You Had Me at 3 Years: The Ethics and Practicality of Project Archivists

Abstract

With the Society of American Archivists working to define standards for both intern and volunteer workers, it seems fitting to look now towards another hallmark of archival work: project positions. These positions work to both introduce new archivists to the field and get smaller scale work off the ground, but at the same time, create a volatile job market that not only exacerbates new archivists but also hinders institutional memory and creates a burden on permanent employees. Due to restrictions of grant funding and other institutional factors, these positions are not going away any time soon, and a need for guidelines in creating these jobs is crucial to the development of the field. This talk will look at ethical and practical considerations surrounding project work—both from the employee and hiring manager’s perspectives—and propose ways that institutions can approach project work in order to create better environments for their employees and themselves.