International Council of Archives

Archivists, who are you ?

The question of identity is crucial for the evolution of our profession. In fact, it is not a simple question. In the digital era, the archivists are still thought of as people with glasses- I am wearing themalso – secretly taking care of boxes of old paper! Where could we find our place in the information Age ?

 The international congress in Brisbane provides some answers : trust, identity, and sustainability. These three words could help us find a way to be better understood by others (archivists, IT departments, cultural heritage, libraries...).
Australia is the ideal country to welcome such a congress. From a European point of view, Australia is the country of koalas, kangaroos, Uluru... a country where environmental issues meet endangered species and the sun! I know, that may sound a bit cliché, and I am very eager to learn more about the country. But that made me wonder whether archivists are not one of the endangered species.

With the creativness, the intelligence, and the expertise of all the archivists, we may find a way to help them be at the core of the information age. We keep trying, even though sometimes we must fight against budget cuts or a lack of visibility... Yet I truly believe that we can find a way to adapt, as koalas and kangaroos do. To all the archivists all around the world, let the international congress be a way to show everyone that the archivists are one of the major actors in the information Age, and that, like koalas and kangaroos, they know how to deal with a difficult environment...Adaptability, is that our new persona ? I believe it might eventually pay off.

As we say in France, « A bientôt » in Brisbane or in the Flying Reporter blog.
Marie Laperdrix