An important aspect of archival work is understanding that the documents will outlast any person working in a given repository. But as the field of archives enters a new period of change, many archivists and information specialists are faced with the hard choice: for the benefit of long-term preservation, if your employment status is threatened, is it better to leave on your own terms or stay and risk being forced out? Framed within the SAA Code of Ethics, is there an ethical argument to leaving or staying?
The SAA Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct is seeking submissions for this month's blog theme: Archivist in the Extreme: Should I stay, or should I go?
This topic is broad and can encompass anything from common hiccups in trying to follow the SAA Core Values and Code of Ethics to narrative experiences about handling complex collections. The goal of this month's theme is to create accessible content that your fellow archivists can refer to in practical situations and build on to create better pedagogical tools. Writers and contributors may write under a pseudonym or post anonymously. The length of the submissions should be between 500 to 1,500 words. Blog posts should address one or more areas covered by the SAA Core Values and Code of Ethics. Potential blog formats may include (but are not limited to) case studies, personal narratives, calls to action, editorials that respond to archival ethical dilemmas in the news or media, or ethical dilemmas in theory or practice. Posts by students and new archival professionals are encouraged.
- Link to submit a blog post can be found here.
- The SAA Committee of Ethics and Professional Conduct blog can be found here.
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Haley Doty Vaden
Records Manager
Charleston Commissioners of Public Works
Charleston SC
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