Managing Volunteers in Archives: Developing Mutually Beneficial Experiences

Abstract

Archivists frequently engage volunteers in a variety of projects. In this article the authors explore the motivations that drive volunteers to seek opportunities at archives, as well as at the components of a successful volunteer program, and the unique management concerns that arise as a result of establishing a volunteer program.

Notes

1 Greg Flucker, “Video: Dundee man David, who has Down syndrome, celebrates 20 years as library archivist,” Evening Telegraph, August 31, 2019, https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/video-dundee-man-david-who-has-down-syndrome-celebrates-20-years-as-library-archivist/ (accessed June 8, 2020).

2 The Society of American Archivists has created a helpful list of internship guidelines for practitioner and student reference; see SAA, “Best Practices for Internships as a Component of Graduate Archival Education,” January 2014, https://www2.archivists.org/standards/best-practices-for-internships-as-a-component-of-graduate-archival-education (accessed June 8, 2020). For additional guidelines, see Jeanette A. Bastian and Donna Webber, Archival Internships: A Guide for Faculty, Supervisors and Students (Chicago: SAA, 2008).

3 See https://ivcusa.org/volunteer_story/following-dorothy-day-to-a-life-of-faith-and-service/ for a story about the volunteer transcription effort.

4 See Jimmy Zavala et al, “‘A Process Where We’re All at the Table’: Community Archives Challenging Dominant Modes of Archival Practice,” Archives and Manuscripts 45, no. 3 (2017): 203–215.

5 See for example George Head, “Tempting but Confusing and Dangerous: Paying Volunteers Just a Little Something,” NonProfit Risk Management Center, 2017, https://nonprofitrisk.org/resources/articles/tempting-but-confusing-and-dangerous-paying-volunteers-just-a-little-something/ (accessed June 8, 2020).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy Cooper Cary

Amy Cooper Cary is Head of Special Collections and University Archives with the Raynor Memorial Libraries at Marquette University.

Rosemary Pleva Flynn

Rosemary Pleva Flynn is the Principal Librarian and Archivist and Team Lead for Library and Information Services with the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota.