Blogging and the archival profession

 A few weeks ago,over on ArchivesNext,I asked Kate whether her opinions on the archivo-blogosphere had changed in the year since she first started blogging. Go take a look at her well-thought out response. I’ll wait.

In the time since I posed that question,I’ve been mostly away from my desk (or busy with other things),but I’ve been tossing this around in my own mind:what is the role of blogging in the archival field? I don’t pretend to have all of the answers,but I’d like to raise some questions,and perhaps provoke discussion. Some of my thoughts below.

On participation:

It seems to me that,as a group,we have been slow to participate in the blogosphere. While there are fewer archivists out there than say other groups with which we might identify (say,librarians or historians),it seems that we’ve been comparatively reluctant to dip our toes in the water. Why might that be? Are we less tech-savvy,or uninterested in using new technologies to communicate? Is it that we are mirroring the somewhat apathetic national participation in civic discourse? Is there a lack of interest in contributing to the field,or that we have nothing to say?  Are we reticent about being record creators instead of worrying about the disposition of records?

When it comes to participation,it seems like there are generally few who take charge and actively lead. Much like the dynamic in a classroom or in our electoral process,those willing to step up to the plate are the ones whose voices are heard. What are we afraid of? Or,are we afraid at all? Perhaps we’re just disinterested,disenfranchised,or not inclined to care. However,having met many passionate archivists,I don’t necessarily subscribe to the last one.

On conversation:

Is a blog a good place to have a professional conversation? What about a peer-reviewed journal,or a listserv? How about a symposium,or a conference call,or workshop? In order to have participation,there needs to be a balance between “if you build it,they will come,”and meeting people where they already are. In this case,my feeling is that a lot of folks are already doing everything else on this list,but not blogging or actively participating in the blogosphere. It’s professionally acceptable for us to have discussions in all of those other places;why not online?  Is a journal article in the American Archivist going to provoke the same type of timely discussion as a blog post? Maybe. But a discussion in real time,with participants from around the globe? Probably not.

I’m not against more established forms of communication within the profession;far from it. But I think that we need to look towards the example of many librarians who have used their blogs to actively participate and shape their experiences in the field.

One last thing:risk. The elephant in the room. Because blogging involves putting one’s thoughts out there on the web for anyone to read,it can be intimidating,even downright scary. Once your words are out there,anyone can access them. Is that risky? You bet. George Eliot once said “Blessed is the man who,having nothing to say,abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.”

Are fears about disclosure valid? Sure. I know that evaluation of sources for “truthiness”and authenticity is important as well. But part of the problem that hasn’t been fully acknowledged is this:elders and so-called “names”in the field have not really embraced blogging or maintained their own blogs (with the exception of Richard Cox and perhaps one or two others). Archivists that are new to the field may be afraid of reprisal or blogging themselves out of their next job,or simply not willing to jump into the conversation. Those mid-career may have the same fears.

However,I don’t think that it’s true that we have nothing to say. Further,I think that we could all benefit from a lively discourse and vibrant archivo-blogosphere. So what are we doing about it? What’s the next step? How can we move forward?