Stephen Bacchetta MI’20 is a records manager and digital archivist for Seton Hall University. He offers this candid view of his post-undergraduate experiences with SC&I. Thank you, Stephen!

SC&I: What led you to the MI program?

SB: I graduated from Montclair State University with a B.A. in English in 2015 and didn’t know what I wanted to do. I found a job in the telecommunications industry, but as I came up on my third anniversary in the field, I decided it was time to make a change. I had saved up some money in case I decided to return to school, so I started looking at different programs in a few other areas around the country. I came across the Master of Information degree offered at Rutgers and felt an immediate connection to the Archives and Preservation concentration. I thought that this degree would put me on track to find a job that I could do, that I’d be good at, and, most importantly, that I’d enjoy. I applied and was accepted to start in the fall of 2018. I chose to go the hybrid route, taking two courses online and one in person each semester, which helped me maintain my work and social life while studying for my master’s.

SC&I: Tell us about your mid-program internship and first job after receiving your MI.

SB: In the summer of 2019, I was fortunate enough to work as an archives intern at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, the former home of Frank Lloyd Wright. I was tasked with processing a collection of architectural projects, and it was my first real-world experience in the industry. I loved every minute of it—I learned so much, and it helped me realize that I’d made the right choice to go back to school and pursue a career I was passionate about. I graduated summa cum laude in May 2020, which obviously wasn’t the best time to be looking for a job! It took a while, but I eventually secured a reference librarian position at Morris County Library in Whippany, N.J. I wasn’t exactly doing the sort of work I was hoping to find, but I knew I would get invaluable experience in the field that I could take with me wherever I went.

SC&I: Tell us about your current position as a records manager and digital archivist at Seton Hall.

SB: I’ve been in my current position since February 2021. As the records manager for the university, I manage the storage and security of records from departments around campus that must be retained for operational, historical, and legal reasons. In my archival role, I help support the departmental initiative of making our digital objects accessible to the public by working with our collection management system and digital preservation software. I’m thrilled to have found a job doing exactly what I went back to school for. Working with archival collections, digital assets, and the essential records that make my institution operate properly is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

SC&I: We’re thrilled to hear that! How did the MI program prepare you?

SB: It’s hard to pick just a few classes I took over my two years in the MI program that had an impact on my future in the field. While I enjoyed my time as a hybrid student and learned a lot from my online courses, nothing compared to the in-person sessions I attended while earning my degree. These courses were among my favorites: “Organizing Information” with Associate Professor of Library and Information Science Nina Wacholder, “Manuscripts & Archives” with part-time faculty member and Assistant University Librarian for Special Collections Technical Services Alexis Antracoli, and “Preservation of Library and Archival Materials” with part-time faculty member Evelyn Frangakis. I enjoyed face-to-face interactions with professionals in the industry, great group discussions, and hands-on projects that I completed, both individually and as part of a unit. As for my online classes, I found the practical courses especially helpful. “Records Management” with part-time faculty member and Assistant Director of Records Management for Rutgers University Stephen Dalina prepared me for my current role at Seton Hall. And, despite my interests leaning more towards the archival side of the program, I learned much in “Cataloging & Classification” with part-time faculty member Jacquie Samples. 

SC&I: What advice do you have for current or prospective students?

SB: Take advantage of your chance to secure a for-credit internship! There are many great courses and professors you’ll have throughout your time in the MI program, but nothing will prepare you for a career in the information sciences like an internship. You’ll get to experience first-hand how an institution handles real issues and workflows regarding the day-to-day operations of an archive or library. The knowledge you’ll gain and the contacts you’ll make during an internship are unmatched and will help guide you as you find your place in this field.

Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Bacchetta MI’20