VII%20European%20Conference%20on%20Archives:%20Archivist:%20Profession%20of%20the%20Future%20in%20Europe

1
Is archives and records management a profession
for practitioners or an academic discipline?

• Dr Elizabeth Shepherd
• School of Library, Archive and Information
  Studies
• University College London
• e.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk

2
Introduction

• Is archives and records management a profession?
• Is archives and records management an academic
  discipline, comparable with other scientific and
  humanities subjects studied in universities?
• Role of teaching and research in archives and
  records management

3
Is archives and records management a profession?

• Four key themes
• political engagement and legislation
• a complex and distinct work group
• an exclusive professional organisation and
• appropriate archival education and development

4
Is archives and records management an academic
discipline?

• Graduate programmes in archives for 60 years in
  UK universities
• archival educators either practitioners or
  academics in allied disciplines
• slow development of research in archives and
  records management

5
How can we improve the quality and quantity of
research in archives and records management?

• Define priorities for research
• Career paths of academics and professionals
• Dissemination of research
• Robust and appropriate research methodologies

6
ARMReN (Archives and Records Management Research
Network)

• To establish an enduring network to foster
  research in the academic discipline of archives
  and records management.
• To develop interaction between researchers and
  administrators and information professionals to
  advance understanding of recorded evidence for
  transparency and accountability, evidential
  value, citizens rights and life-long education,
  and theory and practice in archives and records
  management.

7
Is archives and records management a profession
for practitioners or an academic discipline?

• Dr Elizabeth Shepherd
• School of Library, Archive and Information
  Studies
• http//www.slais.ucl.ac.uk/
• e.shepherd_at_ucl.ac.uk