PracticumJournalRikkiCarter

Spring2015,JanuaryApril

Preparation:
InDecember,IcontactedCM,theHeadArchivist/LibrarianattheSutherlandArchiveat
UtahValleyUniversityaboutthepossibilityofcompletingapracticumwithherorganization.My
advisor,DaleMonobe,mentionedthatthiscollegemightbeinthemarketforsomearchive
mindedgradstudentsandIthoughtthisexperiencemightberightupmyalley.CMletmeknow
thattheywereinneedofadigitizationinternforaslewofprojectdeadlinestheyhadinthe
comingsemester,andafteraninpersoninterviewed,Iwasofferedtheposition.Illbethere3
Monday/Wednesday/Thursdayforatotalof7.5hoursperweekuntilIvereachedmy120hours.

Accession:
WeekOne,1/71/8
IstartedatthearchiveinJanuary,thedigitizationprojectshadnotarrivedasofyet,they
werecomingfromanarchiveoffcampusinsouthernUtah,sothefirstcoupleofweeksIworked
oncreatingaccessionrecordsforitemsyettobeaddedtothecollection.Thiswasanew
experienceforme,asIveneverworkedinanarchiveofthisvariety,anditwasneattoseethe
waytheaccessionofitemstoaddisperformed.TheyuseaprogramcalledArchiversToolkit,
soIllgettoaddthatprogramtomyresume.Itwasalsointerestingtoseeandcreaterecordsfor
thetypesofmaterialsthatarecollectedatanacademiclevel,fromstudentfilmsandpapers,tee
shirtsfromcampusevents,departmentmeetingminutesandrecords,speechesbycollege
presidentsbothpresentandpast,andmiscitemsdonatedbycommunitymembers,thereisa
clearsenseofcommunityandhistoryinthecollectionthisarchivecurates.

Digitization:
WeekTwo,1/121/15
ThedigitizationmaterialsarrivedthisweekandIgotstartedrightaway.Iwastoldthat
theSoutherlandArchiveisoneofmanydigitizationhubswhichgetscontractedtocreatedigital
recordsforavarietyofoffcampusmuseums,archives,andcollections.ThisweekIvemake
digitalcopiesofabunchofphotosandlettersfromearlyUtahgovernmentofficials,eventhe
likesofBrighamYoung.Thislargedigitizationprojectwilllikelycoverthemajorityofmy
practicum,butIvebeentoldIllhaveachancetoprocessacollectionfromstarttofinishtoward
thelaterpartofthesemester,soIllhavethatvaluableexperienceaswell.Iworkindigitization
atmyjobwithAncestry.comandImalreadyseeingbigdifferencesinthewaythingsare
digitizedinacademiavsthepublicsectorforprofit,primarilyinequipmentandquality
requirements.Ancestryhasalotofmoneywithwhichtopurchasethehighestquality,fastest
digitizationequipmentandmaterials,andthepersonpowertodigitizemillionsofimagesper
month.Atauniversity,theredoesnotseemtobetheurgencyorparticularfinancialpriorityin
purchasingtopofthelineequipment,orevenworkingthatquicklyonprojects.Imcurrently
usingoneEpsonscannerforbothphotos,slides,anddocuments,whichmightbeamorecost
effectivealbeitmuchslowermethodofscanningthanIamusedto.Nonetheless,thecontentis
interestingandthedifferentenvironmentisgivingmeadivergentperspective.


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WeekThree&Four,1/21&1/28
Moredigitizationthesepastweeks,thoughIveonlyworkedacoupledays.The
SundanceFilmFestivalisonandIvebeenvolunteeringthereagainthisyear,thearchivewas
kindenoughtoworkaroundmyscheduleandallowmetoputinfewerhoursthisweek.Both
daysIcontinuedwiththedigitizationprojectIstartedafewweeksago.Ithasbeenmostly
photosofearlyUtahsettlersandgovernmentofficials,somepioneerhousesthathasbeen
renovatedforpreservationandmadeintomuseums.Ibelievethecollectioniscomingfrom
Fillmore,Utah.ImimpressedwiththecommitmenttopreservingUtahhistoryandmakingit
accessibletointerestedresidents.Iadmirethatmissionofarchivesagreatdeal.

