By Al Dickenson
Even at one of the most storied international institutions in the world, data management serves as a vital function of optimal efficiency. Nick Roche, a May 2012 graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s School of Information Studies, has served the NATO archives department for more than a decade. After graduating with an Archival Studies concentration, he continued to work in a variety of locations both domestically and abroad.
At present, Nick is in charge of overseeing the retention, disposition, acquisitions, preservation, declassification and access to records of permanent value generated by NATO, including paper, A/V, digitized and born-digital records. To talk about his exciting career in the archives field, we asked Nick a few questions about his work, his advice for aspiring archivists, and more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Professional highlights
What do you enjoy most about your career?
There is a satisfaction in working with archives, knowing that what you do, and how you do it, has an impact long term. In archives, the goal is to collect and preserve knowledge and information over time. Knowing that my work might be useful to someone 20, 50 or 100 years from now is very motivating. One thing I have really enjoyed throughout my career is working internationally, meeting archivists and records managers from dozens of countries and learning from them as well.
What is the most surprising or interesting aspect of your current position?
I have been most surprised by the amount of negotiating and influence required to make things happen, even when it comes to archiving and preservation. As a student, I took for granted that everyone knew of, understood and was completely aligned with the concepts of records management and archiving. Although I learned much during my time in school, nothing had prepared me to sit across from diplomats, policymakers and military officers, and having to persuade or convince. I often tell my colleagues that advocacy is one of the most important and underrated skills.
More generally, what’s also interesting about working in the NATO Archives is the variety of tasks you get to learn and perform. Working in a small service means I have been able to use a large variety of skills – be they conservation, processing, digitization or working with unusual formats and materials. I can use all the different skills I learned during my MLIS and internships and develop them further.
There is a satisfaction in working with archives, knowing that what you do, and how you do it, has an impact long term. In archives, the goal is to collect and preserve knowledge and information over time. Knowing that my work might be useful to someone 20, 50 or 100 years from now is very motivating.
What have been the most exciting and rewarding moments of your career so far?
One of our key work strands is the declassification and public disclosure of NATO records. The process is long, tedious, involved and requires numerous checks, reviews and can sometimes take months or years. But the finished product, thousands of declassified documents now available to researchers and the public, is very rewarding.
What has been the greatest challenge you have faced during your career?
The biggest challenge I encounter is the lack of awareness and understanding related to archives and their value. As an archivist, you need to be a constant, positive and sometimes loud advocate for the necessity of good records and archives management.
Your experience at the School of Information Studies (SOIS)
How did you become interested in information science & technology and/or library science?
History was always a passion, but only once I began working in the library science and archives field did I realize what I truly loved was organizing history and knowledge. My student jobs, internships and SOIS fieldwork allowed me to work in several areas (libraries, museums, archives), and I quickly focused on the records management and archives sectors.
In what ways has your experience at the School of Information Studies had an impact on your career and who you are today?
The classes I followed during my MLIS at SOIS have given me the foundational knowledge for understanding how information can and should be structured. This foundational knowledge has been a major asset in every position I have applied to, interviewed for and subsequently held. You must know what to do, of course, but why you are doing it can be equally important. Expect, on occasion, to have to defend the value of information management, the value of archives and the value of your work. The knowledge gained during my time at SOIS has given me the answers, and the confidence to express those answers.
Describe any significant experiences or relationships with fellow students, faculty, staff that helped influence your career path or shape your experience at SOIS?
Dennis Larsen’s Record Management class, and his help getting me into the ARMA Milwaukee annual conference was a very positive experience and influenced me to pursue a job in records management. I believe it led to my first post-graduation job working for a private company. Additionally, the Archives concentration, and Amy Cooper Cary who managed it at the time, was very well structured, encouraging and helpful in moving me towards a professional career.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates interested in a job such as yours? Any pitfalls to avoid, things you wish you would have done differently, or tips for success?
In order to work as an archivist in an international organization, you will need to show a passion for the field, but also similar experience, or at least international experience. Internships, even during your studies, are the best way to get that experience. NATO, for example, offers a great internship program, both for librarians and for archivists.
Beyond this, seek experiences and networking opportunities every chance you get. Every place you work at, volunteer at, or even visit, is another opportunity to better understand the field of libraries and archives.
A bit more about you
What are your proudest personal achievements?
A few years ago, I started a volleyball club because I was looking for people to play with and it was always a challenge to find matches. Now the club has 75 people, multiple league teams, and continues to be very rewarding.