Liz Scott, 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 accomplishing this goal.
As a former Regent for Outreach, one of my jobs was to find volunteers for various activities like manning the ACA table at conferences, help with special tasks and to fill positions like Webmaster. Serving in this position for four years allowed me to meet so many ACA members from around the country. I used traditional outlets like emailing people who indicated they wanted to volunteer or reaching out to members that I had met during conferences. We were just beginning to use social media more and that proved to be helpful as well.
One thing that worked well when I served as Chair for an ACA Task Force to create the Regent for Member Services position was a direct call for volunteers. The call was put out at a specific time and the parameters of the Task Force were clearly indicated so members knew the time commitment required of them. Having those direct calls for specific opportunities can be very helpful because people’s work/life balance changes. What was good for them three months ago might not be good now. The direct calls allowed for members to really give thought about their ability to volunteer for specific tasks at a certain time.
As far as board recruitment and recruitment in general go, more onus could be put on the members of ACA to get out there and recruit great candidates for positions. I know many of our members are already advocates for the certification, but we need everyone to be excited and proud about being a CA and be willing to tell their colleagues about the benefits. A specific marketing campaign to explain the duties and work involved with board and volunteer positions is crucial. The more information we share the better our organization will be.
Question 2:
Define your vision for raising the profile of Certified Archivists to current members, future members, and employers?
First, I believe we need to dispel the myths about the certification. It is a “certification” and not a “certificate” and the two are very different. It needs to be made clear why the certification is so important and is an elevated credential to have. Making this clear from the start, will naturally attract potential members.
Second, I believe the vision we need to move forward with in the future is for members to be proud to be a certified archivist. One way to make that happen would be through a focused marketing campaign. It starts with members sharing stories of why ACA is important to them, what the benefits to new members might be, followed with information for employers to understand why certification is a must for a new hire or why they should support their workers to attain the CA status. I know fellow Board members in the past, including myself, who have done all of these initiatives but a true branding and marketing campaign that is united in all of these areas could elevate the certification.
I have been on the side of a Board member and I know how tirelessly they work to make the organization run smoothly. Their past work cannot be overlooked. We must continue to find ways to highlight certification, our members and the organization in order to continue its growth. Now is the time for ACA to really shine and be in the spotlight again.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Archivist and Special Collections Librarian/Assistant Professor East Stroudsburg University, 2017-Present
Project Archivist Lafayette College, 2016
Project Archivist Lehigh University, 2015
Archivist and Records Management Librarian Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 2011-2015
Project Cataloguer The Andy Warhol Museum, 2008-2010
Processing Archivist Arizona Historical Foundation, 2004-2007
Reference Archivist Massachusetts Archives, 2000-2004
EDUCATION:
- Master of Arts in English, East Stroudsburg University: 2018-present (In progress)
- Master of Library Science, University at Albany, State University of New York: 1999
- Bachelor of Arts in History, Dickinson College: 1996
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
- Academy of Certified Archivists: Member, 2007-present. Task Force for Outreach (Appointed), 2018-2019. Regent for Outreach (Elected), 2014-2018. Team Leader of Petition Review Committee, 2012-2013. Petition Review Committee, 2009-2013.
- Society of American Archivists: Member, 1998-present. College & University Archives Section Steering Committee (Elected), 2021-2024. Mentor/Protégé Program, 2008-2012, 2017-2018, 2021-2022.
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference: Member 1996-2000, 2007-present. Nominations and Elections Committee (Appointed), 2021-2022. Member-at-Large (Elected), 2019-2021. Co-Chair of the Meeting Model Task Force (Appointed), 2019-2020. Co-Chair of Communications Committee (Appointed), Fall 2016-Spring 2019. Co-Chair of Program Committee (Appointed), Spring 2019 Conference. Chair of Outreach Committee (Appointed), Fall 2014-Spring 2016. Program Committee, Fall 2012 Conference. Education Committee, 1996-1998.
- Conference of Intern-Mountain Archivists: Member, 2005-2008.
- Council Member (Elected), 2006-2007.
“What is the role of archival certification in the modern work environment?"
I am excited and honored to have been nominated to run for Vice President/President-Elect of the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA). Since becoming a certified archivist (CA) in 2007 and having spent four years as the Regent for Outreach, I can attest to the value of certification. I am grateful to my Arizona colleagues who encouraged our entire organization to become certified.
From my experiences, being a CA has set me apart in job interviews and has impressed my employers. When I applied for tenure this past winter, there was a section to list your certifications. Adding my CA certification enhanced my application. The ACA certifies national and international archivists so the professional networking opportunities are vast. I have made contacts and friends in states across the country, which has broadened my view of other archival networks. I am currently collaborating on an article with a CA I met while on the Board of Regents together.
A good friend who has been an archivist for over 20+ years asked me about the test and certification. She wanted to go up for full librarian at her institution and needed to stand out from other candidates and believed becoming a CA would do that. I could not agree more. Those who take the test and certify, distinguish themselves from other archivists in the field.
I believe in certification and its benefits and continue to promote the ACA’s mission and goals. The elected and appointed volunteers who run the ACA are some of the most dedicated archivists in the field who work tirelessly to better the organization and keep it moving forward. I appreciate the opportunity to return to a leadership position to ensure the Academy continues to be a healthy and thriving organization.