Social Sciences students get the opportunity to take part in the first ever GCU Archives placement
Two Social Science students have had the opportunity to see behind the scenes at GCU’s Archives Centre, thanks to the centre’s first ever work experience placement.
Social Sciences students Caitlin McGuire and Alistair Aitken took part in the first ever GCU Archives work placement, seeing them learn all about the processes behind the work that the centre does.
After a successful interview, the students were tasked with creating a subject index for the Black Workers’ Committee and Conference material found in the Scottish Trades Union Congress records. As well as this, the students got to learn about digitisation, banner display, preservation, pest control, social media, their catalogue and political songs.
Creating the subject index opens the door to learning, teaching, research, discussion and visibility. This particular finding aid has been developed in line with GCU’s Call It Racism campaign and to inform the University’s anti-racism curriculum group by identifying significant BAME primary sources. It also aligns with the Archive Centre’s inclusive archive agenda, which includes giving a voice to unrepresented and underrepresented people.
Caitlin, who was already interested in a career in archives, has had her eyes opened to the reality of the work required in the archival process.
We spoke to Caitlin about what the experience taught her:
How did the opportunity to do the placement come about?
“The Archives Team sent an email out to Social Sciences students and explained that they had two places available for students to do some work experience with them. There was an interview process and we also had to do a written piece on something we were interested in historically, and also why we wanted to work with the Archives team.
For me, it was a sort of off-the-cuff idea to apply as something to do at the end of the academic year.”
What made you want to apply for the placement?
“Working with archives is something I want to do once I finish university; I really want to work with archives materials, books and actual artifacts. I actually went to visit an exhibit at the GCU Archives Centre just before I got the email and after I seen how they work in person, it really made me want to do the work experience. I didn’t think I’d get it, but I didn’t want it to be a missed opportunity.”
What sort of work have you been doing with the Archives team?
“I was responsible for writing up the minutes and typing it into an index for the Black Workers Committee and then switched to the Women’s Advisory Committee. With the Black Workers Community, I worked from the years of 1997 to 2014 and then 1976 for the Women’s Advisory Committee.
I’m trying to create an index which contains materials that people can actually take out and look at. Alistair was tasked with looking at the preservation of posters, leaflets and other materials that were handed out by the committees.”
You’ve learned about some unique things during your placement, such as pest control! Tell us a bit about that:
“We did some mini experiences which got us to look at different materials and try to identify any potential problems that could arise if there were to be an infestation – things like moths and silverfish.
We looked at the traps and learned about how to document how much comes in, as well as the alerts they have in place. This lets them see if more traps or measures are required to stop an infestation from potentially happening.
It was really interesting to learn, but it was definitely something I wouldn’t have thought of before doing the placement!”
Have you enjoyed the experience?
“It’s been amazing! The team are so friendly and the different elements of the centre that they showed us was just so fun. It really allowed us to see everything that they do at the Archives Centre and how it is to work in that kind of setting.
The team were really helpful and were super easygoing – it was a really comfortable atmosphere.”
Has the work experience made you consider working in an area like this in future?
“This has definitely helped me realise that I could see myself working in an area in archives. It really opened my eyes and showed me that there is more to the job than I expected; there’s so many different options within the job. You could work in the digitalization in archives or work in preserving them – you’re not just an ‘archiver’ that stores and looks after older items.”
By Rachael McAlonan
Got a SCEBE or GSBS story? Email me at Rachael.McAlonan@gcu.ac.uk or connect with me on social media here