Jeanette Berard, Candidate for Vice President/President Elect
Question 1:
Formalizing ACA Board recruitment and membership volunteer opportunities is one goal of the ACA strategic plan. Describe the ideas you have for this accomplishing this goal.
Recruitment can be hard, and by better defining service opportunities, we can help clarify to members what the expectations are for each position. In formalizing the recruitment process, I think there are a series of logical steps:
- Describe the key responsibilities and duties of each position
- Note the standard path to executing responsibilities of the positions
- Note the expected time commitment
- Link the descriptions generated to a nomination form to allow individuals to self-nominate / nominate / request more information
In order to arrive at descriptions, I would suggest starting from existing documentation, and form a committee inviting past board members to add their experience and understanding of the board and volunteer positions.
Question 2:
Define your vision for raising the profile of Certified Archivists to current members, future members, and employers?
ACA members have shown through rigorous examination and continual maintenance that we have a firm commitment to the standards of our profession. No matter where or when we obtained our degrees, no matter if we were virtual students or attended university in person, certification shows we all understand and adhere to the best practices of our discipline.
Raising the profile of Certified Archivists involves marketing and availability of information. I think that increasing publication of accomplishments and personal stories can go a long way to making membership seem approachable, viable, and worthwhile. Sharing news illustrates the abilities of our members and can enable employers to feel confidence in hiring and Certified Archivist.
Professional Experience:
Librarian for the American Radio Archives Thousand Oaks Library, Special Collections, 2002-Present
Librarian and Archivist for the Research Library Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 1998-2002
Photo Archivist for the Langley Research Library and Photo Archives NASA Langley, 1995-1998
Education:
- MLS, University of California, Los Angeles: 1991
- MA, Comparative Culture, University of California, Irvine: 1987
- BA, Anthropology, University of California, Irvine: 1985
Professional Activities:
- Academy of Certified Archivists: Member 2005-present, ACA Exam Development Committee 2012-2015.
- Society of California Archivists: Member 2002-present, Co-chair Education Committee 2004-2010, Cochair Development Committee 2010-2015.
- Society of American Archivists: Member 2002-present.
“What is the role of archival certification in the modern work environment?"
Archival certification sets a standard for knowledge and creates a common ground for all archivists to work towards. In today’s archives environment, it provides a framework for best practices, and ensures that we meet a metric that can stand up to reviews and enable successful application for grants.
Archivists come from many different educational and experience backgrounds, including library science, and history programs, and work in a multitude of professional settings. Out of these varied routes to archival employment, certification provides a way to bring our divergent paths together and creates a unity in the profession.
Today, with teleworking, non-traditional education paths and gig work on the rise, the need for archival community and communality is stronger than ever. The ACA undertakes to update standards on a regular basis, recently updating the number of points needed to recertify, and removing the employment requirement, in acknowledgement of the changes many of us have faced during COVID. This is exactly the sort of responsive change that is needed to keep the ACA relevant in an evolving world. I would endeavor to promote evolution and unity in working with as a Vice President/President-Elect of the ACA.