Shane Moran, a 2023 graduate of Drexel CCI’s Master’s in Library and Information Science (MSILIS) program, recently joined St. Mary’s College of Maryland as the College Archivist. Prior to this role, he served as the Archives and Special Collections Librarian at Juniata College for two years. CCI recently spoke with Moran about their decision to pursue the MSILIS program at Drexel, what a typical day looks like in their current role, and how their courses and Capstone project have shaped their perspective and approach as an archivist.
CCI: Why did you choose to pursue your Master’s degree with Drexel CCI?
Shane Moran (SM): When I decided to pursue Library Science, I was already partway through a Master’s program for History (through Millersville University). Through some luck, I had lined up a job in Millersville’s Archives and Special Collections, along with an informal apprenticeship with a conservation bookbinder around the same time I started really considering Library School. I didn’t want to give up the opportunities I had found but knew a MLIS would be an important step for me.
From the start, Drexel stuck out to me as the program for me. Not only was it online, which meant I could continue with my History program, but it was also close enough for me to travel to if I needed. Drexel’s quarterly schedule was also really helpful for me in balancing my job and other coursework; I could adjust my course load without feeling like I lost a lot of progress in my degree. The variety of required courses also felt like they would equip me with a solid foundation.
CCI: What is your typical day like as the College Archivist at St. Mary’s College of Maryland?
SM: During the semester, most of my time is dedicated towards planning for and teaching information literacy or archives class sessions, working with faculty in my liaison areas, helping students with research questions, and assisting patrons (in and outside the College community) with access to the Archives. I accession donations when they come in, although they rarely get fully processed right away. Sometimes there’s a lull in work during the semester that lets me work on larger projects, but most must wait until I’m outside the semester. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s usually necessary to pause during the semester, so you don’t end up drowning in work—especially as a lone arranger with instruction duties.
The summer (and, to a lesser extent, winter) break is when the large projects get done. This usually means that every day is different, depending on what I hope to get done. When possible, I’ll block out full days to work on one project. Others will be filled with meetings or dedicated to catching up on research requests. With my new position, I will also be able to focus more on scholarship, so blocking out time for that is also very important.
Every day brings a new challenge. The most important advice I could give in balancing this is finding an organizational system that lets you keep track of everything you need to. As a College Archivist, I’m balancing a lot of different tasks and responsibilities. Without organizational tools (for me, it’s a mix of Obsidian and a physical notebook), there’s no way I could ever keep track of everything.
CCI: How do you feel your degree prepared you for your role?
SM: My degree was instrumental in giving me a broad overview of what Library Science has to offer. Even though I was already working in an archive by the time I started at Drexel, I did not have any of the theoretical knowledge I needed to excel in the field. The core courses did a very good job at establishing the foundational knowledge that I could build on in my electives. The electives and upper-level courses were also great places to further develop my own specializations and interests. Even in cases where there were skills I did not get directly from courses, Drexel gave me the ability to identify the information I was missing and find resources that could help fill those gaps.
CCI: Is there a particular class, project or professor from your degree program that has influenced your approach to your work?
"My degree was instrumental in giving me a broad overview of what Library Science has to offer."
SM: The Archives courses I took with Dr. Poole were very influential in building my understanding of archives best practices and scholarship. I was lucky enough to have a job as a student worker in Millersville University’s Archives, which gave me quite a lot of practical experience even before I started my degree at Drexel. However, almost all of that experience was in the day-to-day of processing collections. Dr. Poole’s courses gave me an outlet to learn and formulate my own opinions on the more well-known concepts and literature in the field. Particularly when working on research projects, I came across articles that were fundamental to my development as an archivist.
CCI: What specific skills and knowledge did you gain from your capstone project that has been most valuable in your career so far?
SM: Probably the most important skill I gained from my capstone project has been how to write documentation for people who aren’t in the Library Science world. Because it would be students who’d be using the guide I created, I needed to make sure it used language that was easy to follow, even if it was a student’s first time using ArchivesSpace. Most people also aren’t familiar with Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) unless they’re in the field, so communicating why each piece of information is needed was very important. When we think about educating people on why libraries and archives are so important, we have to remember that most aren’t familiar with what’s happening behind the scenes. Advocacy is such a valuable skill, both externally and within the organizations you work for. The first step in doing that well is to distinguish what’s common knowledge and what information seems common to you as someone who’s “in the know.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.