Anyone know anything about archives?

[MentalSarcasm]

Okay, bit of a long shot, but does anyone know anything about how to get in to archive work?

Everything I've read so far indicates that I need an MA in Record Keeping or Record Conservation or something, and I'm already spending a lot of time and money on my MA in Ancient History so I really don't want to have to do another MA.

Would the alternative route be getting work experience whenever and wherever possible? I've found quite a few places that offer paid and unpaid work experience (including my own university!), but I don't want to spend 5 years wandering between work experience jobs if I'm not going to get anything out of it.

Can anyone help?

[threesixty]

I think work experience would be the right route, rather than another expensive and highly specialised degree.

My old man supplies materials to archivists and conservators, from experience they seem like quite a cliquey bunch. I'd imagine experience and reputation mean far more to these people.

[MentalSarcasm]

Cheers threesixty! I'm not surprised it's a bit of a clique, you probably get really odd looks when you say you work with dusty old books and papers all day.