probably best served if s/he is willing to take multiple part time jobs until they've built up experience to warrant one "real" job.
This is what I did until I found a place at the Congregational Library in the spring of 2000. As I write this it's the winter of 2008, and I'm still here. I guess this was a reasonable match. At the time they were willing to take a chance on a young professional who grew up a Unitarian, so would understand the basic concepts of Congregationalism. The rest - the history of the denomination and the never ending foibles of the collection- would be learned over time. I expect I'll never fully understand either, as I continue to learn something new every week, if not every day.
My work
I am the only full time, fully trained archivist at the Congregational Library. I joined the staff in April 2000 as my first full time, professional job. Previously, I had several part time jobs in libraries and archives. At one point I had about four different work numbers and no cell phone, so finding me on any given day was a challenge.
My library & archive
The core material that is collected here is either created by or about a Congregational organization. In the archive we have material by and about missionaries, churches, ministers, charitable organizations, social justice movements [temperance, abolition, education, women's rights, suffrage]. Our circulating collection has gone through several foci. Previously it had been for ministers and their work. More recently, we find that historians, researchers, and genealogists are more likely to visit us than pastors, although we are still interested in serving the ministry. The published materials we have include books, hymnals, sermons, and pamphlets.
The driving force behind the library's work right now is to get our old paper catalog online. We are also working on a Digital Program knit the small and not so small activities that need to be connected somehow. It's all very daunting and I'm very relieved that almost all of the full time staff are involved in determining where we are going.
Our current list of projects within our program include
converting the old paper catalog to an online format
image scanning
create PDFs for pre-digital archive guides
converting databases listing ministers and missionaries on the website
create and publish podcasts
assisting some local churches to get their oldest records (pre 1800) on microfilm; from there the microfilm will be digitized
microfilm and scan a pivotal reference book that will tie into digitizing church records
Office space
My office was originally on the 7th floor of our building. The library is on the 2nd. This arrangement changed about two years ago. Any time I needed to do anything, including refilling my water bottle from the filtered cooler, I needed to go downstairs. This situation meant I was separated by training and multiple floors.
My current office is now just down the hall from the library. I would say that not having to share the space is a selling point of my job 99% of the time. Any questions from coworkers or researchers can be answered in person with ease. My office is also my processing area. I have an old, 19th century printing press work table. It's a bit low for my liking, but I usually use an upside-down record carton to bring the current folder's worth of material closer to hand. The major downside of my space is no natural light; I'm on the inside of the building at the bottom of a "light" shaft. To call the view from my office "Dickensian" is giving Dickens a cheerful view. But space! I have a lot of it, more than I technically need for day-to-day activities, so therefore much of it is taken up with supply/box storage and a holding area for unprocessed or in progress projects.
I take many liberties with the decorations. Over the past 8 years, I've been given several fun toys, which made their way to my office, and there they've stayed. It's odd, because I'm not usually one for dust catchers and stuffed animals, and yet here I am with a horse (named Mike), 2 "monitor" lizards- who don't fit on my monitor now that I've gotten a flat screen, Sally, Jayne, and a screaming, flying monkey. And the smallest bobble-headed turtle ever. I also brought in as many of my posters I'd had in storage to enliven the walls- and windows, as well.
Staffing
Coming to the Congregational Library almost eight years ago: there were no library professionals of any kind: a retired minister for my boss, his wife was the part time administrative assistant, plus three support staff.
Until about six months ago, the only staff I had in the archive were interns that did class-assigned projects with me as part of their course requirement. When I went on sabbatical in June of 2007, the library hired an assistant to fill in for me while I was gone. When I returned, we were able to keep her on not only as a 1 day a week assistant, but she was able to do her internship for Archives 440.
The other staff here at the library include 2 full time professional librarians (myself included), 1 part time trained librarian, 2 part time Simmons students, 1 theological historian, 2 un-degreed workers. These latter two have picked up skills that place them as valuable members of the team, however.
What I do
Processing new collections
Review old collections that need rehabilitation
Talk to donors about potential new collections
Catalog collections into online system and maintain old archive databases that are still critical
Preservation
Reference: online, phone, in person; reference interviews
Overseeing web maintenance and content
Assisting other staff with deaccessioning books from the "circulating" collection that do not fit our mission
Teaching classes on preservation and records management
Teach for Simmons
Visit churches and organizations (occasionally) to present workshops on various topics, usually on church record management
Create educational booklets that compliment the classes, as well as PR/Educational/Outreach on a more general level for the library/archive.
