Specialisation: Archive

Place of work / place of training:

·        Public record offices

·        District and town archives ; county archives

·        Archives of museums

·        Archives of universities

·        Archives of the press, broadcast and television

·        Church archives

·        Economy and company archives

·        Archives of parliaments

·        Archives of the nobility

 

Fields of activity:

In association with the office for which they take records, specialists in Media and Information Services (“FAMI”) with specialisation in the field of archive have to collect, acquire, evaluate recorded stock of audio-visual media and electronic media into an index which is intended for permanent storage. “FAMIs” collaborate in the acquisition of historical documentation, document press-clippings, "grey" literature, brochures, online information as well as evaluate daily newspapers or specialized publications according to specifications and collection focuses of the archive. Additionally they are responsible for providing papers and documents of the archive for usage as well as to inform and to advise users of the archive.

First of all arrived documents have to be examined and evaluated of whether they should be collected. Documents that are not evaluated as collectable have to be destroyed after a certain period of safe-keeping in regard of privacy laws. This is also done by “FAMIs”.

With regards to written documents or other information formats that need to be taken into the stock, “FAMIs” are responsible for indexing and classification of files and for listing of graphical and audio material.

Furthermore “FAMIs” design conventional or electronic searching tools which are increasingly computer based. With the help of these searching tools, information is clearly presented which makes it easier for users to research the archive.

Specialists in Media and Information Services with specialisation in the field of archive are also responsible for the supervision of archive users. They carry out researching tasks, provide stock information as well as handing out and controlling loans.

Preservation and collection maintenance also belongs to the tasks of a “FAMI” with specialisation in the field of archive. This means, for example, they create files, maintain them, make discards and if necessary pass on archival records in case of restoration or conservation.

Alongside this they assist in exhibitions and events and therefore, they participate in public relations.