ABSTRACT Information literacy and critical thinking are arguably the most important and transferable skills undergraduate history majors develop in the course of their studies. A primary-source-based research paper is often an undergraduate history major's capstone assignment toward graduation. Yet they often face these assignments having little or no prior experience with archival research and lack confidence in finding and using primary sources. This article reports on a study conducted during the 2022 and 2023 spring semesters at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) involving archival literacy instruction for undergraduate history majors enrolled in HIST 392 Historical Research and Writing. It examined the extent to which the instruction topics, delivered via a “one-shot” session, enhanced students’ research skills and instilled confidence for completing their primary-source-based research paper. The questions guiding the study included: What archival literacy topics are most relevant and useful for students for completing their assignment? What research competencies should be prioritized in future lectures to craft the most impactful instruction in the limited time of one or two classes? How can the instruction be improved for future students? The author found that the instruction topics presumed to be most useful to students were indeed valued and positively impacted knowledge and confidence for completing the research paper. The areas for improvement regarded instruction delivery.

ABSTRACT Professional library and archives associations recognize the value of cultural competency skills in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). This study analyzes a sample of nearly 500 archival job postings to gauge the degree to which job postings demonstrate the employers’ awareness of and commitment to cultural competency in their recruiting practices. The central finding is that only 7 percent of job ads in the sample included knowledge, skills, or abilities relating to cultural competency among the requirements for working in an archives-related position. Thus, the study strongly suggests that the value the archives profession places on cultural competency is rarely reflected in the qualifications candidates who wish to work in archives are expected to have. This problem is most evident in job ads for technical services positions, in the South and Midwest sections of the country, and in nonacademic employment sectors. The authors provide recommendations for hiring practices that further a hiring institution's commitment to DEIA through the adoption of cultural competency as a framework for recruitment and interviewing.

Abderrazak Mkadmi, research professor at the Higher Institute of Documentation at Manouba University in Tunisia, explores issues of privacy and access in the context of digital archives and preservation in the eighth volume of the Digital Tools and Uses set of the Computer Engineering Series published by Wiley and ISTE. Mkadmi's stated purpose in Archives in the Digital Age: Preservation and the Right to Be Forgotten is to focus on the conflict between the drive to preserve digital data and make it accessible as widely as possible, which Mkadmi calls the “right to remember,” and the privacy of individuals and their “right to be forgotten” (p. xiii). The explosion of data production and collection in the past decade has ensured that more information about individuals and organizations is available than ever before. The preservation or archiving of this data presents opportunities to researchers now and in the future, but it may also haunt individuals who “are condemned to live without privacy … in the face of the mistakes of their past” (p. xiii). Mkadmi is concerned with whether these two competing values might be reconciled.Mkadmi takes a methodical approach to his subject, beginning with defining the foundation of digital archives and the tools and standards used to archive digital documents. His background as a French-speaking scholar working in Tunisia shapes his conception of archives, both analog and digital. This concept is grounded in French archivist Yves Perotin's theory of Three Ages, in which the first two “ages” emphasize archival documents as “evidential” in a legal or administrative sense, while the third age focuses on the “conservation and communication of permanent archives” (pp. xii, 3). The long-term conservation of documents, particularly in a digital format, heightens the challenge of balancing accessibility and privacy. Mkadmi explores this tension, probing issues stemming from the rise of digital humanities, the expansion and collection of Big Data, and the technical and legal challenges of ensuring individual privacy.The book is structured in five main chapters that build on each other. The first chapter serves as a high-level overview of digital archives, including discussion of what constitutes an archives at its most basic level. The chapter also serves as a handy reference for foundational concepts in the field, including archives management, digital archives, records management, electronic records management, and more. Mkadmi also describes a host of tools and standards for managing a digital archives. For example, he discusses different types of scanners and technologies for digitization as well as provides considerable detail on the records