Though some archivists are fortunate to work as full time employees or faculty in large universities or public institutions, a rising number are lone arrangers working in isolation, itinerant archivists holding temporary positions as project archivists, or recent graduates unable to find professional positions in our field. This forum proposes to bring us together to discuss the issues facing archivists as workers: pay, job stability, equity, diversity and commitment to the professional advancement of new archivists in our profession. Through pre-readings and facilitated discussions, our hope is to come away with proposals for action and a strengthened sense of community.
Some questions we might consider:
- How can we create communities of support, and find common cause?
- What actions can we take to facilitate the recruitment and hiring of new graduates?
- How can we build a diverse profession that fully represents the demographics of California, and address unconscious bias in our searches?
- How can we advocate for, and contribute to, better working conditions and fair wages for ourselves and our colleagues?
