Top 12 Archivist Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, archivists play a crucial role in preserving the integrity and accessibility of historical records and information. Highlighting the top archivist skills on your resume can significantly enhance your attractiveness to potential employers, underscoring your ability to manage, protect, and make accessible invaluable collections in both traditional and digital formats.

Archivist Skills

1. Cataloging
2. Preservation
3. Archival Science
4. Digital Curation
5. Metadata Standards
6. Research
7. Collection Development
8. Records Management
9. Archival Description
10. Digital Asset Management
11. Encoded Archival Description (EAD)
12. Archivists' Toolkit

1. Cataloging

Cataloging, in the context of an archivist's work, involves the systematic recording and description of items in an archive to ensure their easy identification, retrieval, and access for research and reference.

Why It's Important

Cataloging is essential for archivists because it systematically organizes archival materials, making them easily searchable and accessible to users, ensures the preservation of historical information, and enhances the discoverability and understanding of collections.

How to Improve Cataloging Skills

Improving cataloging, especially for an archivist, involves enhancing accuracy, accessibility, and comprehensiveness of records. Here are concise strategies with relevant resources:

1. Standardization: Adopt and adhere to international cataloging standards like ISAD(G) for consistency and interoperability.

2. Metadata Quality: Ensure high-quality, detailed metadata. Resources like the Library of Congress provide guidelines for metadata standards.

3. Digital Tools: Utilize cataloging software and databases for efficiency and organization. ArchivesSpace is a widely used tool in the archival community.

4. Continuing Education: Stay updated with best practices through professional development. Society of American Archivists offers resources and workshops.

5. User Feedback: Engage with your audience for insights into catalog usability and improvements. Implementing a feedback loop can enhance user experience.

6. Collaboration: Work with other professionals and institutions to share knowledge and resources. Networks like ArchiveGrid can facilitate this.

7. Preservation: Prioritize the digital preservation of catalog records. The Digital Preservation Coalition offers guidance and tools.

By focusing on these areas, an archivist can significantly improve the quality and utility of their cataloging efforts.

How to Display Cataloging Skills on Your Resume

2. Preservation

Preservation, in the context of an archivist, refers to the actions taken to protect and maintain the integrity of documents, records, and archival materials, ensuring their long-term accessibility and usability.

Why It's Important

Preservation is essential for archivists because it ensures the long-term protection and accessibility of historical and cultural records, allowing future generations to understand their heritage, learn from the past, and make informed decisions.

How to Improve Preservation Skills

Improving preservation for an archivist involves adopting strategies that ensure the longevity and accessibility of archival materials. Here are concise steps with inline linking for further exploration:

1. Environment Control: Maintain stable temperature and humidity levels to minimize deterioration. Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) provides guidelines for ideal conditions.

2. Proper Handling and Storage: Use archival-quality materials for storage and handle items with care to prevent physical damage. Library of Congress offers handling and storage tips.

3. Digitization: Digitize materials to reduce handling of physical items and ensure digital preservation. Digital Preservation Coalition has a comprehensive handbook on digital preservation.

4. Disaster Planning: Develop a disaster preparedness plan to mitigate risks from environmental threats and emergencies. Council of State Archivists (CoSA) provides resources for emergency preparedness.

5. Regular Maintenance and Monitoring: Conduct regular audits of physical and digital collections to assess and address preservation needs. Society of American Archivists (SAA) outlines best practices for maintaining archival collections.

Incorporate these practices into your archival work to enhance the preservation of collections.

How to Display Preservation Skills on Your Resume

3. Archival Science

Archival Science is the study and practice of acquiring, managing, preserving, and providing access to archives and records. It involves principles and techniques to ensure the long-term preservation of materials of historical significance and the accessibility of this information for research and reference. For an archivist, it encompasses the responsibilities of collecting, organizing, preserving, and enabling access to documents and materials that have enduring value.

Why It's Important

Archival Science is important because it provides archivists with the principles and methodologies necessary to preserve, organize, and provide access to historical records and documents, ensuring their authenticity, integrity, and usability for future generations. This enables the safeguarding of cultural heritage, supports research, and upholds accountability and transparency in society.

