Archival Assistant: Key Skills, Qualifications and Career Path
Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a Archival Assistant
Practice Interviews Online - Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Archival Assistant mock interview, under 10 minutes
Practice Now »What is a Archival Assistant?
An Archival Assistant is responsible for organizing and managing various materials, such as books, documents, and digital media, within libraries and offices in the UK. This job role helps maintain order within libraries by classifying, sorting, and filing these materials for easy accessibility for the public.
Skills
- Knowledge of archival principles and practices
- Ability to organize and maintain collections
- Attention to detail and accuracy in record keeping
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in computer software and database management
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and tasks
- Customer service skills for assisting researchers and patrons
- Understanding of preservation and conservation techniques
- Knowledge of copyright and intellectual property laws
Qualifications & Education
- No minimum academic requirements
- Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or A-Levels/H grades
- On-the-job training provided
- NVQs/SVQs in Information and Library Services available at Levels 2 and 3
Career Path
Frequently Asked Questions
An archiving assistant in the UK organizes and arranges archival and manuscript material in appropriate orders, performs routine procedures to preserve the materials, labels manuscripts folders and containers, and compiles listings of materials in collections.
The job description of an archivist includes refining, implementing, and upholding archival policies and procedures for processing, documenting, and accessing archival collections. They may also serve as a librarian and aid library patrons. Additionally, they support the efforts of the Collections Departmental team.
You'll need a degree and postgraduate training to be an archivist in the UK. Most degree subjects are accepted, but it may be useful to have a degree in history or information science.
Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Archival Assistant mock interview, under 10 minutes
Practice Now