Publication Date
January 2013
Abstract
This article presents an exploratory study of the use and interpretation of the position title “digital archivist,” and considers issues in how this term is used and understood, particularly in regard to working with born-digital materials. It looks at discussions of terminology and mentions of the digital archivist title in professional literature and provides a brief content analysis of digital archivist position advertisements from between 1995 and 2012 that focuses on responsibilities of working with born-digital versus digitization. The lack of clarity and consensus regarding what a digital archivist is or does reflects uncertainty within the archival profession even as its members and organizations declare the need for consistent or agreed-upon terminology.