1. Archival Certification:
Necessity or Nicety?
Susan Hamburger, Ph.D.
Society of American Archivists
Research Forum
August 13, 2013

2. Problem Statement
This research project investigates the correlation between archival certification and employment
Twenty-four years after inception, is archival certification a factor in evaluating the professional credentials of candidates hired for archival positions?

3. Research Method
Developed 12-question online confidential and anonymous survey that solicited responses from a broad array of hiring archivists
Survey launched on February 26, 2013 using SelectSurvey and closed on April 27, 2013
Link to the survey was included in an to the Archives & Archivists Listserv with a reminder on April 1 that also went out to the MARAC members listserv

4. Survey Question #1
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required
Preferred
Neither
Don’t remember

5. Survey Question #2
When you listed the position, who determined whether archival certification would be included in or excluded from the job ad?
Dept. Head
Library Director/Dean
Human Relations
Search Committee
Other, please specify

6. Survey Question #3
Was an archivist on the Search Committee?
Yes No

7. Survey Question #4 Does that archivist have archival certification?
Yes No
There was no archivist on the Search Committee

8. Survey Question #5
If you did not specify archival certification in the job advertisement, did you consider it during the search and screening process?
Yes No
Don’t remember

9. Survey Question #6 Did archival certification help a candidate
Without a Master’s Degree
With a recent graduate degree

10. Survey Question #7
Did you interview applicant(s) with archival certification?
Yes No
Don’t remember

11. Survey Question #8 Is the archivist position Full time Part time
Permanent
Temporary (grant-funded, fixed term)
Supervisory
Non-supervisory

12. Survey Question #9
Did you hire an applicant with archival certification?
Yes No
No, all candidates lacked archival certification
Did not fill the position and will readvertise
Did not fill the position and will request archival certification in the readvertisement
Don’t remember

13. Survey Question #10
In your opinion, how does archival certification correlate with job performance?
Very Significant
Significant
Neutral
Insignificant
Very Insignificant

14. Survey Question #11
Additional comments about archival certification as a criteria for employment.

15. Survey Question #12 For demographic purposes, is your institution
Academic library/archives
Corporate archives
Government/tribal archives
Historical society
Museum archives
Public library
Other, please specify

16. Results Seventy-six responses from a variety of archival institutions
Certification carries little or no weight in hiring practices
Twenty-two percent of respondents believe there is significant or very significant correlation between certification and job performance

17. More Results With a certified archivist on the search committee
1 required
15 preferred
15 neither required nor preferred certification
Of the 33% who required or preferred certification
6 hired a certified archivist
13 did not

18. More Results
Having a certified archivist on the search committee did not ensure that a candidate with archival certification was hired
Academic libraries/archives rate certification insignificant or very insignificant more so than other archival institutions

19. Survey Responses Question #1 Fig. 1.

20. Survey Responses Question #2 Fig. 2.
The chart shows the percentages of responses that contained each of the possible choices and not the percentages of all possible combinations of responses.

21. Survey Responses Question #3 Fig. 3.

22. Survey Responses Question #4 Fig. 4.

23. Survey Responses Question #5 Fig. 5.

24. Survey Responses Question #6 Fig. 6.

25. Survey Responses Question #7 Fig. 7.

26. Survey Responses Question #8 Fig. 8.
Is the archivist position
Yes
(Row %age) No
Full Time
69 (90.8%)
7 (9.2%)
Part Time
Permanent
60 (78.9%)
16 (21.1%)
Temporary (grant-funded, fixed term)
14 (50.0%)
Supervisory
24 (31.6%)
52 (68.4%)
Non-supervisory
46 (60.5%)
30 (39.5%)
Some respondents answered yes to multiple criteria such as full time and part time, and permanent and temporary, suggesting they hired several people for different jobs.

