Researchers and the IWM

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by Gary Kennedy, Jun 15, 2018.

  1. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    I did successfully get some documents copied through F.O.I., Even that had to be followed up after ignored emails. They provided me with a IWM contact from the department who completed the order.
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2018
  2. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey


    Sorry have to take exception to that. The research staff at IWM, on the whole, are professional, dedicated and highly knowledgeable with a passion for the job they do. My impression is that they have been keeping the place going despite some rather poor management decisions and being under a lot of pressure.

    There was the occasional odd-ball staff in the past but that is often the nature of the job they do.

    Also I think they have struggled, like most other archives, to come to terms with digital.

    Lee
    www.arcre.com
     
    Tricky Dicky, Gary Kennedy and Swiper like this.
  3. Old Git

    Old Git Harmless Curmudgeon

    You make a fair point and, on the whole, I do agree with you when you say that the staff working at the coal face do seem to be decent enough sorts who do a good job dealing with joe public, In the main it is those management decisions, and those who make them, with which I mainly have a problem.

    It seems to me that the management hierachy of many of these institutions are very quango-esque, with 'the worthy' appointed to positions they are not suited to be in, but who are convinced they know better then everyone else

    I've said it before and I'll say it again there is a very easy solution to embracing the digital age and that is the setting up of a digital copying agency (that can operate across all archives, like Kew, IWM and the British Library) and which processes copy requests. It would hiresundergraduates to copy files (much like Drew does) and they would be trained trained to do the job properly and professionally, and to make digital copies for the archive. They then copy as much as they can fit into their days for a more reasonable price than the archive charges now (which, lets face it is priced to stop any but the desperate and well-heeled from making copy requests) and which they keep for themselves as earned income. It would probably take a year or so to take off (unless it gets a huge Govt publicity drive) but once this system gets going none of us will ever have to drag ourselves to the Archives again because the cost of travelling there would be far greater than putting in a request for copying! The archive gets the digital copy and any on-going download fees whilst the UG gets a basic copying fee. There are enough history undergraduates in London alone to make this doable and if someone had the clout it could be phased into degree courses to teach UG History, Politics and Library Studies student the first steps in managing archives. It would also lead to a reduction in handling of files which are getting very badly knocked about at the moment, as well as speeding up the digitization process. Once a file is ditigized it should never need to be accessed physically again and can then be stored in the Salt Mines in Wales. All over such a system would benefit everyone (including freeing up archive staff from having to deal with the public and allowing them to get on with the job of digitizing those files that never get requested by the public. Maybe I need to write a letter to the Times!
     
  4. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Is Drew hiring undergraduates now? Must ask him for a job, I have my own digital camera, with a bit of training from Drew I'm sure I'll be up to it. Gissus a job Drew5233 :-P
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2018
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