Archivist jobs

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has millions of times more records than personnel, therefore the ratio is around one record for every employee. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has 36 buildings around the United States, yet it only has roughly 3,000 full- and part-time personnel. Everyone comes to the workplace with their own unique background of education and experience.

Employees of the National Archives are responsible for maintaining the records of the United States Government and making them accessible to the general public. They accomplish this goal in a variety of methods, the majority of which include working as archivists, archives technicians, conservators, and records managers.

Archivists get specialized training in the processes of conserving the original material and assisting individuals in acquiring it. Documents on paper, pictures, maps, videos, and computer data are some of the materials that archivists deal with. Many archivists begin their careers as historians, after which they further their education by taking seminars taught by seasoned professionals in the field. Archivists have extensive and in-depth knowledge of records, and they are engaged in the creation, maintenance, and use of records across many, if not all, aspects of the records life cycle. When it comes to providing documents to the general public, their significant research and analytical abilities come in handy.

Archives experts provide assistance to archivists by applying their particular subject matter expertise to the documents that archivists are responsible for serving. They often participate in tasks that include characterizing a body of documents or conserving them. When requests for documents that fall within their purview are made, they also interact directly with members of the general public.

Technicians at the archives provide assistance to archivists. When searching for records, the technicians walk inside the big rooms known as "stacks," which are used to store boxes full of paperwork. In addition to this, they collaborate with conservators in order to clean, restore, and conserve older and more delicate historical artifacts.

More than Archivists Work at an Archives

Documents, pictures, and other types of historical records are some of the things that conservators specialize in preserving. They put in a significant amount of time and effort to gently and carefully clean and repair fragile and damaged materials. Conservators have an in-depth understanding of the chemicals, instruments, and procedures that are used throughout the conservation treatment process.

Records managers collaborate with agencies of the federal government like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the United States Army to ensure that these organizations are creating records that are accurate representations of the work that they perform. The United States Federal Government, which is responsible for the employment of more than two million people, generates an enormous amount of paper and electronic information. Additionally, records managers are responsible for ensuring that agencies are correctly maintaining their documents and transporting the most essential records to the National Archives in a secure manner so that archivists and conservators there can care for them.

The National Archives employs a wide variety of people in a variety of roles, including but not limited to: accountants, photographers, librarians, educators, curators, shop clerks, editors, chemists, and graphic designers. New job titles have recently been introduced at the National Archives as a result of the incorporation of electronic files into the collection. These professionals include those that specialize in the preservation of dynamic media, digital imaging, computer repair, and the repair of optical instrumentation.

While some workers of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) attend school for a considerable number of years in order to be ready for their jobs there, others learn on the job. Nearly all of the employees at the National Archives have at least a high school diploma, and nearly half of them have college degrees as well. More over twenty percent of NARA's staff have earned degrees above the bachelor's level. Many people are interested in history and governance either on a personal or professional level.

The volunteers who give their time to the National Archives are an additional significant group of individuals here. Hundreds of individuals volunteer their time at the National Archives because they have a passion for both the history of the United States and the country itself. Others provide tours while assisting archivists, conservators, and technicians working at the archives.