management standard, ISO 5489.The second chapter dives specifically into the standards and technologies used to manage digital archives, including ISO 14721 (Open Archival Information System or OAIS), ISO 19905 (PDF/A), and ISO 15489 (records management). Mkadmi also discusses standards specific to the practice of archival management in France and Francophone countries (e.g., NF 461 for electronic archiving systems). Chapter two also explores metadata standards, management of audiovisual material, and email archiving. The chapter serves as a solid reference for managing digital archives, but it does travel down a more detailed path than is strictly necessary for a discussion of the right to be forgotten.Mkadmi then pivots in chapter three to consider the emergence of the digital humanities as a field and its impact on archives, particularly the impetus for making more digital data available to more researchers. The chapter provides a useful overview of the history of digital humanities from the literary and linguistic computing of the mid-twentieth century to the emergence of the term digital humanities after 1994. He also highlights the disparity in the varying definitions of digital humanities and asserts his belief that the term ultimately defines “a set of good practices in a world where digital technology reigns supreme” (p. 78). The supremacy of digital technology and its use in the humanities are, as Mkadmi argues, impacting the practices of archives and archivists. In addition to being “repositories of knowledge,” archives must also become “repositories of data” needed to access digital humanities products (p. 80). The software platforms considered in this chapter are specific to French (or Francophone) institutions (e.g., the OAIS-compliant digital humanities access platform, ISIDORE), but the discussion of specific elements and standards, such as PREMIS metadata, EAD/EAC, and OAIS, is useful across all contexts. The chapter's main purpose, however, is to highlight the impact of digital humanities on archival practice. Mkadmi argues that the overall effect of digital humanities practices and products is to increase “openness, expansion and infinity of resources” (p. 107).Contributing to this deluge of digital assets is the expansion—or, more accurately, the explosion—of Big Data. This is the theme of Mkadmi's fourth chapter. Big Data in this context refers to data generated by computers, smart phones, tablets, internet connection devices of all kinds, and cryptocurrencies, among other technologies. Mkadmi does a good job of laying out the difficulty of a one-size-fits-all definition of Big Data, but he does not question how much of the data actually is worth preserving for the long haul; he seems to assume that all of it will be archived. For example, he explores technologies, such as blockchain, for ensuring “the ability to record and perpetuate everything,” but he does not provide an analysis of what ought to be selected for long-term preservation from all of this data (p. 148). He does supply a useful discussion of the technical challenges and issues that Big Data preservation raises, but he focuses more on descriptions of the technologies and their potential applications than the obstacles, issues, and ethical considerations of these technologies and the data they create. He is particularly convinced of the applicability of blockchain technology to the preservation of this glut of data, devoting almost a third of the chapter to this topic.The fifth chapter finally turns to the issue of the “right to be forgotten,” which the book's title suggests is the crux of Mkadmi's argument. The chapter opens with a discussion of what this right is, concluding that it is “being able to remove from the Web certain information relating to past actions that are unwanted and/or that could harm or injure an individual” (p. 150). Mkadmi points out that this can take two forms: deletion or dereferencing. However, he spends relatively little space discussing this concept before turning to the limits of the right, especially in the context of open access to information that the Web and other digital technologies are predicated upon. The chapter includes a thorough discussion of the very real obstacles to addressing this right as well as outlines the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).1Archives in the Digital Age ultimately works best as a reference manual, especially within the ecosystem of digital preservation as practiced in continental Europe and France, in particular. Given its inclusion in Wiley's Computer Engineering Series, it is not surprising that the book focuses more on technical standards, specifications, and tools than on ethical considerations. Those looking for an in-depth discussion of the ethical dilemma of providing access and enhancing individual privacy may be disappointed and would be well advised to pair this book with works focused on the impact of the right to be forgotten on the practice of archives in the United States. An example of this work is Ashley Nicole Vavra's article, “The Right to Be Forgotten: An Archival Perspective,” in which she explores the ways in which right to be forgotten regulations conflict with traditional archival values and practices.2 Those looking primarily for an exploration of technical considerations and tools will be well served by Mkadmi's book.