27. Survey Responses Question #9 Fig. 9.

28. Survey Responses Question #10 Fig. 10.

29. Survey Responses Question #11
Additional comments about archival certification as a criteria for employment
17 respondents are in favor of archival certification either as preferred or required, before or after employment
31 respondents believe it can be one of several factors but not an important criteria, to downright hostility against it (certified archivists as poor performers, a waste of money, shows only test taking ability)

30. Survey Responses Question #11
Pros
“. . . we do think that the certification shows more with archivists who have [Public History masters] degree over ones with an MLS because it proves that they have the practical and technical skills required for the job, which are focused on less in their schooling.”

31. Survey Responses Question #11
Pros
“We did not require that candidates be certified prior to employment, but we required they pursue certification after hired.”
“We look at the candidate’s experience, knowledge of subject matter, etc. Certification is a small portion of the criteria we consider.”

32. Survey Responses Question #11
Cons
“When evaluating candidates for open positions, ACA certification plays no role in my screening decision.”
“I think training in their master's program (e.g., did they do an internship) and real life experience are more important.”

33. Survey Responses Question #11
Cons
“Absolutely no criteria whatsoever. With the proper education such, as a MLS/MSIS with an emphasis in archival studies, I see absolutely no need for certification, and I am certified. Likewise, previous work references are more important that certification. I do not hire those without experience, even if certified.”
“A multiple choice exam is no predictor of job performance nor does it demonstrate knowledge and skill.”

34. Survey Responses Question #11
Cons
“Some of the best archivists I know are not certified, and some of the weakest archivists I know are certified. I believe archival certification can be a useful secondary factor in assessing a candidate's qualifications, but I would never want to rank it above professional training, on-the-job experience, or strong references.”

35. Survey Responses Question #11
Cons
“In my experience archival certification has no correlation with archival ability. I have had certified archivists who could not do their jobs (were let go, in fact due to performance problems) and non-certified archivists who were excellent archivists, in both the technical and theoretical realms.”

36. Survey Responses Question #12 Fig. 11.
Other: Religious community archives Science research library and archives
Manuscript repository/independent library
Religious archives
Private sector corporation
For profit information resources management services firm
Special collections library owned and operated by a local government
Library system
Archival services firm
Independent school library

37. Comparison of Responses Table 1.
Question 1 and 12
For demographic purposes, is your institution
Academic library/archives
Corporate archives
Government/
tribal archives
Historical society
Museum archives
Public library
Other
Count
Row
N %
Row N %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required
0.0% 2
100.0%
Preferred 9
39.1% 1
4.3% 4
17.4% 3
13.0%
Neither 30
58.8%
2.0%
17.6%
3.9%
7.8% 5
9.8%

38. Comparison of Responses Table 2.
Question 1 and 4
Does the archivist on the search committee have archival certification?
Yes No
There was no archivist on the Search Committee
Count
Row
N %
Row N %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required 1
50.0%
0.0%
Preferred 15
65.2% 8
34.8%
Neither
29.4% 33
64.7% 3
5.9%

39. Comparison of Responses Table 3.
Question 1 and Question 5
If you did not specify archival certification in the job advertisement, did you consider it during the search and screening process?
Yes No
Don't Remember
Count
Row %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required 2
100.0%
0.0%
Preferred 15
65.2% 4
17.4%
Neither 14
27.5% 37
72.5%

40. Comparison of Responses Table 4.
Question 1 and Question 7
Did you interview applicant(s) with archival certification?
Yes No
Don't Remember
Count
Row %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required 1
50.0%
0.0%
Preferred 11
47.8%
4.3%
Neither 13
25.5% 27
52.9%
21.6%

41. Comparison of Responses Table 5.
Question 1 and Question 9
Did you hire an applicant with archival certification?
Yes No
No, all candidates lacked archival certification
Did not fill the position and will re-advertise
Don't remember
Count
Row %
Row N %
Row
N %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required 1
50.0%
0.0%
Preferred 5
21.7% 12
52.2%
4.3%
Neither
9.8% 29
56.9% 11
21.6% 2
3.9% 4
7.8%

