Suzanne Reller, reference/collections librarian in the Archives and Rare Books Library, was among 32 archivists who earned the Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certificate from the Society of American Archivists (SAA) after completing required coursework and passing a comprehensive examination in February.
SAA’s DAS certificate program was developed by experts in the field of digital archives and provides archivists with the information and tools needed to manage the demands of born-digital records.
DAS certificate holders must complete nine courses from four tiers: Foundational, Tactical and Strategic, Tools and Services, and Transformational, and pass the comprehensive examination. DAS certificate holders have the skills to understand the nature of electronic records; define requirements, roles, and responsibilities related to digital archives; formulate strategies for appraising, describing, managing, organizing, and preserving digital archives; plan for new tools and technologies and integrate them into existing functions to appraise, capture, preserve, and provide access to digital collections; curate, store, and retrieve original masters and access copies of digital archives; and provide reliable service related to electronic records and digital archives.
Suzanne joins 31 other new digital archives specialists from diverse organizations and universities, including from such institutions as Washington University in Saint Louis, Virgina Tech, Stanford University, the United States Senate, American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming and many more.
A total of 215 people have earned Digital Archives Specialist certificates since the program began in October 2011. Suzanne joins two others from UC who have earned their Digital Archives Specialist Certificates – Eira Tansey, digital archivist and records manager, and Carolyn Hanson, metadata librarian.
For more information, visit www2.archivists.org/prof-education/das or contact SAA Education Director Solveig De Sutter (sdesutter@archivists.org).