Archivist Responsibilities

Archivist responsibilities is the sum total of all the activities an archivist performs. Archivists are employed at museums, corporations, federal organizations, educational institutes, art galleries, and in all other organizations where records, artifacts, data, photographs, or other collectibles are stored for reference or preservation.

The role of an archivist differs with every organization. An archivist working in a museum is required to keep a record of the collectibles and store them safely, either in a showcase or container. He interacts with the visitors in the museum and provide information regarding the various artifacts in the museum. He has to monitor the activities of the visitors and see that no damage is done to the artifacts on display. He interacts with the people who want to sell antiques and inform the management about the price quoted by the seller. Archivists working in a museum are also referred to as curators.

On the other hand, an archivists working for a federal organization will be involved in the safekeeping of official records. He may also prepare a digital database to provide a backup of all the information stated in the documents. He helps the officers in retrieving the files and provides photocopies of the same if required.

Similarly, an archivist working for an art gallery identifies the items to be stored and displayed at the gallery. He helps in organizing events in the gallery and managing day-to-day operations of the gallery.

Please refer to the job responsibilities of archivists working in different organizations.

Archivist in a Museum

An archivist employed in a museum performs the following activities on a routine basis:

• He searches for new antiques that can be stored in the museum by contacting and meeting the owners.
• He prepares and maintains records of all the antiques in the museum.
• He labels the antiques and accordingly stores all the antiques or puts them on display.
• He coordinates with the event managers for organization of exhibitions in the museum.
• He performs all other administrative functions and supports the fellow workers.

Archivist in a Corporation

• An archivist in a corporation gathers and files all the official documents, reports, contracts, and other records of importance.
• He labels all the records and maintains a backup in the form of digital copies for reference in case the original files are damaged or lost.
• He helps the officers and visitors in retrieving the files and information from the archives and issues a copy of the same if asked for.

Archivist in an Art Gallery

• An archivist working in an art gallery interacts with the artists who want to organize an exhibition of their artwork.
• He labels and stores the artifacts and puts them on display as per the requirement.
• He informs the visitors about the objects for sale and their price.
• He assists in the management of exhibitions and other events.

To work in the position of archivist, an individual should be:

• Efficient in maintaining the routine operations and providing prompt service to the visitors
• Skilled in computer applications used for preparing digital copies of archives
• Conversational, so that it becomes easy to interact with the visitors and other personnel and provide information as required
• Skilled in categorizing the archives in order to avoid any confusion while retrieving it later

Organizations usually prefer to hire individuals with a minimum of bachelor's degree in library science or history. Some organizations may only look for candidates with a master's degree in museum studies. Individuals looking forward for a career in this profession can also opt for a certificate course offered by the Academy of Certified Archivists.

Average salary for an archivist is $49,000 and the salary range across different states is $39,000-$58,000. The actual salary offered to an archivist is based on the organization's pay structure, archivists' qualifications, and the job timings and duties as well.

Archivist responsibilities present a detailed description of this job and associated roles. If you have been inclined for a similar job, you can opt for a course mentioned above and embark on your professional journey.