42. Comparison of Responses Table 6.
Question 1 and Question 10
In your opinion, how does archival certification correlate with job performance?
Very Insignificant
Insignificant
Neutral
Significant
Very Significant
Count
Row %
When you listed the position, did you require or prefer archival certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists?
Required
0.0% 1
50.0%
Preferred
4.3% 3
13.0% 8
34.8% 6
26.1% 5
21.7%
Neither 10
19.6% 16
31.4% 21
41.2%
5.9%
2.0%

43. Comparison of Responses Table 7.
Question 3 and 7
Did you interview applicant(s) with archival certification?
Yes No
Don't Remember
Count
Row N %
Was an archivist on the Search Committee? 23
32.4% 36
50.7% 12
16.9% 2
40.0% 3
60.0%
0.0%

44. Comparison of Responses Table 8.
Question 4 and 10
In your opinion, how does archival certification correlate with job performance?
Very Insignificant
Insignificant
Neutral
Significant
Very Significant
Count
Row
N %
Row N %
Does the archivist on the search committee have archival certification?
Yes 3
9.7% 4
12.9% 13
41.9% 5
16.1% 6
19.4% No 8
19.5% 15
36.6%
7.3%
0.0%
There was no archivist on the Search Committee 1
25.0% 2
50.0%

45. Comparison of Responses Table 9.
Question 9 and 10
In your opinion, how does archival certification correlate with job performance?
Very Insignificant
Insignificant
Neutral
Significant
Very Significant
Count
Row N %
Did you hire an applicant with archival certification?
Yes 1
9.1% 2
18.2% 3
27.3% 4
36.4% No 8
19.0% 14
33.3% 5
11.9%
2.4%
No, all candidates lacked archival certification
6.2%
12.5% 9
56.2%
Did not fill the position and will re-advertise
0.0%
66.7%
Don't remember
25.0%
50.0%

46. Comparison of Responses Table 10.
Question 10 and 12
For demographic purposes, is your institution
Academic library/
archives
Corporate archives
Government/
tribal archives
Historical society
Museum archives
Public library
Other
Count
Row N %
In your opinion, how does archival certification correlate with job performance?
Very Insignificant 4
36.4%
0.0% 3
27.3% 1
9.1%
Insignificant 16
84.2%
5.3%
Neutral 14
48.3% 6
20.7% 2
6.9%
13.8%
3.4%
Significant
30.0%
10.0%
40.0%
Very Significant
28.6%
14.3%

47. Comparison of Responses Table 11.
Question 4 and Question 9
Did you hire an applicant with archival certification?
Yes No
No, all candidates lacked archival certification
Did not fill the position and will re-advertise
Don't remember
Count
Row %
Does the archivist on the search committee have archival certification? 6
19.4% 13
41.9% 9
29.0% 2
6.5% 1
3.2% 3
7.3% 28
68.3%
14.6%
2.4%
There was no archivist on the Search Committee
50.0%
25.0%
0.0%

48. Comparison of Responses Table 12.
Question 9 and Question 12
For demographic purposes, is your institution
Academic library/archives
Corporate archives
Government/
tribal archives
Historical society
Museum archives
Public library
Other
Count
Row %
Did you hire an applicant with archival certification?
Yes 4
36.4% 1
9.1% 3
27.3%
0.0% No 27
64.3%
2.4%
7.1%
9.5% 5
11.9%
No, all candidates lacked archival certification
31.2% 6
37.5%
6.2% 2
12.5%
Did not fill the position and will re-advertise
66.7%
33.3%
Don't remember
25.0%

49. Further Research
Survey of job applicants with and without certification to see if they were hired into jobs requiring certification
What is the current purpose of certification?
Encourage continuing education?
Encourage participation in professional conferences?
Self-satisfaction?
Additional hiring credential?
Will the motivated archivists be active anyway?