Not really that keen a Mitfordian, rly

[oursin]

O look, they are advertising for an archivist/librarian at Chatsworth (scroll down).

Apart from the minginess of the salary, which is entry-level, not what one pays someone in a management position -

The mention of 'Archivists Emeritus' in the team thicks my blood with cold, after experience with 'Honorary Archivists', who tend to be elderly members of some institution or organisation who like pottering about with its records.

You couldn't pay me enough to do this.

Comments

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

My God, that's beyond mingy. That's about 25% less (allowing for inflation) than I was paid at the job where I was told by others that "This is the kind of job where they expect you to be married, preferably to a doctor."

[nineveh_uk]

You were the librarian at the Chalet School?

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

They probably wouldn't have paid at all for that! By the way, speaking of the Chalet School, looky what I found in Geoffrey Trease's memoir, _A Whiff of Burnt Boats_: "I can see them now. Else, a plump fraulein from the Ruhr, and keen-eyed humourous Knappett (always known by her surname) who wore her hair in the then-fashionable headphone coils, and used to join Else in singing sweet German songs in the firelight ..." Now is that not Jo to the life? This would be the late 20s, I think.

[mme_hardy]

I remember those headphone coils. There's a memorable moment in Belles on their Toes, sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen, where they are called "cootie garages" by the eldest sisters, who were forced by their conservative father to wear the outdated hairstyle. One sister of course bobs her hair and comes home, pointing out to the outraged father that there's no way to put the hair back.

I think I was looking at the wrong salary

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I must have been looking at the 16,500 or the 18,000 one. Once put through the currency and inflation calculations, 24,000 pounds is a tiny bit more than I made at the "you should marry a doctor" place (which I will say was otherwise a wonderful job and had very good benefits). So, still mingy, but not as eye-poppingly so.

Re: I think I was looking at the wrong salary

[oursin]

It's low for a job with some management responsibility, according to the recommendations on the Archives and Records Association website (which I happened to be looking at recently as I was doing an estimate for a potential contract archivist post).

Re: I think I was looking at the wrong salary

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

Oh, no question.

[antisoppist]

I like the 16 grand a year for weekly clock winding and the annual cleaning of garden statuary one. Though suspect that there must be more to it than that. Or possibly rather a lot of clocks.

[girlyswot]

I will admit that I was rather tempted to apply for that one too.

Also, I have forwarded the link to a friend of mine who has been applying for librarian jobs for over 18 months. He has a part-time job now but really needs a full-time job soon. It may not be brilliantly paid but it's better than nothing in the current job market. He's got an interview for a similar job at Longleat next week (I really, really wanted it to involve part-time lion-keeping duties, but apparently not).

[mme_hardy]

*Two* Archivists Emeritus? Oy *vey*. I bet that at least one is an old family retainer (possibly a distant relative) who will hold an automatic veto over anything he (she unlikely, I suspect) dislikes, and who will dislike any change.

And wow, is that a meager salary. Perhaps it's priced as a sinecure to stash a young relative or connection until she marries?

[oursin]

My colleague with whom I was discussing it suggested that maybe one got a room in the servants' quarters or a flat over the stables as part of the deal, but I can't see anything to indicate that accommodation would be included.

[ethelmay.livejournal.com]

I dare say one could find someplace to stash a sleeping bag. That place is *large*.