Many of us are both the L word and the A word. My degree is an MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science), with training in what was called an "archives track" at the time. I've since taken courses in "library science," "museum studies," classes applicable to archives (such as EAD), and workshops (etc.) applicable to both libraries and archives (disaster management). I've been to conferences for SAA, ALA, and AMIA (Association of Moving Image Archivists). Would have attended a museum association conference but for budgetary considerations where I was working as a museum curator/archivist. Like many people, I've worn and am wearing many hats. Currently my title is "Archives/Special Collections Librarian." There is a trend toward combining archives and special collections that is perhaps based on cost-cutting, but that does reflect the fact that many times it is difficult to tell what exactly is special collections and what exactly is an archives, especially when it comes to dividing up a single donation (if indeed division is allowed). Most archives contain books and "realia" (often defined as 3-dimensional objects, as if paper were one-dimensional). I distinctly remember passing a shovel in the Stanford Special Collections/Archives storage area while a student assistant there. No one has yet mentioned the "M" word. After taking a few courses in museum studies, I wish that archivists had more training in that field, partly because we do often curate collections with "realia," and partly because that field includes classes in materials science, which I was delighted to know a little about and want to know more. I never realized that a book is a "composite object" and what that entails for storage until I took a class in museum studies. Hey, can't we all just get along? Arel (the usual disclaimers) Arel Lucas Archives/Special Collections Librarian Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus -----Original Message----- From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric v.d. Luft, Ph.D., M.L.S., Curator of Historical Collections Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:29 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: The L Word Ray's points are very well taken. Many people call me an "archivist." I'm not. When they do, I explain to them that archivists have special training that I do not have, and that to call an unqualified person like me an archivist is an insult to real archivists. Cheers! Eric (an old-fashioned scholar-librarian who happens to run the archives here too) Eric v.d. Luft, Ph.D., M.L.S. Curator of Historical Collections, Health Sciences Library Lecturer, Center for Bioethics and Humanities SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210 <http://www.upstate.edu/library/history/> -- 315-464-4585 Owner, Gegensatz Press <http://www.gegensatzpress.com/> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>