How to Improve Archival Science Skills

Improving Archival Science involves a multi-faceted approach, focusing on technological advancements, professional development, and community engagement. Here's a concise guide for archivists aiming to enhance their practice:

1. Embrace Digital Technologies: Adopt and integrate digital preservation tools and management systems to ensure the longevity and accessibility of digital records.

2. Continuing Education: Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in Archival Science by engaging with professional development opportunities and continuing education courses.

3. Advocate for Open Access: Promote and participate in open access initiatives, providing wider access to archival materials through platforms like the Digital Public Library of America.

4. Community Collaboration: Foster partnerships with local communities, historians, and researchers to ensure diverse perspectives are represented and preserved. The Society of American Archivists offers resources and a network for community engagement.

5. Sustainability Practices: Implement sustainable practices in the archive to protect physical and digital collections from environmental factors.

6. Ethical Considerations: Adhere to ethical guidelines and considerations in archival work, ensuring respect for privacy and cultural sensitivities. The International Council on Archives Code of Ethics is a valuable resource.

7. Innovative Outreach: Utilize social media and online platforms to share collections and engage with a broader audience. Experiment with digital exhibitions and virtual reality experiences.

By focusing on these areas, archivists can significantly contribute to the advancement and relevance of Archival Science in the digital age.

How to Display Archival Science Skills on Your Resume

4. Digital Curation

Digital curation involves the management and preservation of digital data throughout its lifecycle, from creation and storage to archiving and sharing, ensuring its accessibility and usability for future users, specifically tailored to the needs and practices of archivists.

Why It's Important

Digital curation is vital for archivists as it ensures the long-term preservation, accessibility, and usability of digital information, safeguarding cultural heritage and historical records for future generations.

How to Improve Digital Curation Skills

Improving digital curation involves adopting strategies and tools that enhance the organization, preservation, and sharing of digital resources. For an archivist, key steps include:

1. Stay Updated: Continuously update your knowledge on digital curation. Follow Digital Curation Centre for resources and guidance.
2. Use Standards: Adopt metadata standards like Dublin Core for consistency and interoperability.
3. Preservation Planning: Implement a digital preservation strategy using resources like Library of Congress for guidelines.
4. Software Tools: Utilize digital curation tools such as Archivematica for digital preservation and access.
5. Collaborate and Train: Engage with communities via platforms like Digital Preservation Coalition for learning and support.

By focusing on these areas, archivists can ensure the longevity, accessibility, and relevance of digital collections.

How to Display Digital Curation Skills on Your Resume

5. Metadata Standards

Metadata standards are a set of rules and guidelines used by archivists to ensure consistent description, organization, and retrieval of archival materials, facilitating their accessibility and preserving their context and provenance.

Why It's Important

Metadata standards are crucial for archivists as they ensure the consistent description, organization, and retrieval of archived materials, facilitating efficient access and preservation of information across time and technological changes.

How to Improve Metadata Standards Skills

Improving metadata standards, especially for archivists, involves adopting best practices that ensure the accuracy, consistency, and comprehensiveness of metadata. Here's a concise guide:

1. Adopt Established Metadata Standards: Choose widely recognized standards relevant to your collection type, such as Dublin Core for general purposes (Dublin Core Metadata Initiative), EAD for archival materials (Encoded Archival Description), or MODS for library resources (Metadata Object Description Schema).

2. Implement Controlled Vocabularies: Use controlled vocabularies, thesauri, and authority files to ensure consistency. The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is a widely used example.

3. Continuous Training and Education: Stay updated with the latest best practices and standards through professional development and training. Organizations like the Society of American Archivists (SAA) offer resources and workshops.

4. Participate in Metadata Communities: Engage with metadata communities to share experiences, challenges, and solutions. This can be through listservs, online forums, or attending conferences.

5. Quality Control and Review: Regularly review and update metadata to maintain its quality. Implement peer review processes and use metadata validation tools.

