Philosophy of LIS Practice
MARION ELAINE BROWN, MLIS
ARCHIVAL STUDIES
Professional Values and Ethics Statement
Author Elaine Brown
April, 2022
The Function of Archives in Society
Archives endeavor to preserve records, documents, and manuscripts that have enduring value. These records are formed by businesses, individuals, and governments, and they serve as documentation of events that transpired. Archives house these records and organize them, not only to preserve them but to make certain that they are accessible to those seeking evidence for research and learning. The particulars of what each record might consist of will be determined by the archives' individual mission. Archives may be comprised of records kept for functionality and efficiency within a government or business, or the archives could serve to house the cultural histories of a community. In all instances, these archives are a product of the careful curation performed by the archivists and their efforts to ensure that the constituencies they serve have unbiased and unobstructed access to those records.[1]
Primary Responsibilities of an Archivist
The primary function of an archivist is to preserve, describe, catalog, and make accessible the records collected in accordance with the collection policy of the institution in which they operate. They accomplish this task through acquisitions and appraisals. In modern archives, this role has flourished and can encompass documenting and collecting. Archivists may take on this active responsibility to fulfill the purpose of archives that are dedicated to working with specific groups of people or recording specific events. Today’s archivists must remain adaptable to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the society they strive to serve. When taking on the role of collector and documentarian we have a duty to consult with the community being documented. The archivist must accurately represent their community in a way that honors their wishes and respects their culture.
Factors that Inform My Agenda
While working to attain my MLIS with an Archival Concentration at the University of Alabama I have had the opportunity, and honor, to study under some of the most compassionate and social justice oriented professors. These instructors have not shied away from critical topics. They have fostered both introspection and exploration of what the role of an archivist should entail. My instructors introduced me to the works of Richard Cox, where I learned to ask, “Can we be confident that the records that currently exist provide the best representation and evidence on whatever aspect of our society we are interested in examining?... is [it] meaningful? Is it representative? Is it comprehensive? Is it selective in some fashion that can be defined?”[2] I was also introduced to the works of Michelle Caswell, where I learned about liberatory memory work and activating archives. She provided another list of important questions. “Who is present in the conversation? Who decides who is present? Whose past, present, future are we talking about?”[3] Archives do not exist merely for the people that created them. The initial purpose of the archives might have meant one thing to the original collector, but it could be many different things to many other interested people. I will look for opportunities to engage in outreach and involve the archive’s constituency so that their needs will inform the decisions I make.
Determining Obligations
I consider the work of an archivist to be both a duty and responsibility. It will be my responsibility to make judgments that ultimately benefit the collection and the community it serves. It is my responsibility to maintain, assess, and respect the work that has been done before me. It is also my obligation to make my work transparent for the archivists that will come after me. I will strive to leave them with context for the decisions I make so that they will have little hindrance in the work they strive to do. I cannot predict the future trials a collection will face but I can do my best to provide the tools, personal records, and organization to maintain a healthy and sustainable workflow for my successors. As an archivist, I will have to fulfill an obligation of trust. The archivists in the future, and the current and future constituents have placed an inherent trust in my descriptive work.[4]
Representation and Inclusion in the Archives
Through re-examining the collections we hold, with consideration for what our collection may represent and who may need access to it, we can reimagine our archive’s role in society. By taking a critical evaluation of the records we possess, we can supply additional context and description that would allow these records to be accessed and utilized by more communities and researchers. We should also audit our collections to determine if the records represent all histories related to the scope of the collection policy. We do not have to change the breadth of the institution’s focus, but we can, and should, evaluate whether or not all voices and histories are present in our descriptions. Records may have more than one creator, subject, or community represented within them. I do believe that through re-accessioning records with a critical lens we can uncover gaps in description and uses for the records.[5] If we do find that some communities or events have been overlooked then it is our responsibility to address this gap. We can look for existing collections or enlist the public for support in locating or creating relevant records.
Reflection and Critical Review
Both reflection and critical review are imperative to the archival practice so that we can maintain an efficient and factual collection. When developing the archives’ policies and procedures it is important to include an evaluative process that will allow us to examine our past work and determine the success of the collection. Through self-critique, we can periodically examine past work and apply new information. A collection is successful when it meets the criteria of the collecting mission, if records are preserved and accessible, and if the records serve the needs of the constituents. Through employing outreach and engagement activities we can gather important feedback. By allowing for reflection from the constituency they will undoubtedly uncover and address issues we have missed.
Remaining Flexible
Policy and perspectives will change. I carry this philosophy with me in all situations. In the course of my career, I will strive to remain open-minded and receptive to new ideas and professional discourse. I recognize my role as a steward over the collections I will work with. I acknowledge that the work I do will have an impact on the preservation and usefulness of the records. These collections will pass through my care and on to the next archivists if I have done my job correctly. It is my desire that the projects I participate in will endure, and continue to be useful.
[1] “What are Archives” The Society of American Archivists. https://www2.archivists.org/about-archives
[2] Richard J. Cox, No Innocent Deposits: Forming Archives by Rethinking Appraisal (Lanham, Maryland, Scarecrow Press Inc. 2004), 94.
[3] Michelle Caswell, (University of Kansas IDRH) Urgent Archives: Enacting Liberatory Memory Work – Michelle Caswell, YouTube, October 24, 2021. Link for YouTube video of Urgent Archives
[4] Laura Millar, “An Obligation of Trust: Speculations on Accountability and Descriptions,” The American Archivist 69, no. 1 (2006): 60–78.