WeekFive,2/22/5
ContinueddigitizingthecontentfortheUtahTerritorialStatehouseStateParkMuseum.
Itisawondertomewhatitemsgetpreserved.Ivedigitizedeverythingfromphotostowedding
invitations,businesscards,reportcards,forestmaps,andpersonalpoems.Iguessyounever
knowwhataresearchermightbeinterestedinorwhathashistoricalsignificance.
Immakinggoodprogress,saysCM,ondigitizingthephotosandthings.SoonIwillfinishthose
upandwillhavesomelargerartifactstoworkon,whichwillrequiredifferentmethods,likedigital
photography.Anotherstaffmember,BrentS.istheresidentdigitizationguru,soImlooking
forwardtolearningwhattipsandtrickshehasuphissleeveformakingthesearchivalphotos
reallyhighinquality.

WeekSix,2/92/12
Anotherweekofscanning.Therewasareallyinterestingphotooffreightingusing
mulesandcoveredwagons,withallthewesterncladmenandtheirtoolsandbelongings,
againstacloudyskyandsagecoveredhillside.LotsofphotosofpeopleandearlyUtah
buildingsandsettlers.Unlikeeuropeandotherplaces,itiscooltobeabletoseeandtraceback
thebeginningsofamodernplace(notodiscounttheexistenceofthosebeforethesesettlers
ofwhichtherearealsophotosinthiscollection).IguessIjustmeanitiscooltoseethese
artifacts.

Ivegottentochatalittlewiththeotherarchivist,ArchivistA,thisweekaswell.Sheis
fromMaineandgotthejobhereafewweeksbeforegraduatingwithherMLS,soshestayed.
ShewasinUtahdoinganinternship,itsoundedlikeshehadalotofexperienceuponapplying
here,somethingIworrywillbeadetrimentinmyownjobhunt,asIdonthavemuch.She
mentionedthejobmarketistoughforArchivists,asthosewiththeobstendtokeepthem.Itwas
alittlediscouraging,tobehonest,butIllholdouthope.Theotherarchivisthere,Brent,whomI
waslookingforwardtolearningfrom,actuallyquitthisweeksoIguesstheydontallholdon
thethejobsindefinitely.Inpassing,CMmentionedthattheydbelookingtohireifIwere
interested,andIsoam,butIfeelveryunderqualifiedandinadequateatthispoint.Illkeeptrying
tolearnasmuchaspossiblehereanddoangoodjob,andhopefullysomeonewilltakea
chanceonafreshoutofgradschoolaspiringarchivistwithlotsofdigitizationexperience!


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WeekSeven2/182/19
Moredigitizing!Yay!Theresreallynotmuchtoreportbywayofsomethingnew
happeningatthepracticum.ImmakingmywaywithgoodtimethroughthephotocollectionIve
beentaskedtoscan.Ivefinishedtheloosephotosanddocumentsandamontoscanning
photoalbums.Theseareoldandfragile,andImremovingthephotosfromthealbumstoscan
themindividually,makingiteasierfromametadatastandpointtocataloguethem.Itwas
mentionedthattherearesomethingaround800photosanddocumentsinthecollection,Ididnt
realizeIhaddonesomuchalready!InmyjobwithAncestry.com,themajorityofmytimeis
currentlyspendauditing,notscanning,andIdoabout40006000imagesanhour,whichmakes
merealizehowstreamlinetheprocessisoverthereandhowbigataskthescanningisatan
archivewithoutthecorporateresourcesandfundsthatAncestryhas.Ithastakenme,myself,a
longtimetoscanthiscollection,andImjustthefirstpartoftheprocess.

IwasintroducedtotheprogramContentDMtoday,andshownalittleaboutthenextstep
oftheprocess,whichIguessIllhaveachancetoimplementnextweek.Itwaspretty
enlightening,asIvebeenstudyingmetadataandarchivaltools,buthaveyettoseethepipeline
inaction,thathelpedthetheoriesreallycometogetherforme.AsIgoalongnamingand
scanning,Itrytoreallythinklikeanarchivist...considerhowtheseitemsshouldbenamed,how
theymightbesearchedandused,andwhytheyarehistoricallyimportanttopreserve.Themore
Ilearn,boththroughcourseworkandthisexperience,themoreconfidentIamthatIwillbe
capableofdoingallthatIdberequiredasanarchivist,andenjoyittoo.Imbright,positive,
learnquickly,andhavethecapacityforinnovationonceImcomfortableinaplace.IfeelIdbe
anassetinanyarchive,andhopesomeonewillseethatinmeaswell.

WeekEight,2/232/26
ThisweekIcontinuedtoworkthroughthesameTerritorialStateHousecollection.Im
mostlydoingphotoalbumsnow,whichmostlycontainportraitsofearlysettlersofUtahand
pioneers.Someofthephotosareattachedtothealbumswhichmakesforaninteresting
scanningexperienceonaflatbed.Imalmostdonewiththescanningthough,nextweekImay
havealingeringalbumortwoandwillneedtotakeactualphotosofsomeofthelarger,less
scannerfriendlyitems,thenwillbeontothenextproject,whateverthatmightbe.

IgottodomoreworkinContentDM,addingthemetadatainfotothephotosand
documentsIhavescanned.Illbehappytoputthatprogramonmyresume,itseemsvery
helpfulinprocessingandintuitivetouse.Theheadarchivist,CM,saysthesetypesoftasksare
hermostfavoritepartofthejob,andIcanseewhy.Imveryinterestedinmetadata.

IappliedforacirculationjobhereatUVUtheotherdayaftertalkingabitaboutjob
prospectswithCM.Iaskedifshethoughtitworthwhiletogetlibraryexperienceifmyultimate
goalistoworkinarchives.Shementionedthatarchivesjobsarefewerandmorefarbetween
thanlibraryjobsandIagreeditmightbeagoodideanottolimitmyself.Sheherselfstartedina
library,sothereisnothingsayIcouldnteverdoitifajobcameup.Anynewexperienceisgood
experienceIsuppose.So,thatwasmyfirstreallibraryjobapplication!Kindofexcitingandalso


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terrifying.IlookedatthepostingforthearchivistpositionherevacatedbyBrent,andrealized
howveryunderqualifiedIamatthispoint.Lotstolearn,butnothingIdontthinkIcouldhandle.
ItwillbeinterestingtoseewherethisandtheotheropportunitiesIveencounteredthrough
libraryeducationwillleadinthefuture.

WeekNine,3/23/4
ThisweekIfinishedupthescanningfortheTerritorialStatehouseMuseumproject.With
ArchivistAthearchivist,wetooksomephotosoftheoversizeditemsandIgottowatchasshe
didsomepreservationworkonamapthatwastoobiganddamagedforflatbedscanning.Itwas
anoldmapoftheFillmoreareawhichhadbeenaffixedtosomeclothbackinginattempttogive
itsomestructureandkeepthepartstogether.ArchivistAusedanirontoheatthefoldsand
creasessothemapwouldlayasflataspossible.Itwasreallyinterestingtowatchthatprocess
andmademewanttolearnmoreaboutphysicalpreservation,sincemostofmyexperienceisin
thedigitalrealm.Shesaidthathadthemapbeenapartoftheircollection,shehaveusedsome
sortofwheatpastetosticktheironedpiecesdowntotheclothtopreventfuturecurlingand
folds.

Istartedprocessingacollectionasthenextpartofthepracticum.Iwillbeprocessing
andcreatinganEADfindingaidforthecollectionusingArchivistToolkit,whichisniceasitisan
assignmentforthearchivesclassImcurrentlyin.ArchivistAmentionedthathavingexperience
inEADfindingaidcreatingwaspartofwhattheywerelookingforwhenshegotthejobwith
UVUandCMagreedthatitisanessentialtoolforanyarchivisttohaveintheirarsenal.So,in
short,IfeellikeImgettinggreatexperienceandaddingthingstomytoolkitslowlybutsurely.I
sofarforthiscollection,Ivesorteditintogroupsandstartedtheprocessofcreatingthe
collectionfindingaidinArchivistToolkit,addingcollectionandseriesdata,dates,descriptions,
etc.Iputphotos,slidesandnegativesinsleevesandseparatedthecollectionintoappropriate
boxesforstorage.NextweekIllfinishtheprocessandseehowafindingaidactuallycomes
together!

