I've recently been part of one of those periodic conversations we all seem to have now and again about how best to represent our profession visually. Although it's a cliché and rather hackneyed, when trying to pick an image to illustrate an archive or archives there's always the option of using a good-looking item from the collections. It doesn't illustrate all the facets of the job, but it is easy to understand and attractive.
Representing records management in some sort of striking way isn't so easy. Shelves full of boxes don't look great. Computer servers aren't that photogenic. A page from a file plan or retention schedule doesn't exactly do it either. A pile of papers (either tidy or in a mess) is just a pile of papers. Legislation isn't noted for its striking cover-art. Moreover, you wouldn't look at any of these things and immediately think of records management. A picture of a document might make you think 'history' or something similar rather than 'archives', but at least it gets you into the right ball park.
The Records Management Society must have faced similar questions since they facelifted the Bulletin. There have been some imaginative covers, but without the text that goes along with them would you necessarily think 'aha! - this must be about records management'?
I've no answers here. I don't know how best to capture what records management is in a single image. The closest I've ever been able to get is some sort of montage illustrating different aspects of the job. If anyone can suggest an image that truly represents records management then I'd be fascinated to hear their ideas.
1 hour ago
2 comments:
You're right Alan it's always a tough ask to represent what we do visually (heck most days I can't even explain what I do in a couple of short sentences - I definitely don't have an elevator pitch to sum up my job). In the past I've tended to go for before and after shots (from mess comes order kind of thing) but that is becoming less relevant in these electronic times.
I take particular notice of the way records management is portrayed in popular culture (tv shows etc) and the most common image is probably rows and rows of shelving filled to the brim with files - usually the ones with those coloured stickers on the edge (which I've never actually used in my many years in the business but which probably look more distinctive than plain ones).
The best image I could use to describe my current experience of records management would be a picture of me bashing my head against a brick wall :)
Thanks Bernadette, although I'm not sure if bruised records managers is quite the image we want to go for! Like you, I get pulled into the before and after shots or the other examples I used in the post. I can't help thinking there must be a better way to do this though. Perhaps the simple fact that there are so many elements to the job means that there is no single way to represent it visually.
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