[5] Michelle Caswell, Urgent Archives: Enacting Liberatory Memory Work (605 Third Ave, New York, NY, Routledge, 2021) Kindle Edition.
Archives endeavor to preserve records, documents, and manuscripts that have enduring value. These records are formed by businesses, individuals, and governments, and they serve as documentation of events that transpired. Archives house these records and organize them, not only to preserve them but to make certain that they are accessible to those seeking evidence for research and learning. The particulars of what each record might consist of will be determined by the archives' individual mission. Archives may be comprised of records kept for functionality and efficiency within a government or business, or the archives could serve to house the cultural histories of a community. In all instances, these archives are a product of the careful curation performed by the archivists and their efforts to ensure that the constituencies they serve have unbiased and unobstructed access to those records.[1]
Primary Responsibilities of an Archivist
The primary function of an archivist is to preserve, describe, catalog, and make accessible the records collected in accordance with the collection policy of the institution in which they operate. They accomplish this task through acquisitions and appraisals. In modern archives, this role has flourished and can encompass documenting and collecting. Archivists may take on this active responsibility to fulfill the purpose of archives that are dedicated to working with specific groups of people or recording specific events. Today’s archivists must remain adaptable to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the society they strive to serve. When taking on the role of collector and documentarian we have a duty to consult with the community being documented. The archivist must accurately represent their community in a way that honors their wishes and respects their culture.
Factors that Inform My Agenda
While working to attain my MLIS with an Archival Concentration at the University of Alabama I have had the opportunity, and honor, to study under some of the most compassionate and social justice oriented professors. These instructors have not shied away from critical topics. They have fostered both introspection and exploration of what the role of an archivist should entail. My instructors introduced me to the works of Richard Cox, where I learned to ask, “Can we be confident that the records that currently exist provide the best representation and evidence on whatever aspect of our society we are interested in examining?... is [it] meaningful? Is it representative? Is it comprehensive? Is it selective in some fashion that can be defined?”[2] I was also introduced to the works of Michelle Caswell, where I learned about liberatory memory work and activating archives. She provided another list of important questions. “Who is present in the conversation? Who decides who is present? Whose past, present, future are we talking about?”[3] Archives do not exist merely for the people that created them. The initial purpose of the archives might have meant one thing to the original collector, but it could be many different things to many other interested people. I will look for opportunities to engage in outreach and involve the archive’s constituency so that their needs will inform the decisions I make.
Determining Obligations
I consider the work of an archivist to be both a duty and responsibility. It will be my responsibility to make judgments that ultimately benefit the collection and the community it serves. It is my responsibility to maintain, assess, and respect the work that has been done before me. It is also my obligation to make my work transparent for the archivists that will come after me. I will strive to leave them with context for the decisions I make so that they will have little hindrance in the work they strive to do. I cannot predict the future trials a collection will face but I can do my best to provide the tools, personal records, and organization to maintain a healthy and sustainable workflow for my successors. As an archivist, I will have to fulfill an obligation of trust. The archivists in the future, and the current and future constituents have placed an inherent trust in my descriptive work.[4]
Representation and Inclusion in the Archives
Through re-examining the collections we hold, with consideration for what our collection may represent and who may need access to it, we can reimagine our archive’s role in society. By taking a critical evaluation of the records we possess, we can supply additional context and description that would allow these records to be accessed and utilized by more communities and researchers. We should also audit our collections to determine if the records represent all histories related to the scope of the collection policy. We do not have to change the breadth of the institution’s focus, but we can, and should, evaluate whether or not all voices and histories are present in our descriptions. Records may have more than one creator, subject, or community represented within them. I do believe that through re-accessioning records with a critical lens we can uncover gaps in description and uses for the records.[5] If we do find that some communities or events have been overlooked then it is our responsibility to address this gap. We can look for existing collections or enlist the public for support in locating or creating relevant records.
Reflection and Critical Review
Both reflection and critical review are imperative to the archival practice so that we can maintain an efficient and factual collection. When developing the archives’ policies and procedures it is important to include an evaluative process that will allow us to examine our past work and determine the success of the collection. Through self-critique, we can periodically examine past work and apply new information. A collection is successful when it meets the criteria of the collecting mission, if records are preserved and accessible, and if the records serve the needs of the constituents. Through employing outreach and engagement activities we can gather important feedback. By allowing for reflection from the constituency they will undoubtedly uncover and address issues we have missed.
Remaining Flexible
Policy and perspectives will change. I carry this philosophy with me in all situations. In the course of my career, I will strive to remain open-minded and receptive to new ideas and professional discourse. I recognize my role as a steward over the collections I will work with. I acknowledge that the work I do will have an impact on the preservation and usefulness of the records. These collections will pass through my care and on to the next archivists if I have done my job correctly. It is my desire that the projects I participate in will endure, and continue to be useful.
[1] “What are Archives” The Society of American Archivists. https://www2.archivists.org/about-archives
[2] Richard J. Cox, No Innocent Deposits: Forming Archives by Rethinking Appraisal (Lanham, Maryland, Scarecrow Press Inc. 2004), 94.
[3] Michelle Caswell, (University of Kansas IDRH) Urgent Archives: Enacting Liberatory Memory Work – Michelle Caswell, YouTube, October 24, 2021. Link for YouTube video of Urgent Archives
[4] Laura Millar, “An Obligation of Trust: Speculations on Accountability and Descriptions,” The American Archivist 69, no. 1 (2006): 60–78.
[5] Michelle Caswell, Urgent Archives: Enacting Liberatory Memory Work (605 Third Ave, New York, NY, Routledge, 2021) Kindle Edition.