In mid-June I started a new part-time, entry-level position at the Oregon Historical Society as an archivist assistant, working on a temporary project to move the research library. I’m lucky enough to be working under experienced archivists and librarians, learning a bit more about the field and about standard procedures. The materials in the library will be relocated to another facility while the library is renovated, but most materials will still be accessible. This means we are methodically combing through the existing collections and making sure they are properly housed and catalogued in order to move them. New shelving units will be ordered for storage off-site, so there is plenty of measuring and calculating of linear feet required to shelf the materials being moved. Of course, there are many diagrams on graph paper and a multitude of spreadsheets to coordinate all this. But there is also a lot of time handling paper and books and getting a hands-on experience of the Oregon Historical Society’s library collection. A few of my favorite finds so far are pictured.
