Society of American Archivists (SAA) and Ithaka S+R Release “A*CENSUS II: All Archivists Survey Report”

From an SAA News Release:

SAA and Ithaka S+R have published a report on the findings of the A*CENSUS II: All Archivists Survey. Launched in October 2021, this was the first national survey in 17 years designed to gather information about the demographics, education levels, job placement, salaries, and student loan debt of archivists and community memory workers. The survey also explored the extent to which this community views the archival profession as inclusive, equitable, and diverse.

Nearly 6,000 archivists shared their experiences through the survey, resulting in a comprehensive portrait of the profession. Some of the key findings include:

• The MLS/MLIS degree has risen in importance while also being more likely to result in student loan debt.
• The proportion of BIPOC individuals in the archives profession has doubled since the last survey in 2004.
• One in five respondents are considering leaving the archives profession within the next five years.

Additionally, the survey results point to the challenges that community archives face: lack of funding, storage space, and public awareness of their collections.

SAA and Ithaka S+R hope that these findings will be shared widely so that they may be leveraged to positively impact the profession. For those attending ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2022 in Boston, join the A*CENSUS II Forum on Saturday, August 27, at 11:00 am ET to learn more about the report. A recording of the session will be made available after the event.

At its heart, A*CENSUS II demonstrates the power of collaboration across the archives profession. The project was made possible through the volunteer work of a dedicated project team, working group, several partner organizations, as well as the many archivists who completed the survey. The study is funded by the Institution for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and was jointly developed by the Society of American Archivists, Ithaka S+R, and the A*CENSUS II Working Group. For questions, read the All Archivists Survey FAQ or email servicecenter@archivists.org.

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