Leading And Managing Archives And Manuscripts Programs

Leadership development requires intentionality and strategy. Leadership skills are best learned by observing and following the examples of leaders--and they are best taught through mentoring. In Leading and Managing Archives and Manuscripts Programs, the editors share their personal experiences, gleaned from a combined five decades of archival leadership, regarding key functions of leaders and managers: communication, strategies, resources and budgets, leadership in transformative change and crisis, building relationships within and beyond the archives, and leadership development. In the second half of the book, five archival leaders further highlight essential aspects of leadership through their accounts of the challenges of directing programs in various institutional settings and what has proven effective. In addition, the former director of the Archival Leadership Institute describes how that program catapulted leadership development throughout the profession.

Leading and Managing Archives and Manuscripts Programs goes beyond conventional wisdom to provide plentiful examples of successful leadership practices from the archives field.

The author provides an updated overview of the management talents needed to oversee an archives program. He supplements his text with sample policies and planning documents from a variety of archival operations.

Archival and manuscript repositories exist to preserve historical records and make them available for use. The subject of this manual is the internal operations that link these two goals. This manual covers generally accepted principles and techniques of archival accessioning and processing. - Introduction.

Strong archival programs are rare, in part because the archival field has not given sustained attention to program leadership and management issues over the years. As a consequence, many programs are underfunded and undersupported and lack sufficient space, staff, and other resources to carry out their immensely important work. This collection of essays from eight of the archival field's notably successful leaders provides first-hand accounts of how to carry out planning, build coalitions and alliances, garner resources, empower and inspire program personnel, change program direction, and take programs in new, dynamic directions. There is an abundance of literature on archival theory, techniques, and practice, but leadership, program building, and related topics are seldom covered in archival literature. This collection of essays provides varying perspectives, insights, advice, caveats, and other helpful information based on the experiences of highly regarded professionals in the field who have actually developed and administered successful programs. They address such issues as how to define program success, the traits of a successful program, leadership traits, and similarities and differences between archival program and similar programs, such as libraries.

In Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts, Dennis Meissner provides a solid foundation in the history, theory, and standards supporting arrangement and description. In addition, he clearly demonstrates the approaches, methods, and mechanics required to process archival collections.

One of the profession's most influential thinkers has gathered thirteen prominent leaders from the USA and UK with proven track records in archives and records management to contribute to this important book. Each of them reveals the secrets of their success and outlines what it takes to build and manage a dynamic, high-achieving archives and records program.Representing government, commercial, and non-profit organizations, they include the former Archivist of the Smithsonian Institution, the Archivist of the Coca-Cola Company, and the Head of the Cataloguing and Accessioning Unit of The National Archives, UK. In candid, fascinating accounts of their leadership style and its impact in shaping and directing a program, they cover the following key areas:- challenges and opportunities in leading archives and records management- records management standards: what they are and why they're important- leading a successful records management program- competing for relevance: archives in a multi-program organization- the archivist and the corporation- managing change: a continuing issue- preserving born-digital records from central government departments- building a university archive- the state archives: education and politics in New York.Read this book to see expert management strategies at work and to understand the 'why' and 'how' of excellent programs. You will come away with better solutions for management, including: devising effective mission policies and statements; gauging and responding to the market for services; dealing with institutional change; overcoming budgeting and human resources challenges, and much more.Giving the lie to the adage that 'leaders are born, not made', this collection offers practical wisdom and useful advice that will help you take your leadership skills to the next level.