Inothernews,IhadaninterviewforthecirculationjobImentioned.Ifeeltheinterview
wentverywell,theydidnthaveanyquestionsIcouldnotanswerwell,andIcouldseewhere
myMLSeducationfitsintoallthis.IamnotsureIhadtheexperiencetheywerelookingfor,but
Ifeltgoodabouttheinterviewprocessandamhappytohavetheexperienceofinterviewingin
theprofession.Itgivesmemoreconfidencetoapplyforthingsinthefutureandgivesabetter
perspectiveofwhatfutureinterviewsmightbelike.

Collectionmanagement,processing,andEADfindingaids
WeekTen,3/93/12
Sincethedigitizationprojectiscompleted,Ivemovedontoprocessingacollectionand
creatinganEADfindingaid.ThecollectionIstartedwithwassmall,onlyonebox,fullofarticles
fromthebusinessdepartmentdatingfrom19741999.Therewasanarrayofitems,from
newspaperclippings,scrapbooks,photos,strategicplans,andproposalsforvariousprojects.I


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sortedthecollectiontodiscernsomeorderandplacestheitemsinarchivalsleevesandboxes,
therewerefiveboxestotal.

Then,usingArchivistsToolkit,Ienteredthedata,alltherequiredelements,sortedthe
collection,nameditandeditedsomecodeinorderforthecollectiontobeuploadedtoboth
ContentDMandtheMountainWestDigitalLibrary.Thecodepartwastricky,asIamnotvery
wellversedinthatarea,butIwouldliketobecomemorefamiliar.ArchivistA,thearchivist,then
showedmehowtheinfoissavedandappearsontheUVUarchivewebsite.Itwasalong,but
notaltogetherdifficultprocess,andImveryhappytohavethisprogramandfamiliaritywiththe
orderofoperationsforEADs.Illhavetowriteaboutthisprocessinmoredetailasan
assignmentformyarchivesclass,andIcantimaginethatpaperbeingsuperinterestingtoread,
asitwillbealotofIdidthis,thenIputthisherebutIcanseewhytheclasswouldrequirea
projectlikethis,ifitissocommonplaceinthearchiveworld.

IdidntgetthecirculationjobforwhichIinterviewed,butIsortofexpecteditandamnot
allthatdisappointed.Imstilltryingtofindmynicheintheinformationprofessionandwhoknows
ifthatwouldhavebeenit.Iwanttobeinarchives,butalsodontwanttolimitmyselfifthose
jobsaresofewandfarbetween.ImthinkingImightliketobeinacorporatearena,maybe
doingsomethingvaguelyrelatedtolibraryscience,perhapsmanagingrecordsorarchivingand
digitizingbusinessinfo.IvelookedatacouplejobsforsoftwarecompanieswhowantMLS
grads,sothereisthatoption.Itsgoodtogettheinterviewthough,andpracticethoseskills.

Week11,3/163/19
ThisweekImworkingoncreatinganEADfindingaidforacollectionabout3timesthe
sizeoftheoneIcompletedlastweekandhavebeendescribingitdowntotheitemlevelas
muchaspossible,whichisnotsomethingrequiredforlastweekscollection.IvebeentoldI
workquicklysogoingdowntotheitemlevelhelpsslowmedownandensurethatthecollection
willbewelldescribedanddeeplysearchablebywhomevermaybesearching.Itisatime
consumingprocess,andtheDACS(DescribingArchive:AContentStandard)requirementsare
specificandattimesrepetitiveandtedious.Iunderstandwhytherequiredelementsare
requiredthough,andseehowthemoredescriptionofacollectionispresent,thebetter.This
collectionwas3fullboxesofitemsfromtheCenterfortheAdvancementofLearningfrom
20002012.Ithadavarietyofthingsfromshirtsandpenstoadvisoryboarddocuments,student
projects,trainingmaterials,andbusinesscourseworkbooks.Takingmoretimetodescribedown
totheitemlevelhelpssolidifythisprocessformeaswell,sothatImayretainsomeofthese
experiences,andhelpmerecallthemwhenitcomestimetowriteaboutthem.

