Archivists

Nature of work

Archivists manage, process, store and share information contained in an organization's archives. They buy, store and research texts, pictures, maps, architectural documents, electronic materials, films and videos, and sound recordings and multimedia materials. They work in archives, in the public and para-public sectors and in private sector organizations.

Job duties

Archivists:

• Develop policies and procedures for managing archives, particularly corporate cataloguing systems, records scheduling and disposal, and finding aids.
• Design programs for managing, distributing and storing archives of all types (documents, photographs, maps, audio-visual materials, manuscripts, etc.).
• Plan the computerized management of archives and the management of electronic archives.
• Evaluate and buy archival materials to build and develop an archival collection for research purposes.
• Make sure documents and records are real, and research the origins and significance of archival materials.
• Organize noncurrent archives and develop cataloguing and retrieval systems to allow access to archival materials.
• Help people with their searches.

Sample job titles

• archivist
• assistant archivist
• collections archivist
• corporate archivist
• fine arts archivist
• historical archivist
• multimedia archivist
• photo archivist
• research archivist
• video archivist

Skills

• You need excellent administrative, research, organizational, writing, and planning skills, as well as intellectual curiosity. You should have supervisory skills and the ability to work with people of all ages, including other staff. A knowledge of computer systems, literature, and current information sources is also important. Being able to speak and write French would be an asset in some positions.

Job requirements

• A bachelor's degree with a minor in archival studies or a university degree with a certificate in archival studies.
• A master's degree in archival studies, archival studies and information science, library science or history may be necessary.

Other considerations

• Movement to archive management positions is possible with experience.

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