This past year has highlighted how rapidly the archives profession is changing and evolving. Everything from discussions about the importance of community archives to the ever-increasing volume of born-digital records to the place of AI in scholarship and resource description contribute to what we mean when we say “archives.” The reviews in this issue and on the American Archivist Reviews Portal emphasize that dialogue in the field is richer and more expansive than ever before.We begin with Becky White's review of Minds Alive: Libraries and Archives Now, edited by Patricia A. Demers and Toni Samek. The essays in this collection cover a variety of topics, from digital curation and copyright issues to the enduring values that define information professions, as the authors examine the evolving role of libraries and archives in the digital age. The collection pairs nicely with Archives in the Digital Age: Preservation and the Right to Be Forgotten, written by Abderrazak Mkadmi and reviewed by Josh Hogan, which explores issues of privacy and access in the context of digital archives and preservation.We feature several reviews that offer practical advice for the profession. Born-Digital Design Records, edited by Samantha Winn and reviewed by Andi Altenbach, discusses the growing volume of born-digital architecture, engineering, and other design records and the technical challenges of preserving them. Archives 101, written by Lois Hamill and reviewed by Christina Wolak, introduces readers to basic archival concepts and best practices, including those relating to digitization and digital exhibits. And while Archives 101 is a good resource for those new to the field, Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian: Identity, Advocacy, and Pathways, edited by Brandon K. West and Elizabeth Galoozis and reviewed by Caryn Radick, discusses challenges that those who have been in the profession longer may encounter.The remaining two books reviewed in this issue take a broader look at contemporary archival challenges stemming from prior practices. Disputed Archival Heritage, edited by James Lowry and reviewed by Mpho Ngoepe, discusses disputed or displaced archives—records that colonial powers created about colonized peoples and retained when former colonies gained independence. Essays in this volume delve into the legal and historical contexts of disputed archives as well as potential solutions for managing this shared heritage. Likewise, Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin, written by Megan Rosenbloom and reviewed by Alissa Helms, wrestles with legal and ethical issues surrounding the preservation of anthropodermic books (i.e., those bound in human skin).While the journal continues to feature traditional reviews, a new initiative on the Portal offers readers another option of staying abreast of the newest publications and critical conversations in the field. Microreviews provide the opportunity for reviewers to write short, informal pieces on archives-related resources and for readers to learn about these resources in a quick and easy way. In the first three reviews of this initiative, Bryan Mathison considers the utility of ArchivesSpace for cataloging museum collections; Lily Hunter offers personal reflections on Beyond Accommodation: Creating an Inclusive Workplace for Disabled Library Workers by Jessica Schomberg and Wendy Highby; and Ashley Howdeshell connects gaps in the historical record with papermaking challenges described in Reams in the Desert: Papermaking in Utah, 1849–1893 by Richard L. Saunders. Our goal for the microreviews series is to enable more people to participate in reviews and make their voices heard.Although there is always new scholarship in the field, we believe that there is value in revisiting past professional literature as well. As announced in our Spring/Summer 2023 issue, the Intergenerational Conversations series reexamines the work of past archives scholars and practitioners through a contemporary lens; we began by focusing on the writings of John Fleckner. Between February and October 2023, seven authors—Vina Begay, Brenna Edwards, Amanda Greenwood, Jennifer Johnson, Jessica C. Neal, Krista B. Sorenson, and Matthew Strandmark—reviewed some of Fleckner's best-known works, from “‘Dear Mary Jane’: Some Reflections on Being an Archivist” to Native American Archives: An Introduction, and reflected on their meaning today. Please visit our Intergenerational Conversations series page for additional installments in this series, and keep an eye out for announcements about the theme of next year's articles set to debut in early 2024.We hope that readers of American Archivist will continue to engage with reviews as part of the ongoing dialogue about our changing profession. We look forward to another year serving as the journal's reviews editors and remain committed to bringing readers informative and engaging content.(Published between March 2023 and October 2023)