Week12,3/233/26
IfinishedworkingonthecollectionfromtheCenterfortheAdvancementofLeadership,
andArchivistA,theassistantarchivist,decideditmightbegoodexperienceformetogobackto
thecollectionofbusinessdepartmentpapersanddescribethemdowntotheitemlevel.She
saiditisprettycommoninthearchiveworldtofirstdoabroadcollectiondescriptiontogetthe
informationonline,thengobackastimepermitstoaddmorespecific,itemlevelorsubseries


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descriptionsandrepostthefindingaidoncecompleted.Itotallyunderstandthelogichere,to
getitoutthereandsearchableassoonaspossible,butIhavetobehonest,Iwouldnotideally
dothingsthatway.Idratherjustdoitrightthefirsttime,takewhatevertimeisneededgoing
throughonthefirstgo,thantowastetimegoingbackthroughthecollectiontoaddmoreinfo.I
wasabitfrustratedwiththeprocessthisweekasIdidntfeelIwasgettingalltheinformationI
neededtodothejobwellandcompletely,andArchivistAkeptfindingthingsIdmissed(having
notknowntoaddthem,orwhichspecificDACSruleapplied,orhowthearchivelikesthingsto
beentered)andIdhavetogobackinagaintomakeadjustments.Itwasgoodpracticein
patienceformethisweekplusIwasntfeelingwellandthatcouldcertainlyhaveaddedtomy
irritabilityandannoyance.So,nowImenteringeverylittletinythingfromthecollection,downto
photoswithoutdescriptions(howhelpfulforresearchissomethinglabeleduntitledphoto?)and
oneparagraphnewspaperclippingswithnodateorpublicationinformation.
IknowImnotexperienced,notsomearchivalwizardorgenius,butitseemslikethere
arethingsthatcouldbedonemoreefficiently.Justbecausethingshavebeendoneacertain
wayforyearsdoesntmeantheyarethebestuseoftimeandresourcesandIdlovetobeinthe
archivalprofessionandmakesomechanges,someimprovements.Ithinkmymindworksina
verylogicalandorganizedway,andthatcouldcertainlybeabenefitinthisfieldifsomeonewill
givemeachance.

Week13,3/304/2
Thisweekhasfeltsolong.TheassistantarchivisttoldmeIdgottensomecodewrong.I
didntfeeladequatelytrainedonusingxmlcode,writingorchangingit,so,tobetolditwas
wrong,withnofurtherexplanationastowhat,how,orwhywasagainfrustrating.Theother
classImtakingthissemesterisamanagementandleadershipclassandImcertainlylearning
aboutwahtittakestobeagoodleaderortrainer,andhowimportantcommunicationis,
especiallywhenlearningstylescanbesodifferent.

Imontoanothercollectionnow,abigoneof6boxesfilledtothebrimwithpapers,
reports,folders,etcfromseveraldifferentdepartments.Itisgoodexperiencetogothroughsuch
alargecollection,ithasbeensittingonthebacklogforalongwhile.Withthiscollection,Ive
beengiventhefreedomtosortofgoatitonmyownmerits,anditfeelalotbettertousea
systemthatseemstobeworkingbetterforme.Imafraiditwillbewrongthough,andIllhave
messedituporsomethinggrave.Imightbeworryingfornothingthough,asarchiviststoolkit
seemslikeitisprettymalleableifIdidmakeamistake..

