What do archivists do? According to the U.S. Occupational Handbook, archivists typically do the following:
  • Create and maintain accessible computer archives and databases
  • Organize and classify archival records to make it easy to find materials
  • Authenticate and appraise historical documents and archival materials
  • Provide reference services and help for users
  • Safeguard records by copying to film, videotape, disk, or computer formats
  • Preserve and maintain documents and objects
  • Locate new materials and direct their acquisition and display
But a good archivist is part librarian and part detective.