CHARLES WARD
LAUNCESTON,Cornwall
Summary
Dedicated professional with extensive expertise in library and archival services, adept at handling front desk enquiries and providing exceptional customer service. Proficient in cataloguing, metadata creation, and the Dewey Decimal System, ensuring efficient document organisation and archival storage solutions. Skilled in academic research support and collection development, with a strong understanding of copyright laws. Demonstrates initiative in acquisitions handling and digital preservation, complemented by Microsoft Office proficiency. Committed to maintaining high record-keeping standards while pursuing opportunities to enhance library operations through innovative solutions.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Archivist
Southwest Heritage Trust
Exeter, Devon
04.2009 - Current
- Established standards for record keeping, ensuring consistency across archives.
- Ensured compliance to legal regulations with thorough understanding of data protection laws.
- Enhanced organisation by systematising archival records.
- Responded to public enquiries, promoting community engagement and education about local history.
- Collected and appraised archives, artefacts and records of historical interest.
- Researched origin, distribution and use of cultural materials.
- Tracked archival items from acquisition to conservation and display.
- Safeguarded manuscripts and audiovisual materials with archival techniques.
- Prepared indexes, bibliographies and microfilm copies as reference aids.
- Archived government papers, photographs and maps in established systems.
- Established and maintained stringent quality standards in collection care.
- Planned and implemented digital archive management and electronic records storage.
- Preserved historically significant and valuable documents.
- Maintained collections of artistic, cultural and scientifically significant items.
- Researched and recorded origins, provenance and historical significance of archival materials.
- Streamlined usage by creating organisational systems for newly digitised records and documents.
- Developed classification systems to facilitate public access to archived materials.
- Digitised physical records to facilitate easy retrieval.
- Streamlined research with effective management of digital databases.
- Catalogued historical documents for improved accessibility.
- Liaised with donors, securing new additions to the collection.
- Conducted condition assessments on archival items, preventing damage and loss.
- Managed document preservation, ensuring longevity of materials.
- Created detailed finding aids for efficient record location.
- Complied with copyright laws whilst managing document reproduction requests.
- Assisted researchers to achieve accurate and quick results.
- Maintained security protocols to protect valuable or sensitive information within archive collections.
- Improved searchability with meticulous indexing of materials.
- Trained staff members, enhancing team's archival knowledge and skills.
- Appraised records for potential archiving or disposal decisions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History
Univercity of Lampeter
Lampeter 10.2001 - 07.2003
Master of Arts - Navel History
Exeter Univercity
Exeter 10.2004 - 07.2005
Skills
Handling front desk enquiries
Good Customer Service
Good communication written and oral
Handling fragile materials
Payment Processing
Good Record-keeping standards
Good IT skills
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Archivist
Southwest Heritage Trust
04.2009 - Current
Master of Arts - Navel History
Exeter Univercity
10.2004 - 07.2005
Bachelor of Arts - History
Univercity of Lampeter
10.2001 - 07.2003