Week14,4/64/9
Thisweekwasbetter.Itriedtochangemyattitudeaboutthethingsthatwerebothering
meintheinternshipanditsworkedsofar.Ifinishedupthelargecollection,itendedupbeing
13archivalboxes,whichisalotlargerthanthelastIworkedon,andfeltIhadaccomplished
somethinggood,andgottousemyownmethodsinsortingthroughandenteringmuchofthe
data.Itwouldbenicetohearpraisefromtheassistantarchivistthough,tobesureIamdoinga
goodjob,andnotjustcreatingworkshellneedtogobackandredo.SheandIwentthrough
theotherEADcodingtofixthethingsIdmissedandIaskedalotofquestions,whichseemed


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toannoyher,aboutwhythingswentwhere,andwhattheirsignificanceandpurposeare,sothat
Imnotjustenteringdata,butunderstandingthemeaningbehindtheaction.Ivealsobeen
readingupmoreontheDACSguidelinessoIcanhavethatinmyarsenalofskills,sinceitisso
relevantinthearchiveworld.Imgladtohavetheresourcestolearnthesethings,bothinthe
archiveandindependently,andapplythemtomyeverydayexperience.

Ithinkthisinternexperienceisteachingme,notonlyaboutthepractical,daytoday
workofanarchivist,butalsoagreatdealaboutleadershipandmanagement,andhowIliketo
bemanaged.Thestylesoftheheadarchivist,CM,andtheassistantarchivistaresovaried,and
itisinterestingtoseehoweachfunctionandworktogetthingsdone.Ivealso,throughoutthe
semester,beenreadingaboutalotofmanagementtechniquesandthingsthatmakeagood
workenvironment,specificallyinlibraryandarchivesettings,becauseevenifImnotina
managementpositionnow,IcouldbeinthefutureandIdliketocreateapositivework
environmentnoworthen.

Imnotsurewhatprojectwillcomenext,Imhopingforsomethingnew,butIlltake
whateveritisinstrideandhopetogetthemostoutofit,whileputtingmybestintoit.

Week1516,4/134/23
IwasassignedanothercollectiontoprocessandEADfindingaidtocreate.Im
becomingaproatthis!Thecollectionisreallyinteresting,itconsistsofacouplehundredphotos
ofUtahinthelate1800s,photographedbyawellknownUtahphotographer,CharlesEllis
Johnson.Thephotoshavealreadybeenrehousedinarchivalsleeves,soImbasicallyjust
enteringtheinformationaboutthemintoArchivistsToolkit,butsomeofthegivendescriptions
areoutoforder,soIvehadtodoalittledetectiveworktomatchthecorrectdescriptionstothe
photosandmaintaintheorderforthecollection.Itisfascinatingtolookatthephotos,all
albumenprints,somecartedevisite,somecabinetphotographs,andotherprints.Iresearched
thehistoryofthesetypesofphotostofamiliarizemyselfwiththetypesandera,andwhythey
mighthavebeenusedorpreferredatacertaintime,itisprettyinterestingtolearnaboutasI
workwiththeitems.
Ididgettodoacoupledifferentthingsthesepasttwoweeks,givingmeaglimpseat
otheraspectsofarchivalwork.CMshowedmehowtheMountainWestDigitallibraryused
spatialmetadatatogiveanewdepthofmeaningandsearchabilitytoitems.Itseemslike
somethingthatwillchangethewayresearchisdoneandhowitemsandcollectionscanbe
connectedandunderstood.Itmademefeelexcitedtobecomingintotheprofessionatthis
dynamictime,whereImightcontributetothosebigchanges,andhopefulthattherewillbea
placeformeinthisarchiveworldafterall.
Thelibrarystaffgottovoteonaclassprojectofartfulbookcovers,thenattendthe
awardgatheringandminglewiththestudents.Thereisalsoacollectionondisplayinthe
archivethataclasshelpedputtogetherof19thcenturywomenwriters,andtheyalsohadan
openinggettogether,moreminglingandrefreshments.Itwasnicetoseetheprocessof
changingadisplay,andhowmanypeopletheacademicarchivegetstotouchwiththeir
projects.


