Susan G. Hamson, HSD, BA, MA, NCA, Inc.
University Archivist | Columbia University Archives
535 West 116th Street, MC 4316 | Low Memorial Library 
New York, NY 10027 | Voice: 212.854.1331 | Fax: 212.854.7320

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I've also re-certified by petition and I glad to have my certification. 
I agree with you Roy about the alphabet soup, but it works for those
"outside the profession."  When I took the exam the guy who was
proctoring it was proud that he was not a certified archivist and
thought we were dupes to sit for it, but hey, each person to their own
opinion.  I personnally, am impressed with those who take the test
rather than re-certify by petition.  I wasn't forced or strongly
encouraged to take the test again by ACA or anyone.

Rebecca

Rebecca Hankins, Certified Archivist
Assistant Professor 
Africana Studies Librarian/Curator
Cushing Memorial Library & Archives; 
MS5000 TAMU
College Station TX 77843-5000
979-845-1951; 979-845-1441 fax

  

Roy Webb <[log in to unmask]> 08/15/06 5:25 PM >>>
        

"Truth in whatever: I originally certified by taking the exam and have
recertified twice by petition. "

Me too; I can't remember the date but I know I have to re-up again next
year, in 2007, which I will gladly do, again by petition.  I originally
did it because all the cool kids were getting certified, and I wanted to
go along.  (Yes, I'd jump off a cliff if my friends were doing it.)
Seriously, at the time it seemed a good move and I've never once
regretted it, not even when I sign that $50 check once a year.  Not to
start any flame wars but I think it demonstrates to those not in the
archival field--and that's important to say, "to those not in the
archival field," I'm not going to look down on anyone in the field who
walks the walk, certified or degreed or sanctified or not--that you're
serious about the profession, that you've tried to make an effort to
advance.  One quibble I had the first time I re-upped, I put down that
I'd designed and created a whole new web site for our archival photos,
which was quite the thang at the time, and was only given a couple of
points on the petition; but for warming a chair at an archival
conference I was given many more points.  I think that's since been
corrected.  Even though I make a big deal out of it to my librarian
(MLS) colleagues, it's mostly been useful to me to snap back at snooty
faculty members who have the proverbial "alphabet after their names" but
can't find certain parts of their anatomy with both hands.  And the
petition process has been very useful to make me step back from the
day-to-day and focus on just what I've accomplished or tried to
accomplish in the past five years, sort of like an annual report, only
for five years; a quint-annual report?

Bottom line, I'd recommend it to anyone just coming into the field.
Aside from the bucks, how does it hurt?

Roy Webb, C.A.  (and proud of it!)
Multimedia Archivist
Special Collections
J. Willard Marriott Library
295 South 1500 East
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah  84112
office: (801) 585-3073
FAX: (801) 585-3976
[log in to unmask]
http://www.lib.utah.edu/spc/photo 

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