Post contributed by Johnamarie Macias, MLS.
A few months ago, I came across an online conversation about which organizations to join and conferences to attend when you’re starting out in the archival field. A handful of responses emphasized getting involved with local and regional organizations. I took that advice to heart, and earlier in November, I attended the North Carolina Community College Archives Association (NCCCAA) Annual Conference at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, North Carolina. It was a special occasion for everyone involved because it was the first in-person event in three years, but it was also a special occasion for me because it was my first archives conference.
Even though I earned my library science degree and archives certificate a little over 10 years ago, I had a difficult time breaking into the archival field. At times, it felt impossible. I almost gave up on the profession entirely until my current position appeared when I least expected it. Nowadays, I’m working a job I love, pursuing the career I mapped out for myself, and embracing new opportunities with renewed energy, which brings me back to the NCCCAA Annual Conference.
Some attendees had years of archival experience under their belts, while others had little training and were seeking to enhance their skills. A few, including me, were just starting out and looking to get their feet wet. Impostor syndrome could have easily reared its ugly head and chipped away at my self-confidence, but it didn’t because regardless of the various professional experiences and skill levels in the room, everyone attended the conference with a strong desire to learn from each other and support each other’s progress in preserving institutional histories.
Those realizations helped calm my nerves and encouraged me to introduce myself to other professionals in the field, engage in conversation, and ask questions during sessions. One of my questions, aimed at university archivists, was about what strategies they use to get students to visit the archive. Their answer? Create pop-up exhibits in student areas as a way to bring the archive to them. That got the wheels in my head turning and thinking about all sorts of ideas.
By the end of the day-long conference, I felt like I was finally part of a meaningful community of professionals fostering growth, collaboration, and creativity. Not only that, but I walked away with an inspired state of mind and with a more confident attitude toward myself and my future in archives.
As 2022 quickly comes to a close and we prepare ourselves to embrace a new year, I’m going to echo the advice I read online: the next time you have the opportunity to get involved with a local or regional organization, don’t hesitate to take advantage of it. The new ideas, perspectives, and connections you’ll gain will benefit your archival career in countless ways.
Johnamarie Macias is the Archives Assistant at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina. She completed her MLS degree and Certificate in Archives and Preservation of Cultural Materials at Queens College, City University of New York. She was also appointed NCCCAA’s Secretary for 2022-2023.
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