Merrilee,

You are right, code4lib does publish the occasion archives article. However, they tend to assume a fairly high level of competence as far as computer skills are concerned. I was think more along the lines of how-to-articles for archivists, especially in small shops, who may not have the skills and do not have access to others in their organization who do. Articles that can help them leverage some of the readily available tools (MS Access, FileMaker Pro, etc.) in order to automate some of their work flow. 

There are, as you say, big advantages to existing journals: established reputation, infrastructure in place, ready audience. There are also disadvantages. The two most prominent in my mind are cost and scope. While code4lib and D-lib are free most of the others have subscription costs in the hundreds of dollars for institutions and around a hundred for individuals. How many small shop can afford that for the few archives articles that will show up? Which brings us to scope: the types of articles I'm thinking of are not "scholarly" and are very unlikely to be accepted in any of the established journals. 

I have to admit that I'm not clear on what you mean in your point on silos. Are you saying that you think that because of the silo effect it is difficult or ineffective to publish in existing journals? Or are you saying that publishing in an archives specific technical journal will increase the silo effect? I think both are valid points, but I am more concerned with silos within archives. Between the technological haves and have-nots, if you will. I sense that smaller shops are getting left behind the technological curve and hope that more available tools will help them along.

Randall

-----Original Message-----
From: Encoded Archival Description List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Proffitt,Merrilee
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 4:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Practical Technical Journal for Archives

Although I only vaguely remember the query, I don't recall if there was an issue with using the code4lib journal as a platform for archives technology solutions (http://journal.code4lib.org/). I think there are big advantages in going with an existing journal (and disadvantages in archives being too silo'ed from our kindred spirits in other information sectors).

Best,

Merrilee

Merrilee Proffitt, Senior Program Officer OCLC Research



-----Original Message-----
From: Encoded Archival Description List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Randall Miles
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 12:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Practical Technical Journal for Archives

Karen,

No one said they would not read it, although a few did respond without saying they would. Pretty much all responses were positive, and with today's responses it's probably close to thirty readers. 

I think Leah's advice (below) is sound and I have not completely given up on the idea. I think there are small scale options to explore.

Randall

-----Original Message-----
From: Encoded Archival Description List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bleier, Karen
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 2:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Practical Technical Journal for Archives

I'm curious, because I remember your original post, and I don't think I responded before something distracted me.  I imagine others did the same.

So, my question: 17 people said they would read it; how many said they wouldn't?  

I and my colleagues almost certainly would read it.  Sorry I didn't respond initially.

Karen Bleier, MLS
Research Librarian
816-822-3418


-----Original Message-----
From: Encoded Archival Description List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leah Prescott
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Practical Technical Journal for Archives

I think this could very well be one of those instances where people don't realize how valuable it might be until there is an example. I'm a big believer in creating a straw man and then adjusting as others react
- rather than needing an idea to be fully fleshed-out and vetted before taking a step forward. 

Also, if there is interest from only a small number of people I don't think you should take that as an indication that it is an any less valuable thing to do. If just a few people start some mechanism, even an informal one, to share ideas and help one another, then that becomes a core that can be built upon as others start to see the value. I say go for it on a small scale - just my opinion.

Leah


Leah Prescott
Digital Projects Coordinator
Washington Research Library Consortium
901 Commerce Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
301-390-2004
[log in to unmask]
________________________________________
From: Encoded Archival Description List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Randall Miles [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:08 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Practical Technical Journal for Archives

Please excuse cross posts.

About two weeks ago I posted regarding a practical technical journal for archives. I had three questions:


1.       Does such a journal exist? Based on the responses no, there is
no such journal.

2.       Would you read such a journal? 17 people responded that they
would.

3.       Would you submit articles to such a journal? 5 of the 17 who
said they would read it also said they would likely submit articles.

My conclusion from this is that not only is there no technical journal specific to archives, but there is also very little interest in one. I feel this is too bad. It is a definite gap in the literature and would provide a mechanism for those of us with some technical expertise to not only help one another, but also help those in the profession who are less technically skilled or have fewer resources to fall back on. But, if there's no interest, there's no interest.

Thank you to all who responded.

Randall


Randall Miles
Technical processes archivist
*Kheel Center for Labor-Management
Documentation and Archives
*Martin P. Catherwood Library
227 Ives Hall
*ilr* School
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-3901
Phone: 607-255-2705
Fax:  607-255-9641
*WEBSITE*: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel/
*Blog*:
http://programmablearchivist.blogspot.com<http://programmablearchivist.b
logspot.com/>

*/Advancing the world of work/*