ABSTRACT In spring 2019, university archivist April Anderson-Zorn and special formats cataloger Eric Willey, both at Illinois State University (ISU), submitted a grant request to the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Foundation. The team requested funds to hire an ISU graduate student to create content for Wikipedia pages for underrepresented archivists. The grant aimed to fill a content gap on the site by including the biographies of female, Black, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented archivists to highlight their accomplishments in the profession. With the help of graduate student Stephanie Collier, the project surpassed its original goal of fifteen pages, with over forty pages now on Wikipedia. Though Collier was successful in her efforts, she experienced setbacks throughout the process, including biases and harassment from some Wikipedia editors. This article reviews the literature on the history of Wikipedia and bias found within the Wikipedia community, provides an overview of the project, discusses privacy concerns in creating Wikipedia pages, and suggests the next steps for continuing the work to bring representation for underrepresented archivists to the Wikipedia platform. The article also examines Collier's experience working to bring representation to archivists while completing a graduate degree in history in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost twenty years into my career as an archivist, and five years after attaining tenure, I've found myself grappling with questions about what I want for myself and how to make changes in my life and my work. When I feel stuck, I look for resources that offer a solution and reassure me that I'm not alone. When I came across Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian: Identity, Advocacy, and Pathways, edited by Brandon K. West and Elizabeth Galoozis, I felt that the subtitle could easily be “I Know What You're Going Through.” As I scanned Thriving’s table of contents, with chapters such as “Self Determination at Mid-Career: Perils and Possibilities,” “Considering a Change in Mid-Career,” and “Fighting Post-tenure Fatigue: Reclaiming Your Time and Redefining Leadership,” along with references to plateauing, boredom, burnout, bad management, and advocacy, I immediately felt validated and less alone. I also wanted to know how others had navigated their mid-career crises.West and Galoozis are both department heads at academic libraries. More importantly for the purposes of this book, they are both mid-career librarians (more about the murkiness of the term “mid-career” later). Both found themselves asking questions that came from having achieved a certain level in their career and wondering “now what?” or recognizing a need to reprioritize and downshift—to pull back from commitments in order to “concentrate on a smaller sphere of influence” (p. vii). West and Galoozis identify the questions and concerns they heard in their conversations with mid-career peers. Although some considered a move into management, West and Galoozis more often noticed their peers wrestling with questions about how to grow even if they chose not to seek a managerial role, how to decide whether to stay where they were or move to another institution, and how to sustain themselves in difficult environments—”facing burnout, constant change, wage compression, or even boredom” (p. vii).The answers to these questions serve as the basis for Thriving's structure. The book's twenty-six chapters, written by a diverse group of librarians, are divided into four sections: “Staying Engaged in Your Career”; “The Role of Identity in Shaping Mid-Career Librarianship”; “Being Your Own Advocate”; and “To Lead or Not to Lead?” The authors delve into these topics from different perspectives, sharing experiences on everything from creating a “commons” for librarians to interact with each other (Chapter 1) to the decision to leave librarianship (Chapter 26). Half the chapters are coauthored, which allows for a nice balance of multiple perspectives on the same issue and deeper dives into individual experiences. In chapter 26, which focuses on leaving academic librarianship, one of the authors is anonymous. I also noted how many of the authors sought to acknowledge where they had benefited from privileges—that being white, male, heterosexual, cisgender, or not disabled—had helped them advance in the profession. Other authors discussed how they experienced extra barriers as BIPOC, LBGTQIA+, or disabled librarians. These accounts of different experiences of entry into and navigation within the library profession help this resource speak to a wider audience.The authors’ varying viewpoints and experiences and the editors’ openness to different topics, writing styles, and approaches are some of the book's greatest strengths. Some chapters are anecdotal and light on citations (Chapter 22, on choosing to stay in management, has none), while others are grounded in theory and citation heavy (such as Chapter 9, on a community cultural wealth model for recognizing strengths in lived experiences). I appreciated the editors’ receptiveness to the idea that personal experience and theoretical approaches are equally valuable. The former made me reflect on experiences I could share that would help others, while the latter led me to note further reading I wanted to do.This book is situated in the literature that examines the experience of library professionals, particularly reflecting on low morale. Kaetrena Davis Kendrick's writings on this topic and Fobazi Ettarh's work on vocational awe are cited repeatedly.1 In sharing their experiences, the authors provide advice that can help a burned-out, mid-career librarian find