"An archivist is a professional who is responsible for the management of important records.".. "Professional archivists combine the talents and abilities of information specialists, librarians, editors, record managers, conservators, researchers, and historians. The archivist.... should have specific experience related to [the] institution's concerns."
Archivist Round table of Metropolitan New York and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, "Selecting an Archivist", 1985
"Professional archivists have been formally educated in graduate education programs
generally located in either library and information science schools or history
departments. They have a command of archival principles and practices, and, more recently,
many have been certified by the Academy of Certified Archivists."
Richard J. Cox, "Managing Institutional Archives", 1992, p.7-8.
"A person professionally educated, trained, experienced, and engaged in the administration of archival materials, including the following activities: Appraisal and disposition, acquisition, preservation, arrangement and description."
Lewis J. Bellardo and Lynn Lady Bellardo, "A Glossary for Archivists, Manuscript Curators, and Records Managers", 1992, p.3.
"Archivists and curators plan and oversee the arrangement, cataloguing, and exhibition of collections and, along with technicians and conservators, maintain collections......archivists mainly handle valuable records, documents, or objects that are retained because they originally accompanied and relate specifically to the document... Archivists often specialize in an area of history or technology so they can better determine what records in that area qualify for retention and should become part of the archives....Many archivists and curators work in archives or museums while completing their formal education, to gain the "hands-on" experience that many employers seek when hiring."
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, "1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook"
Last edited on 01/18/00 by M M Maxwell