SPEC Kit 314: Processing Decisions for Manuscripts &Archives · 105
Staff Training
19. Please indicate how staff who are responsible for processing manuscript and archival collections
receive(d) their training. Check all that apply. N=72
On the job 72 100%
Professional association-sponsored workshops 66 92%
Library school 65 90%
Peers 56 78%
Conferences 54 75%
Professional journals and readings 54 75%
Electronic discussion lists 39 54%
In-house workshops 34 47%
Blog and online readings 26 36%
Other opportunity 8 11%
Please describe other opportunity. N=8
Graduate program in museum studies with archives emphasis.
Graduate school in applied history programs.
Other university courses/archives programs and professional certification processes.
Rare Book School.
Some of our graduate student assistants and professional FTE have completed archives and manuscript sequences in
history departments.
Staff/Unit Training.
Student assistants who do the bulk of processing are trained by staff and use the processing manual as a reference.
Student processors (some undergraduates, but chiefly archive-oriented library school students) are given intensive in-
house formal training individually and as a group.
20. What are the most important skills that staff need to acquire for processing manuscript and
archival collections today? N=69
1. Basic knowledge of rehousing techniques. 2. Ability to organize collections. 3. Ability to write clear and concise
collection and series descriptions.
1. Formal education in library/archival work, particularly cataloguing/archival description. 2. Appropriate subject
background 3. Interest in and ability to analyse and articulate the content and context of archival material within the
Staff Training
19. Please indicate how staff who are responsible for processing manuscript and archival collections
receive(d) their training. Check all that apply. N=72
On the job 72 100%
Professional association-sponsored workshops 66 92%
Library school 65 90%
Peers 56 78%
Conferences 54 75%
Professional journals and readings 54 75%
Electronic discussion lists 39 54%
In-house workshops 34 47%
Blog and online readings 26 36%
Other opportunity 8 11%
Please describe other opportunity. N=8
Graduate program in museum studies with archives emphasis.
Graduate school in applied history programs.
Other university courses/archives programs and professional certification processes.
Rare Book School.
Some of our graduate student assistants and professional FTE have completed archives and manuscript sequences in
history departments.
Staff/Unit Training.
Student assistants who do the bulk of processing are trained by staff and use the processing manual as a reference.
Student processors (some undergraduates, but chiefly archive-oriented library school students) are given intensive in-
house formal training individually and as a group.
20. What are the most important skills that staff need to acquire for processing manuscript and
archival collections today? N=69
1. Basic knowledge of rehousing techniques. 2. Ability to organize collections. 3. Ability to write clear and concise
collection and series descriptions.
1. Formal education in library/archival work, particularly cataloguing/archival description. 2. Appropriate subject
background 3. Interest in and ability to analyse and articulate the content and context of archival material within the