their way, such as how to gain clarity on personal and professional values and goals. They also examine self-care practices that they find restorative, such as meditation. I appreciated and felt validated by the authors’ vulnerability. Their self-revelations about being stuck, not knowing, serendipity, and chance-taking—of not necessarily having the end mapped out when embarking on a path—reassured me that finding your way is a bit messy.Although I appreciated the openness to different experiences, I found the inconsistency around the definition of mid-career to be problematic. I was initially impressed to see it described as “an ill-defined career stretch” in Chapter 4, coauthored by Galoozis and Caro Pinto (p. 38). They discuss finding different definitions in the research literature and question whether mid-career can be defined in terms of time or if it is more about mindset. However, at least two other chapters (17 and 23) use narrower definitions of mid-career (between eight and fifteen years in the profession, with at least five in the current workplace).2 After seeing such an inclusive definition earlier, these pronouncements left me feeling excluded, pushed out of a group I see myself as belonging to.I also disagreed with some authors’ assertions about mid-career librarians, but felt it was because of differences in our experiences. For example, I agreed with a statement in chapter 17 that mid-career librarians are uniquely positioned to speak up in combating toxicity and bullying. But my own experience has been that those who do not or feel unable to speak up can underestimate the emotional labor and energy speaking up involves for mid-career librarians, along with the possibility they might experience repercussions. The authors also state that later-career librarians might not feel they should speak up “because they are close to leaving the institution” (p. 209). I understand that possibility, but I hope such colleagues will feel an obligation to speak up so that the workplace can be better for the people who remain as they head out the door.My sense in reading Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian was that, as an edited collection, it would be better approached over longer stretches of time or “dipped into” rather than read sequentially over a short period of time. If I had not been reading for the purpose of review, I would have probably started with chapters that were most relevant to my current situation, reading others as my interests changed. For example, while I appreciated getting perspectives on the choice to pursue a PhD (Chapter 6), the chapter would have been more helpful if I were trying to make that decision. However, I found Marta Bladek's advice on deciding to go up for a promotion to full professor (Chapter 10) very useful, and made me question some of my assumptions about navigating that process.Although this book does not center on archivists, it has relevance and resonance that speak to our profession. Many archivists work in academic library systems and are classified as librarians for purposes of evaluation and promotion, so the issues of the structures and hierarchies we work in and of career progression are similar. According to the 2022 A*CENSUS II All Archivists Survey, almost 40 percent of respondents work at academic institutions and 20 percent are considering leaving the profession in the next five years, citing burnout and the need for a better salary as two of the top three reasons for this decision.3 Other reasons for leaving also speak to issues addressed in Thriving, such as the desire for better work/life balance and the lack of opportunities for advancement.All the same, I wished I had seen some archivist authors. Several authors wrote about previous work in special collections departments, but I did not see archivist job titles or current special collections affiliations in the biographies section. Archivists have different viewpoints and experiences working in academic libraries. For example, many of us were among the first to return to working onsite with in-person researchers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, something that furthered employee dissatisfaction and bolstered the need for self-care. As the library and archives professions grapple with their histories, current untenability, and uncertain futures, this book showcases practitioners’ ambivalence and negative experiences, with suggestions for how to move through them.Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian shows that after starting a career in libraries with enthusiasm and working to establish themselves professionally, many librarians have found they are bored or burned out, or they want something different but are not sure what that is. I know I will refer to this book as I ponder my own career, and I appreciate being able to return to it as I change course or contemplate new paths. I would recommend the book not only to mid-career peers, but also to early-career librarians to get them thinking about strategies for future directions and to managers to give them insight into how they can support those they supervise. I very much applaud West and Galoozis for taking on this topic and the authors for their willingness to share their thoughts on how stuck and burned out mid-career librarians can move forward and even thrive.