A true story by Lisa Lewis
Funded by IMLS Based at SLIS at LSU Mission: a sustainable program of archival training for staff and/or volunteers working in any type of historical repository
Also The Ten-Minute Trainer: 150 Ways to Teach it Quick… by Sharon L. Bowman and Training for Dummies by Elaine Biech
OBEDIENCE TEACHINGEXCESSIVE TALKING Whaaap, whaaaap, whaaap, whaaaap…
Sharing Knowledge Pointing the Way Showing Doing Activities aimed at particular objectives based on archival skills
Articulate goals for seminar Demonstrate understanding of archival terminology Write archival mission statement Identify items with historic value Describe an appropriate archival storage space List sources of archival products Locate resources for archival standards and best practices Etc.
We used activities Aimed at particular objectives Based on archival skills In a user-friendly way Often drawn from existing web- based content
Terminology Online content Standards and Best Practices Contacts Ourselves List-servs Local Organizations State Associations National Archival Societies NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PUBLICATIONS Conserve O Grams Short, focused leaflets about caring for museum objects, published in loose- leaf format.
A Variety of Methods Word Games Shout-Outs Short Lectures Fill-in-the-Blanks Action Plans Group Sharing Group Problem Solving Historic New Orleans Collection, NOLA
Came from very varied backgrounds Examples Newspaper editor Library school students Photo journalist Studio Operators Many others who all wanted to know HOW TO DO IT.... NOW
They couldn’t learn it all in one morning Overly complicated activities FLOPPED Preparation took a LOT of time Time management sometimes difficult Meeting expectations, sometimes unrealistic A really limited budget But we did manage “motivational” prizes Pencils, tape measures, calendars
Pointing the Way to further information, resources, knowledge opportunities Learning a LOT of basic terminology Empowering them to act to improve preservation, description, arrangement and access to significant collections Connecting them with each other and with the archival community
Significant Content being added to ATC site MUCH LESS CREATION TIME A more uniform process Learning from our mistakes and those of others
Better situations for existing records in small repositories Much better products make it to established archives in the long-run Teaching others improves personal knowledge
Remain flexible Remember that PRACTICE is the best of all instructors Adapt to individual training groups Remain responsive to situations that develop Include some humor for more information