How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bits: Archival Motivation in the Digital Age

Why do people become archivists? Historically (and anecdotally) it was a deep love of musty, old records that drew people to the profession. While there have been many other motivating forces that inspired would-be archivists, it is most often that one hears of people seeking jobs in archives for love of “the stuff,” as evidenced in Kate Thiemer’s blog post, Honest tips for wannabe archivists (2012). As a result of the continually advancing presence of digitized and born digital archival collections, the physical nature of archival “stuff” is changing. While there remains the physical imprint of digital information on floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and old computers; the aspects of these physical artifacts might not evoke the same visceral pull to the profession as musty, raspy, paper-based documents. In light of this shift in physical presentation of information, we are faced with the question: how does love of archival “stuff” translate to work in digital archives? What is and/or will be the pull to become a digital archivist? To answer these questions, we will perform a survey-based study where we will invite archivists who work with both traditional and digital archival material to answer questions related to the aspects of their work that inspired or motivated them to join the profession. What motivates people to become archivists? What aspects of digital archives do or can potentially motivate people to seek out a career as an archivist? What, if any, motivational factors for becoming a traditional archivist are the same as those for becoming a digital archivist? What, if any, motivational factors for becoming a traditional archivist are different from those for becoming a digital archivist? By answering these questions, we hope to expand the archival discussion on what it means to be an archivist in the digital age. What compelling intrinsic, evidential, or informational values are present in digital archival content that will draw professionals to the field? Are there other values inherent in digital content that are currently unexplored? In our poster, we will present our discussion of the topic, our survey design, and results we have at the time of the Institute. Thiemer, K. (2012). Honest tips for wannabe archivists. Archivesnext blog. Retrieved from http://www.archivesnext.com/?p=2849

John La Farge as collector of Japanese art : motivations and reflections

Throughout his lifetime, American artist John La Farge (1835-1910) amassed an enormous collection of art and books. La Farge’s study of art and culture encompassed several genres and aesthetic elements. La Farge has been credited as the first American artist — even prior to James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903)— to integrate visual elements and cultural awareness of the Far East within his own Western-trained art. Although many scholars have studied La Farge’s art and life from various perspectives, including his interest in Asian art, the object of the present study is solely focused on La Farge’s collecting of Japanese art.

Industry Professionals Who Attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation: An Examination of Motivations in Human Resource (HR) Training and Development

Despite the economy, the green building industry continues to grow and drive the demand for environmentally conscious, highly skilled professionals (USGBC 2009). LEED Accredited Professionals (APs) have the knowledge and skills to meet such demand; however, information is limited regarding LEED APs or their motivations and expectations toward prospective employers. The author surveyed a sample of LEED Accredited architects and found a combination of job and personal factors motivated them to attain accreditation. LEED APs value both a competitive salary and commitment to sustainability in prospective employers. To attract, retain, and utilize LEED APs, executives in this industry must reexamine corporate culture, their willingness to pay for credentialing, and the alignment of their reputation with the desires of potential applicants.

Will the readmission agreement bring the EU and Turkey together or pull them apart? CEPS Commentary, 4 February 2014

Following a period when EU-Turkish relations have not been particularly close, the readmission agreement signed in December 2013 by the Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoglu could help inject some sorely needed goodwill and trust into the relationship. Yet, as pointed out in this commentary, there is always the risk that the challenges faced in the actual implementation of the agreement will aggravate the relationship.

When Labour and Capital Collude: The Varieties of Welfare Capitalism and Early Retirement in Europe, Japan and the USA. CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, No. 00.4, 2000

The institutionalisation of early retirement has become a universal feature of postwar industrial economies, though there are significant cross-national variations. This paper studies the impact of different types of welfare regimes, production systems and labour relations on early exit from work. After an analysis of the main trends, the paper discusses the costs and benefits of early retirement for the various actors — labour, capital and the state — at different levels. The paper outlines both the "pull” and "push” factors of early exit. It first compares the distinct welfare state regimes and private occupational pensions in their impact on early retirement. Then it looks at the labour-shedding strategies inherent to particular employment regimes, production systems and financial governance structures. Finally, the impact of particular industrial relations systems, and especially the role of unions is discussed. The paper finds intricate "institutional complementarities” between particular welfare states, production regimes and industrial relations systems, and these structure the incentives under which actors make decisions on work and retirement. The paper argues that the "collusion” between capital, labour and the state in pursuing early retirement is not merely following a labour-shedding strategy to ease mass unemployment, but also caused by the need for economic restructuration, the downsizing pressures from financial markets, the maintenance of peaceful labour relations, and the consequences of a seniority employment system.

Operator's organizational, DS, GS, and depot maintenance manual : tractor, full tracked, D.E.D., 7500 lb. min. drawbar pull, w/bulldozer blade, back rip scarifier, J.I. Case model M-450, FSN 2410-935-0714.

"December 1969."

Direct, general support, and depot maintenance manual : tractor, wheeled, warehouse, gasoline engine driven, 4-wheel, pneumatic tired, 4000 lb drawbar pull, Army model MHE 201 (Northwestern Motor Co. model JG 40PT4), FSN 3930-926-1066.

"December 1967."

Hand receipt covering contents of components of end item (COEI), basic issue items (BII), and additional authorization list (AAL) for tractor, full tracked, low speed, diesel engine-driven-medium-drawbar-pull : model, tractor with ripper ... NSN, 2410-01-223-0350 ....

"November 1992."

Operator's manual for tractor, full tracked, low speed, DED, medium drawbar pull, SSN M061 : tractor with ripper, NSN 2410-01-223-0350 ... tractor with winch and winterized cab, NSN 2410-01-253-2117.

"January 1993."

Organizational maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : tractor, wheeled, warehouse, gasoline, pneumatic-tired wheels, 4000 pound drawbar pull, Army model MHE-180, NSN 3930-00-953-4890, Clark model CTA-40-1615160-RS.

Includes index.

Organizational maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : tractor, wheeled, warehouse, gasoline engine driven; pneumatic tired, 4000 lb. drawbar pull Army models MHE 189, MHE 189A, and MHE 189B, NSN 3930-00-724-8146, United Tractor models G40, G40A, and G40B.

Includes index.

DS, GS, and depot maintenance manual : tractor, wheeled, warehouse, gasoline, pneumatic-tired wheels, 4,000-pound drawbar pull, Army model MHE-189, United tractor model G40, FSN 3930-724-8146.

"January 1965."

Unit maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : tractor, full tracked, low speed, heavy drawbar pull, (size T-11), w/angle dozer, winch and rops, Caterpillar model D8K-8A-58 (CCE), NSN 2410-00-574-7597 and w/bulldozer (semi-u-tilt), ripper and rops, Caterpillar model D8K-8S-8 (CCE), NSN 2410-00-574-7598.

Includes indexes.

Direct and general support and depot maintenance repair parts and special tools lists : tractor, full tracked, low speed : diesel engine, medium drawbar pull, oscillating track, 74-in. minimum gage, power shift transmission, w/bulldozer, hydraulic-tilting, w/backrip scarifier, w/winch, reversible, rear, 1 drum (Allis-Chalmers model HD16M) ....

"April 1972."

Operator and organizational maintenance manual : tractor, fulltrack, low speed, diesel engine driven, medium drawbar pull, oscillating track, 78-inch gage, Caterpillar model D-7E, NSN 2410-00-782-1130 w/winch, NSN 2410-00-926-3697 w/ripper.

"January 1975."