6. Leverage Metadata Management Tools: Utilize metadata management tools and systems that support standards compliance and interoperability. Examples include ArchivesSpace (ArchivesSpace) for archival materials, or Omeka (Omeka) for digital collections.

7. Document Your Metadata Practices: Clearly document your metadata schema, standards, and any local practices for consistency and to assist in training new staff.

By following these steps, archivists can improve their metadata standards, enhancing the discoverability, usability, and preservation of archival materials.

How to Display Metadata Standards Skills on Your Resume

6. Research

Research, in the context of an archivist, involves the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, with the aim of preserving, organizing, and providing access to historical and recorded information.

Why It's Important

Research is crucial for an archivist as it enables the accurate identification, contextualization, and preservation of historical records, ensuring that these materials remain accessible and meaningful for future generations.

How to Improve Research Skills

Improving research, especially for an Archivist, involves a multi-faceted approach focusing on organization, accessibility, and continuous learning. Here's a concise guide:

1. Organize and Catalogue: Efficiently organize and catalogue collections for easy access. Use metadata standards for archiving (SAA).

2. Digitize Collections: Enhance accessibility and preservation by digitizing documents and artifacts (Library of Congress).

3. Use Archival Software: Implement archival management software for better searchability and management (ArchivesSpace).

4. Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest research methods and archival technologies (SAA Education).

5. Network with Professionals: Join professional networks and forums to exchange knowledge and stay informed (ARMA International).

6. Publish and Share Findings: Contribute to archival knowledge by publishing research and findings in relevant journals and online platforms.

By focusing on these areas, an Archivist can significantly improve their research capabilities and contribute more effectively to their field.

How to Display Research Skills on Your Resume

7. Collection Development

Collection Development in the context of an archivist involves the strategic process of identifying, acquiring, evaluating, and managing materials and resources to add to an archive, ensuring the collection remains relevant, valuable, and accessible to its intended audience. This process includes setting policies and criteria for selection, acquisition, preservation, and deselection of archival materials.

Why It's Important

Collection development is crucial for an archivist as it ensures the systematic and thoughtful selection, acquisition, organization, and preservation of historical materials, enabling the comprehensive representation of society's knowledge, culture, and heritage for current and future research and education.

How to Improve Collection Development Skills

Improving collection development for an archivist involves several strategic steps focused on enhancing the quality, relevance, and accessibility of the collections. Here's a concise guide:

1. Assessment and Planning: Continually assess the existing collection to identify gaps and areas for improvement. Develop a collection development policy that aligns with your institution's mission and the needs of your users. Society of American Archivists provides standards that can guide this process.

2. Community Engagement: Engage with your community to understand their needs and interests. This can inform collection development to ensure it's relevant and useful. The International Council on Archives offers resources on community engagement.

3. Diversity and Inclusion: Actively seek out and include diverse voices and perspectives in your collections. This enriches the collection and makes it more representative. Archives for Black Lives has resources on inclusive archiving practices.

4. Digital Collections: Expand your digital collections to increase accessibility. This includes digitizing physical collections and acquiring born-digital materials. Digital Preservation Coalition offers guidance on digital preservation.

5. Collaboration: Collaborate with other institutions and organizations to share resources and expertise. This can lead to more comprehensive collections. OCLC is a global library cooperative that facilitates collaboration.

6. Professional Development: Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in archiving and collection development. Attend workshops, conferences, and engage with professional communities. ARMA International and The American Library Association offer resources and networking opportunities.

By focusing on these strategies, archivists can significantly improve the development and management of their collections to better serve their users and preserve history.

How to Display Collection Development Skills on Your Resume

8. Records Management

Records Management involves the systematic control of records from their creation or receipt through their processing, distribution, organization, storage, and retrieval to their ultimate disposition. For an archivist, it entails ensuring the preservation, authenticity, and accessibility of records of enduring value for historical, legal, and informational purposes.

Why It's Important

Records Management is crucial for archivists as it ensures the systematic control of records from creation to disposition, facilitating efficient access, preserving institutional memory, and safeguarding historical information for future research and legal compliance.

