Timothy Pyatt, Candidate for Council

Professional Experience: Huck Chair and Head, Special Collections Library, Penn State, 2011–present. University Archivist, Duke University, 2002–2011. Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Practice, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1998–2007. Director, Southern Historical Collection, Curator of Manuscripts, and Assistant Curator of Manuscripts, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1995–2002. Curator of Marylandia and Rare Books, University of Maryland, 1993–1995. Director of Processing and Preservation, Maryland State Archives, 1990–1993. Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1988–1990. Rare Books/Special Collections Librarian, University of Oregon, 1986–1988.

Education: MLS, North Carolina Central University, 1986. BA, History, Duke University, 1981.

Professional Activities: Society of American Archivists: NC Membership Contact, 1999–2001. Program Committee, 2001–2002. Privacy and Confidentiality Roundtable, Steering Committee, 2000–2001, 2008–2010; Vice-Chair, 2002–2003; Chair, 2003–2004. College and University Archives Section, Chair, 2004–2006. Committee on Ethics and Professional Conduct, 2007–2013; Chair, 2009–2012. Fellow, 2012. Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference: Program Committee, 1990–1991. Chair, Maryland Caucus, 1990–1992. Steering Committee, 1990–1992. Sessions Abstracts Editor, Mid-Atlantic Archivist, 1992–1993. Society of North Carolina Archivists: Co-chair, Local Arrangements Committee, 2008–2009. Nominating Committee Chair, 2001–2002. MARAC/SNCA Joint Meeting Program Committee, 2000–2001. Development and Education Committee Chair, 2000–2001. President, 1999–2000. Vice President/President Elect, 1997–1998. Program Committee Chair, 1997–1998.

Selected publications: “Issues of Privacy in College and University Archives,” College and University Archives: Readings in Theory and Practice. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2008, pp.211–225. “University Committee and Planning Records in the Digital Age” and “Managing Public Affairs Records in the Digital Age,” Campus Case Studies. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2008. “Southern Family Honor Tarnished? Issues of Privacy in the Walker Percy and Shelby Foote Papers,” Privacy and Confidentiality Perspectives: Archivists and Archival Records. Society of American Archivists, 2005, pp. 141–150. “Cooperative Collecting of Manuscripts in the Old South,” Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarianship (Vol. 14:1, 1999), pp.19–25.

Selected workshops taught: Managing Electronic Records, SAA workshop taught 8 times, 2010–2012. Managing the Digital University Desktop, SAA workshop taught 3 times, 2006–2009. Basics of Archives, NC SHRAB workshop, taught 3 times, 2004–2005.

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Question posed by Nominating Committee: SAA is not only growing in numbers, but also in constituencies—students and new professionals, diverse communities, emerging functional needs—all clamoring to be recognized and have specific needs addressed.  What challenges are posed for the association and how do we best address them?

This year SAA reached an all-time high in membership. As a professional society we have officially reached the ‘tweens, no longer a small organization but not quite a big one either. Our intermediate size taxes resources as we no longer have the nimbleness of a small organization but haven’t quite gained the efficiencies and economies of a larger professional society.

What does this mean to the SAA membership?

• Our larger size makes it more difficult to foster more individual connections and interaction within the membership. We need to emphasize the value and importance of smaller groups within SAA such as Round Tables as well as consider additional options for engaging members. 
• We need to offer greater support for students, new professionals, and new members—they are the future of SAA. As a former archival educator, I would like to see more leadership opportunities for the talented graduates our archival education programs are producing. We also need to increase advocacy for the profession and offer more programs that promote the value of archives to groups beyond our membership.
• We need to consider a different model for annual meetings, a process that is already underway. As we grow, meetings may need to be held in more than one venue with greater services to meet expanded needs.
• SAA must strive to stay relevant to an increasingly diverse membership. Programs, workshops, and other forms of communication need to reflect the needs of our changing and growing membership.

SAA has been an important and valuable resource to me both professionally and personally. The Society has provided me with access to training, presented leadership opportunities, and introduced me to life-long friends. My goal would be for every SAA member to have that kind of experience. If elected I promise to listen to your needs and work with SAA leadership to address them. Representing you, the membership of SAA, on Council would be a privilege. I promise to work hard to engage all members in planning for the future of our organization and our profession.