Archival theory may give us plenty to work with, but those of us who work for a living know that theory alone is not enough. Vanishing budgets and lean staffs all lead us back to that phrase we used to chant in childhood: “All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses, his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.”
How theory becomes practice should take a little greater thought and lot more energy. For this week, consider for yourselves how we should prioritize work flow and how we should respond to the realities of a workplace where most of us will face a guarantee of being underfunded and overworked.
We will be particularly interested in analyzing the distinction between the so-called minimal processing model (MPLP = more product, less process) and its apparent alternative, maximal processing.
NB: Your outreach assessment write upis due next week, along with your proposal for research paper!
