Working together while working alone
Accreditation of Graduate Programs by SAA
For those of you not on the Archives and Archivists listserv, there has been quite a bit of discussion about getting SAA to give accreditation to graduate programs. Most job descriptions (depending on the job) will request that an archivist have an ALA Accredited Masters degree in Library Science/Information Studies. At the annual meeting in San Francisco a proposal was put forth to encourage SAA to give their own accreditation to graduate programs. The proposal can be seen here: http://saacouncilsubmissions.blogspot.com
The reason I'm posting this here is that the committee is looking for support from the general archival community, not just members of SAA. Right now we have a vocal group but not a large group. If this is an issue you are interested in please help show your support. So how can you help? (the following two points were taken from an email by Christine Di Bella)
1) Get the word out to as many archivists as you can who are likely to have an interest in this issue and encourage them to speak up in public forums and when/if the subcommittee makes a call for public comment. We have a good start, but given that SAA has over 5,000 members, we're nowhere near a groundswell at this point. It will be important to be able to demonstrate that this is not something that only a small (albeit vocal) group cares about. Reaching beyond SAA to members of affiliated organizations sounds like a good idea too.
2) Become as knowledgeable as you can about the history of the issue within SAA and the arguments on both sides. The articles by Frederic Miller, Luciana Duranti, Richard Cox, and others in the Fall-Winter 2000 issue of the American Archivist are a good starting point, but there are other sources out there as well. People could also join with Russell's proposal for a more coordinated research effort, although I would be a little leery of putting accreditation to a full membership vote at SAA in Austin without a major increase in support. (Especially if SAA is going to be lobbying for a dues increase at that meeting just to do what it already wants to do; as many who are against it are fond of pointing out, accreditation takes money.)
For more information about Russell James' proposal go to: http://recordsjunkie.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your support!!
The reason I'm posting this here is that the committee is looking for support from the general archival community, not just members of SAA. Right now we have a vocal group but not a large group. If this is an issue you are interested in please help show your support. So how can you help? (the following two points were taken from an email by Christine Di Bella)
1) Get the word out to as many archivists as you can who are likely to have an interest in this issue and encourage them to speak up in public forums and when/if the subcommittee makes a call for public comment. We have a good start, but given that SAA has over 5,000 members, we're nowhere near a groundswell at this point. It will be important to be able to demonstrate that this is not something that only a small (albeit vocal) group cares about. Reaching beyond SAA to members of affiliated organizations sounds like a good idea too.
2) Become as knowledgeable as you can about the history of the issue within SAA and the arguments on both sides. The articles by Frederic Miller, Luciana Duranti, Richard Cox, and others in the Fall-Winter 2000 issue of the American Archivist are a good starting point, but there are other sources out there as well. People could also join with Russell's proposal for a more coordinated research effort, although I would be a little leery of putting accreditation to a full membership vote at SAA in Austin without a major increase in support. (Especially if SAA is going to be lobbying for a dues increase at that meeting just to do what it already wants to do; as many who are against it are fond of pointing out, accreditation takes money.)
For more information about Russell James' proposal go to: http://recordsjunkie.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your support!!
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