Managing interns and assistant
Minor repairs for books
Liaison for microfilm projects
Primary picture taker and manipulator for library projects and events
Provide input and guidance for growing digital program
Participate with New England Archivists: currently Spring 2008 program committee. Previous activities have been speaking on a panel, moderating, past program committee, Outreach Committee and its program "Archives on the Road."
My daily routine/Work pattern
I get into work around 8:30 every day. I check to see if there's any new reference questions on voice or email. If there is, I answer them; I check mail throughout the day and answer them as they come in when I can, or pass them on to those who can.
Every Monday we have a staff meeting at 10am, unless we don't because we're closed or there's a Board meeting, or an event. However, we try to have a staff meeting close to the beginning of each week so everyone is caught up on what is happening. There's usually food and I think we're one of the few place that have good meetings. Even when there's not a staff meeting, there's a fair bit of chatter in the first part of the morning between staff on what is getting worked on or simply what's been happening in our lives.
If there are researchers who need attention, I see to them when they come in, but I'm not required to sit in the reading room while they are there. If they need me throughout the day, I'm paged. Unless there's a problem locating items in the Rare Book Room, I'm not required to pull materials for them, unless there's a special request.
The majority of my day is almost always my own. It's easy to get lost in online reading or little side projects, rather than the main activity. I do find that I do my best work right before lunch and in the latter half of the afternoon. In other words, when I know I have only X amount of time before lunch or before it's time to go home. In general, I do not have deadlines. I'm responsible for choosing what processing project comes next or what the focus of my day will be at least 75% of the time. Save for the very rare case, all the processing projects do not need to be done by a specific time. It's nice not to be stressed, but sometimes it's good to have some external drive to help get through the tedious or difficult sections.
Because I now have Claudette as a colleague, I will often request her opinion on a particular conundrum (what is the best way to store this collection; is this item worth conserving; what does this genealogist really want?) I'm also able to assist her similarly if she has problems. In the end, we are both authorities in our own spheres.
Best and worst of what I do
Processing: I enjoy the first half of any processing work: assigning some order where there was none; making the easy decisions, removing duplicates. Inevitably, the last 10% of any processing project is the slowest. It will often take me as long to do that 10% as the previous 90%. I tend to save the hardest questions for last. I always avoid any "Misc." folders, but inevitably, there will be a few that really do defy any logical arrangement. I'm also not very fond of creating the guide and putting it on the web site. Once it's up, lovely, but coming up with the connecting paragraphs in the guide often feel very false.
Creating booklets: This is definitely a favorite activity, especially if I already have most of the text ready to go. Creating an attractive, readable booklet is entirely energizing, pretty much from beginning to end.
Offering workshops: I love the teaching part of workshops. Interacting with people and finding out what is interesting to them; what are their concerns and questions? Creating content for classes, at least for the first time, is nerve-wracking. Do I have enough? Is it on target and interesting? Will the audience respond to it? I have to be aware, though, that once the class is over (usually 2-3 hours for live classes), I need a bit of time to recuperate.
Web site: This is a thorny issue. When the software works, I have a fine time with our web site. Frequently I'll get requests to add some news item that ideally needs to go up right now. My schedule is such that I can usually accommodate this request. Our current web software is sometimes problematic. I will often forget some key factor in publishing if I've not created something in that vein within the past few months- or if it's an entirely new format. I'm not fond of having to request help from the web site developer, who is the authority on the page design and software. However, the problem always resolves itself eventually.
Maintaining web site content was not what I came here to do, and yet it's very much my problem. Robin is able to assist me on certain aspects, but most of the time, if something isn't working, I'm the one who has to fix it or find the person who can fix it. This will sometimes translate into email or web server issues, too. When I was hired, the archivist was usually the youngest employee and therefore most likely to be able to handle the IT needs. I may no longer be the youngest, but I'm still the honorary IT department. The library is currently in the process of hiring a new company that will help us form an IT strategy and hopefully help us impalement it- or help us find the people/companies who can. Our needs have radically run past my capabilities.
Book Repair: I learned how to repair books through NEDCC. During my time at Simmons I took a class that they offered, and then went back a year or so ago to refresh my memory on how to fix minor issues. I very much enjoy this task. I feel like I have a reasonable proficiency. The issue is finding books that are used often enough to warrant being fixed but aren't so damaged that it is beyond my skill set. It is difficult to multi task while repairing books, as it takes up my entire work table.
Summary
While I did not expect to land my current job, I really enjoy it: location, co-workers, projects, freedom to steer my time (most of the time). There are certainly down-sides, but those concerns are outweighed by the good.
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