How to Improve Records Management Skills

Improving Records Management involves a strategic and methodical approach to handling documents and information within an organization. For an Archivist looking to enhance these processes, here are concise steps with relevant resources:

1. Conduct an Audit: Begin by assessing the current state of your records management. Identify what types of records you have, where they are stored, and their lifecycle. This initial step helps in understanding the scope of improvement needed. ARMA International offers guidance on conducting records inventories.

2. Develop a Plan: Based on your audit, create a comprehensive records management plan. This should include policies for record creation, maintenance, and disposal. Tailor your plan to the specific needs and compliance requirements of your organization. The Society of American Archivists provides resources on policy development.

3. Implement an Electronic Records Management System (ERMS): Transitioning to an ERMS can significantly improve efficiency and accessibility. It allows for better organization, searchability, and security of records. Explore options that fit your organization's size and needs. AIIM (Association for Intelligent Information Management) has resources on selecting and implementing ERMS.

4. Train Staff: Ensure that all employees understand the importance of proper records management and are trained on the new systems and policies. Continuous education on best practices is crucial. NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) offers training resources.

5. Regularly Review and Update: Records management is not a one-time task. Regularly review and update your processes, policies, and technologies to adapt to new challenges and regulatory changes. Keeping abreast with professional organizations like IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) can provide updates on best practices and standards.

By following these steps and leveraging resources from professional organizations, an Archivist can significantly improve their organization's records management practices.

How to Display Records Management Skills on Your Resume

9. Archival Description

Archival Description is the process by which archivists create accurate and detailed records of the content, structure, and context of archival materials, facilitating their discovery, access, and understanding by users.

Why It's Important

Archival Description is crucial for archivists as it systematically identifies, explains, and contextualizes archival materials, facilitating their access, interpretation, and preservation for current and future users.

How to Improve Archival Description Skills

Improving archival description involves enhancing the accuracy, accessibility, and comprehensiveness of records or document descriptions to facilitate better user understanding and retrieval. Here are concise strategies for archivists:

1. Adhere to Standards: Follow international standards like ISAD(G) for consistency and interoperability.
2. Inclusive Descriptions: Ensure descriptions are inclusive and respectful, addressing biased or outdated terminology.
3. Detail and Clarity: Provide clear, detailed descriptions, including scope and content, to aid discovery. The Society of American Archivists offers guidance on depth and clarity.
4. Use Controlled Vocabularies: Implement controlled vocabularies for subjects, names, and places to standardize terms for better searchability.
5. Digitization and Access: Digitize materials and metadata when possible, using platforms like ArchiveSpace to manage and publish descriptions online.
6. User Feedback: Encourage and incorporate user feedback to continually refine and improve descriptions.
7. Continuous Learning: Stay informed on best practices and emerging trends through professional development and resources like the International Council on Archives.

By focusing on these areas, archivists can significantly enhance the usefulness and user-friendliness of archival descriptions.

How to Display Archival Description Skills on Your Resume

10. Digital Asset Management

Digital Asset Management (DAM) is a system for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets (such as documents, images, videos, and other media files) in a centralized repository, facilitating efficient access, sharing, and management of these resources for archivists and other users.

Why It's Important

Digital Asset Management (DAM) is crucial for archivists because it provides an organized, searchable, and secure repository for digital assets, ensuring long-term preservation, easy retrieval, and efficient management of digital collections.

How to Improve Digital Asset Management Skills

To enhance Digital Asset Management (DAM) from an Archivist's perspective, focus on these key areas:

1. Standardization: Establish and follow metadata standards for consistency and discoverability. The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative is a widely recognized standard for digital resources.

2. Integration: Ensure your DAM system can integrate with other tools and systems used by your organization for seamless workflow. Look into APIs and compatibility features.

3. Access Control: Implement granular access controls to manage who can view, edit, or delete digital assets. This helps in protecting sensitive information and copyright materials.

4. Preservation: Adopt strategies for long-term preservation of digital assets to prevent data loss. The Library of Congress offers guidelines and best practices for digital preservation.

