Hello listserv members, <br><br>I am hoping someone (or many!) may be able to help me out. <br><br>I am a relatively new archivist (MLIS McGill 2006) who has worked in a couple of institutional archives and have recently relocated to Vancouver from Montreal. I would like to start a personal archives consulting business here in
Vancouver and am having difficulty with market research. <br>
<br>While in Montreal, I physically organized & electronically catalogued a private music collection of 5700+ items, and also digitized, catalogued and preserved a private photo
collection. Those 2 contracts gave me the idea that I might make a
living off of offering services like that; I have a feeling that many
people would like their own educated & experienced personal archivist/librarian ..... but
that's just it: a feeling. I have no concrete proof of the
sustainability of such an endeavour.<br>
<br>Do you know of anyone in Canada who offers personal,
private archives/library services -- organizing/preserving/etc. books, music,
stamps, ephemera, photos, family history, etc.? I have been in contact
with a few people in the US who offer similar services, but have only been able to find one other person in Canada who does something similar, though various local historians & memoirists have indicated to me that there IS a market in Vancouver for a service such as what I propose, though it is rather high-end and hidden.<br>
<br>I'd also like to be very clear that in no way am I interested in usurping any future personal archives deposits to archival institutions -- if individuals are interested in depositing their items with an established archives, I would urge them to contact the archives directly. I am cognizant of issues surrounding original order, arrangement & description, etc. <br>
<br>I welcome any and all feedback/information.<br><br>Thank you, <br>Carrie Schmidt (BA University of Alberta, MLIS McGill)<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>archivist. editor. writer.<br><a href="mailto:carrieschmidt@gmail.com">carrieschmidt@gmail.com</a><br>
vancouver, bc<br><br><br>