Blurring the line between archive, museum, and library

In an article titled "Libraries and librarians in the 21st Century" (College and Research Library News, December 2004, p. 668-671 or see the on-line version) Robert S. Martin, the directory of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, writes about the social agencies that support learning in the United States.

The learning that happens outside of work and school, free-choice learning, is what most concerns social agencies like museums and public libraries. "As more people become self-guided learners throughout their lifetimes, institutions such as libraries, museums, and public broadcasters, among others, can help to stimulate and meet their demands." He believes that "librarians, archivists, and museum professionals are not separate and distinct professions, but rather different facets of a single unified profession...."

Since I just completed a project for my government documents class on the National Archives and Records Administration, I have reason to agree. It was fairly obvious that a seamless interaction between librarian and archivist would be the best way to handle the information need of a patron learning about history or genealogy. In the example I used, the local librarian could assist by finding information that has already been digitized and by locating the archives where physical documents and objects are located. At that point, the patron would need to travel to the archives where the archivist would be spearheading the assistance for the patron.     #

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