5. Training: Provide training for users on how to effectively use the DAM system. This increases user adoption and proper use of the system.

6. Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits of your DAM system to ensure data integrity, accurate metadata, and to identify areas for improvement.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Digital Asset Management in an archival context.

How to Display Digital Asset Management Skills on Your Resume

11. Encoded Archival Description (EAD)

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is a standardized XML format used by archivists to create structured, machine-readable finding aids for describing archival collections, facilitating their discovery and access in digital environments.

Why It's Important

For an archivist, Encoded Archival Description (EAD) is important because it standardizes the encoding of archival finding aids, facilitating the efficient organization, retrieval, and sharing of archival records across different platforms and institutions, enhancing access to historical information.

How to Improve Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Skills

Improving Encoded Archival Description (EAD) involves adopting best practices for creating, managing, and sharing finding aids. Here are concise tips for archivists:

1. Adhere to Standards: Ensure compliance with the latest EAD version to maintain consistency and interoperability.

2. Use Controlled Vocabularies: Enhance discoverability through consistent terminology. Utilize Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) or other authoritative sources.

3. Digitize and Link Resources: Whenever possible, digitize archival materials and provide hyperlinks within EAD finding aids. This enhances accessibility and user engagement.

4. Implement Quality Control: Regularly review and update EAD files to correct errors, ensure link validity, and update information. Tools like EADiva offer guidance and validation support.

5. Training and Community Engagement: Stay informed about EAD best practices through continuous learning and community participation. Society of American Archivists (SAA) provides resources and forums for professional development.

6. Leverage EAD Tools: Utilize EAD management tools like ArchivesSpace or Archon to streamline the creation and maintenance of finding aids.

7. Accessibility and User Experience: Design finding aids with user experience in mind, ensuring they are accessible and easily navigable. Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for web accessibility.

8. Feedback Mechanism: Incorporate mechanisms for users to provide feedback on finding aids, enabling continuous improvement based on user experience.

By focusing on these areas, archivists can significantly enhance the quality and utility of Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aids, making archival materials more accessible and discoverable.

How to Display Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Skills on Your Resume

12. Archivists' Toolkit

Archivists' Toolkit is a software application designed to help archivists manage collections and archival materials more efficiently, facilitating tasks such as accessioning, description, and generating finding aids.

Why It's Important

The Archivists' Toolkit is important for archivists as it provides an integrated software application designed specifically for managing archives. It streamlines the process of cataloging, managing, and providing access to archival collections, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring consistency in archival practices.

How to Improve Archivists' Toolkit Skills

Improving Archivists' Toolkit involves enhancing its functionality and user experience for archivists. Here's a concise guide:

1. Update Software Regularly: Ensure the software is up-to-date with the latest versions for improved performance and new features. Archivists' Toolkit updates can be checked regularly.

2. Customize User Interface: Tailor the interface to meet specific archival needs, improving efficiency. Learn more about customization in the user manual.

3. Integrate Digital Asset Management: Connect with systems like DSpace or Fedora for seamless digital collections management. Explore integration guides on DSpace and Fedora Repository.

4. Enhance Metadata Support: Implement support for additional metadata standards relevant to your collections. The Library of Congress provides standards that can be integrated.

5. Offer Training and Support: Provide comprehensive training for staff and create a support network for troubleshooting. Utilize resources from Society of American Archivists for training materials.

6. Implement User Feedback Mechanism: Establish a system for collecting and acting on user feedback to continuously improve the toolkit. Learn about feedback mechanisms from UserVoice.

7. Enhance Security Measures: Regularly update security protocols to protect sensitive archival information. The National Archives' guidelines offer valuable insights on security best practices.

8. Improve Interoperability: Work towards making the Toolkit more interoperable with other archival and library software systems. OCLC’s guidelines on interoperability provide a good starting point.

By focusing on these areas, archivists can significantly enhance the functionality and user experience of Archivists' Toolkit, making it a more powerful tool for managing archival collections.

How to Display Archivists' Toolkit Skills on Your Resume