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Finally,theassistantarchivistandItookafieldtriptotheBYUconservationlabandgot
tochatwiththeirstaffabouttheworktheydo.Botharchiviststherehavespecializeddegrees
andtraininginconservation,specificallypaper,andbookbinding.Thereissomuchtothatarea
ofarchivalsciencethatIdlovetoexplore,andImtakingapreservationclassoverthesummer,
somaybeIwillgetto.Theyshowedusseveralprojectstheyhaveunderway,everythingfrom
removingstickystufffromthebacksofphotos,tomakingdigitalcopiesofdisintegratingworks,
andcreatingadisplayofvintageswimsuitsbyaprolificdesigner,donatedtothespecial
collectionswing.Theyhadtofigureoutsizing,doresearchaboutthehistoryofthepiecesand
thedesigner,andfigureouthowbesttobothdisplayandstorethepieces.Theyshoweda
couplebooksandalbumstheyhadrestored,andtheylookedamazing,Iwassoimpressedwith
whattheycoulddo.SomeofthealbumsfromthevictorianeraweresimilartowhatIwastaking
photosfromtoscaninthebeginningoftheinternship,andeachofthosecouldaffordsomeTLC
fromaconservator!

Week17,4/274/30
ItwasmylastweekinthearchiveandwhileImgladtobefinishingupthesemester,Im
abitsadnottobethereanylonger.Theyhadalittlegoingawayhourwherewejustchatted
andhadsomesnacks.Theygavemeamugwiththearchivelogo,somefrisbees,andagift
cardtofandangowithathankyoucard.Itwasverysweetandunexpected.Ivebeeninvited
back,sothatsagoodsign,bothCMandArchivistAsaidanytimeIdliketocomevolunteer,
theydgladlyhaveme.ImighttakethemuponitonceIfinishtheMLSinAugust,butfornow,I
willfocusonclasses.IfinishedupanEADforacollectionofhistoricalphotosandstartedand
completedasmallcollectionofinstitutiondocuments.IfeelprettyconfidentinmyEADabilities
atthispoint,IthinktheycountedIddoneeightorso,whichtheyreportedisagreatnumberin
thetimeIvebeenworkingonthem.Thelastday,ArchivistAshowedmeacoupleotherthings
shedbeenworkingon,togivemeamorebroadviewofthetypesofworkanarchivistdoes,
fromrebindingoldbooks,tofiguringouthowtobestpreserveordisplayacollection,todigital
exhibitsandwebsitebrowsability,etc.Idstilllovetomakeacareerinthisfield,sohopefullythe
toolsIvelearnedinthisexperiencewillhelpmeonmyway.


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StudentsSelfEvaluationForm

Pleasecompleteandsubmit,withtheotherrequireddocuments,thisselfevaluationformas
requiredatthecompletionoftheGeneralPracticum.Thisformprovidesanopportunityforyou
tocommentonyourstrengthsandareasforimprovementasevidencedinthispracticum
experience.

Throughthisexperience,IgainedskillsinEADcreation,accessionrecordcreation,
collectionprocessing,archivaldescription,metadata,tags,anddigitization.Iwasgiventhe
opportunitytoseevariouspartofthearchivalprofessionandparticipateinmanyways.Ihada
verypositiveinternshipexperienceandgainedsomevaluableskillsIhopetoutilizeinthe
professioninthefuture.
Duringthefirstpartofmyinternexperience,Idigitizedalargecollectionofphotosand
documents.Ihaveexperiencewithdigitization,butthestandardsandpracticesarecompletely
differentinanarchivalsetting.Ifeelveryconfidentandcomfortablecreatingdigitizedworks,
andwouldcountthisasanotherfacetofaskillIveacquired.Ialsobecomecomfortablewiththe
processofworkingthroughacollectionfromaccessiontoEADcreation,inordertoarrangeand
describeit.Iworkedonseveralthroughoutmyexperienceandunderstandwhythingsaredone
thewaytheyare,andwhatnotesandmetadataareimportanttoleaveinordertodocumentthe
historyandprocess.TheprocessbecomefairlyintuitiveformeandIwasabletoworkquicklyto
completethetaskswell.
Afarasareasforimprovement,IcametounderstandhowmuchIstillhavetolearnwhen
itcomestobeingagoodarchivist.IshouldimprovemyXMLandothercodingskillsand
abilitiesinordertocreateandcompete.Itwouldalsobebeneficialtogainskillsinphysical
preservation,asthisisanareawherealotofcreativityandknowledgeofbestpracticeswouldbe
wellutilized.