In 2014, the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded the USC Libraries and the L.A. as Subject research alliance a grant to implement a residency program designed to support archival education. The grant was part of the IMLS Laura Bush 21st-Century Librarian program, which funds training of early career librarians to manage emerging challenges in libraries and librarianship.
Hosted by the USC Libraries, L.A. as Subject comprises 230 libraries, museums, archives and private collections of valuable primary sources and other materials that document the history and culture of Los Angeles. The Autry Museum Library and Archives and California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Libraries partnered with the USC Libraries in developing the successful proposal and the residency program.
Throughout the term of the grant, the Autry, CSUN and USC each hosted and mentored two residents (1 per year), who in turn, worked with a variety of archives among the L.A. as Subject membership.
To ensure that residents and archives staff developed applicable skills and competencies, each Resident Archivist rotation project was required to meet one or more of the Society of American Archivists’ Guidelines for Archival Continuing Education (ACE) components: 1) General Archival Knowledge; 2) Selection, Appraisal, and Acquisition; 3) Arrangement and Description; 4) Reference Services and Access; 5) Preservation and Protection; 6) Outreach, Advocacy, and Promotion; 7) Managing Archival Programs; and 8) Ethical and Legal Responsibilities.
The $440,000 grant supported six residents over a period of two years. L.A. as Subject issued a call for proposals from community archives and private collectors, matching residents with archives relating to their research interests. Residents also participated in the annual L.A. as Subject Archives Bazaar, which brings more than 1,000 students, researchers and history enthusiasts to Doheny Library each fall.
Residents are required to post-graduates who have completed an MLIS or equivalent graduate degree with an emphasis on Archival Administration within the last 2 years. For more information about the application process and rotation schedule, please read the LA as Subject Resident Archives Program FAQ.