Freedom School Webinar Session 3: Archive Careers & Opportunities for Growth

Archives play a vital role in preserving history, culture, and collective knowledge, and they offer a wide range of meaningful and dynamic career paths. This session provides an overview of what archives are, how they function, and the many ways professionals lead and support preservation initiatives. From organizing and caring for physical collections to managing digital records and engaging communities, archival work spans both tradition and innovation. We will explore established roles such as archivists and records managers, as well as careers in special collections, reference services, outreach, education, and leadership. As technology reshapes the field, new opportunities are emerging in digital curation, web archiving, and digital preservation, expanding how archives are built, accessed, and sustained. Participants will gain insight into educational pathways and transferable skills within archives and related fields. Whether you are a student, an early-career professional, or considering a career transition, this session offers practical guidance on how archival work fosters both cultural stewardship and long-term professional growth.