How to Become a Archivist

About Archivist

Archivists are information experts who are specifically trained to keep source data and assist people in obtaining it. Archivists handle paper documents, photos, videos, and computer data. An archivist evaluates and researches records and documents in order to determine their significance and potential value. She then preserves and catalogs these materials so that they can be accessed in the future and are not lost or forgotten. Most archivists specialise in one type of documents, such as manuscripts, photographs, maps, websites, films, or sound recordings. Conservators are specialists who work with documents and photographs. Some archivists specialise in a particular period of history. 

An archivist can also provide public outreach. They may be in charge of organising facility tours, lectures, classes, and workshops. Archivist courses are specialised degrees designed to meet the growing demand in both the public and private sectors. It is a lucrative option for career advancement and a positive financial outcome. Archivists work in libraries, businesses, educational institutions, museums, historical conservatories, and other settings.

An archivist's average annual salary ranges between INR 5 – INR 8 LPA. An archivist's average monthly salary is around INR 55,000.

The highlight of a career as an Archivist is tabulated below:

Why Become an Archivist?

The scope of a career as an archivist is booming. Archivists can begin their careers in a variety of government and private archival agencies. They can also work for commercial business groups, libraries, educational institutes, religious authorities, museums, hospitals, historical conservatories, and non-profit organizations and earn a good living. PhD archivists are given higher-ranking positions in educational institutes with faculty status. Those who began their careers in small-scale industries can eventually achieve long-term job stability as well as high levels of professional and personal fulfillment.

Responsibilities of an Archivist

An Archivist's responsibilities are listed below. Go through the pointers to gain a better understanding of the job profile.

• Make it easier to acquire, preserve, arrange, describe, and access born-digital materials.
• Create heritage research files that are relevant to business goals.
• Assist staff, researchers, and interns who want to use the Archives.
• Appraise the materials, identify preservation and conservation issues, and determine best practices for problem resolution.
• Complete collection organisation, preservation, and description
• Teach archival instruction, create exhibits, and participate in other outreach activities.
• Upkeep and update the archival database
• Archives technicians assist archivists in the discovery and preservation of artifacts and records.

Eligibility to become Archivist

Mentioned below are the eligibility criteria for An Archivist. Check out the eligibility criteria required for UG, and PG candidates.

Types of Job Roles Archivist

Archivists who work in cultural institutions or for local governments frequently create educational or outreach programmes to help archive users understand and access information in their Archivist collections.

This includes exhibitions, promotional events, and even media coverage. Furthermore, archivists at a higher level are responsible for management tasks such as budgeting, staffing, and strategy.

Archivists work in archival units of government agencies, local governments, industrial and commercial firms, universities, hospitals, charities, religious institutions, museums, historical societies, libraries, and any other educational institution whose records may be valuable to researchers, exhibitors, genealogists, or others who would benefit from having access to the original source material. They could also work on the collections of a large family or even a single person. A strong academic background is required for an archival study through a small and exclusive discipline.

In addition to this, though archivists can be graduates from any field, a degree in history or library science is preferred. Public administration and political science are two other useful archivist specialisations.

Some specialised positions require a background in science or medicine. For work in archives with specialised topical emphasis, in-depth knowledge of specific domain subjects may be required.

Types of Archivists

Some of the most popular types of archivists are listed below:

• Archivists: Archivists are in charge of assessing, preserving, and organising records and documents. Depending on their expertise, they manage books, letters, old pictures, audio recordings, and other items and store them over time using an organising system that allows for efficient retrieval.
• Librarian: The librarian is in charge of overseeing the library to ensure its organisation and the safety of its resources. They create and arrange the library inventory, as well as implement library rules and procedures for budget management.
• Records Manager: Records managers oversee the entire life cycle of an organization's records, from creation to preservation to disposal. Record classification and indexing, as well as deleting or archiving completed data/records, are typical responsibilities.

Employment Sector/Industry for Archivist

There are numerous job opportunities for archivists in various industries. The following are some of the most important sectors/industries that require an archivist:

• Government agencies
• Local governments
• Industrial and commercial firms
• Universities
• Hospitals
• Charities
• Religious institutions
• Museums
• Historical societies
• Libraries

Pay Scale/Salary of Archivist

Salary ranges for various job roles and positions, as well as gender and specialisation, are provided below based on levels of experience.

The following table shows the average annual salary for Archivists in both public and private organisations:

Specialization Wise Archivist's Salary

Salaries for various specialisations under Archivists are listed below:

Experience Wise Archivist's Salary

Archivists' salaries are classified according to their level of experience, ranging from fresher to intermediate to professional. The following salaries are based on these levels:

Skills required to become an Archivist

To become an archivist, certain key skills are required, some of which are listed below:

Books & Study Material to Become Archivist

• Selecting & Appraising Archives & Manuscripts by Frank Boles.
• American Archival Studies: Readings in Theory and Practice by Randall C. Jimerson.
• Dispossessed Lives: Enslaved Women, Violence, and the Archive by Marisa J. Fuentes.
• Information and Records Management: Document-Based Information Systems by Mary F. Robek.
• Archives for the LayPerson: A Guide to Managing Cultural Collections by Lois Hamill.

Pros of becoming a Archivist

• Becoming an archivist is a subject that is both practical and application-oriented.
• In terms of higher education, it is a versatile degree.
• In this field, competition for government jobs is lower.

Cons of becoming a Archivist

• To pursue it further, you must have a Ph.D. or a Master's degree.
• In comparison to another field, there are fewer jobs directly related to this one.
• The average pay package for new graduates is low at first.