Archivist

The archivist is that which manages Archives or works in a service or an institution which manages some.

Role and functions

The tasks of the archivist are four:

to collect , i.e. to insert in the files all the documents which have vocation to be there and only these, which implies to make a sorting there between what deserves to be preserved and what can be destroyed; this capacity to be chosen is besides the competence first of the archivist, who is initially " that which knows détruire" ;
to inventory , i.e. to describe the contents of the documents filed by working out instruments of research so that one can easily find to it (S) document (S) which one needs;
to preserve , i.e. to protect the documents filed from all that could threaten their integrity, that they are deteriorations due to natural causes (fire, damage of water, micro-organisms, etc) or acts of ill will;
to communicate , i.e. to make materially and intellectually possible the consultation of the contents of the documents, while making known the existence of those, by providing information to their subject, while publishing most interesting, while making reproduce and diffuse most fragile or the most asked, etc

Professional context

The archivist works

is in the organization which produced the documents to be filed (administration, company, association, etc) and to answer the needs and the legal requirements of this organization,
is in an external organization which preserves and communicates final files; it is in particular the case of the services of public records which the legislation charges with managing the final files of the administrations and other public people.

Formation

Ideal competences of the archivist are, with share equal, legal and historical. To know the right is necessary insofar as the files are initially evidence and where it must select those which will be useful to defend or establish rights, in particular in the event of lawsuit. To know the history is necessary since the files are also sources for the historical research and that it must select them according to the utility which they can have for the current and future historian.

In practice, the training of the archivists, in all the countries of the world, is dominated by the history and is exempted in schools and faculties concerned with universities of letters and social sciences. It is noted besides that, in much country, the direction of the Public records is entrusted to professors of history.

See too

External bond

Page of the international Gate archivistic French-speaking on the presentation of the trade of archivist

Simple: Archivist

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