Since it is Friday...

Re: Archivist Qualifications

Noting the previously posted qualifications for Archivist at NARA

Note that one could go through college as a _____ major (English, Comp
Sci, etc - never taking a history class), then get an mls or mis and
still not qualify. Yes?

This is significantly contrary to the frequent archive job posts that
require an "mls/mis and two years experience" for archivist positions...


Just an observation.

---
Re: Weinstein

1. I think that Weinstein has the minimal experience to run a
multi-million dollar non-profit business that is the NARA, based on his
previous work establishing and growing foundations. That said, my bet is
that running an operational and increasingly political org like NARA is
very different from running a think tank.  In any event, as someone
stated earlier, that is why management exists: to manage the operations
of the business.  It is nice if you have an artisan of the trade who
turned executive, but it shouldn't be a deal killer: for the most part a
good exec is a good exec regardless of product. (For example: The CEO of
GM doesn't need to know how to program and fix manufacturing robots, nor
even manage the folks who do.)

2. Where I have a problem with Weinstein is that his commitment to open
records is suspect. As far as I can tell he is very sympathetic to
allowing any President (Bush/Clinton) and the President's family to
block the release of records which are scheduled for release into the
public sphere (for historians and others). While the current tone of gvt
is to restrict access and deny information, this is not the spirit I
would like at the leadership level. Americans shouldn't be in a "need to
know" basis subordinate relationship its leaders. With due respect to
real national security, Donkey or Elephant Presidents should have to
share their records with the public.  Finally, if we allow the President
and their families to postpone this release of records, does this start
us down a slippery slope that other will want to slide, such as VP,
Cabinet, Senate and House members, Agencies, Governors, Mayors, School
Boards etc...

3. Additionally, as a historian he demonstrated an unusual commitment to
keeping his sources close; too close for some folks comfort. Certainly
this should be an eye-brow raiser - not quite the spirit of open
intellectual discourse [What does he have to fear, anyway? Academics
don't check each others sources anyway (see Bellesiles) :-0]. Another
reason for my concern raised in point 2 above.

Just an opinion...

---
Reprise: Archivist Qualifications

Finally, here's one for the peanut gallery...The single qualification
for the National Archivist should be that they are current or past state
archivists.

Just a provocation...


Happy weekend,
- Chuck Piotrowski

ps. If I were to have wagered on the Super Bowl with some coleagues on
this list, and they were to have wagered mini Liberty Bells against
little jugs of Vermont maple syrup, I would have expected those little
Bells tolling the death of John Marshall (or the Eagles) on my desk by
now....

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance