Museum Handbook Outline and Job Description for a Mill Museum Curator.
What is the Museum Handbook? It is a reference guide on how to manage, preserve, document, access and use museum collections. There are five parts to a Museum Handbook: Part 1, Museum Collections. Part 2, Museum Records. Part 3, Museum Collections Use. Part 4, Museum Collections Plan. Part 5, Appendices. The Museum Handbook, Part 1, Museum Collections. It focuses on standards and procedures of preventive care for museum collections with information on: 1. Museums and collections. 2.Scope of museum collections 3. Preservation and conservation. 4. Museum collections environment. 5. Biological infestations. 6. Emergency planning. 7. Handling and shipping objects. 8. Integrated pest management. 9. Conservation treatment 10. Security, flood, and fire protection. 11. Storage buildings, equipment and techniques. 12. Curatorial health and safety. 13. Programming, funding, and staffing. 14. Museum housekeeping. It also includes numerous appendices on techniques for the preservation of specific types of materials found in museum collections including: 1. Archeological objects. 2. Cellulose nitrate film. 3. Ceramics, glass and stone. 4. Leather and skin objects. 5. Metal objects. 6. Paintings. 7. Paper objects. 8. Photo collections. 9. Textiles. 10. Wooden objects. The Museum Handbook, Part 2, Museum Record. It provides guidance on documentation and accountability for the following types of objects: 1. Archeology. 2. Ethnography. 3. History. 4. Archival and manuscript collections. 5. Biology. 6. Geology. 7. Paleontology. It should address the following topics: 1. Accessioning. 2. Cataloging. 3. Inventorying. 4. Marking objects. 5. Record photography. 6. Incoming and outgoing loans. 7. Deaccessioning. The Museum Handbook, Part 3, Museum Collections Use. it should address the following topics: 1. Evaluating and documenting museum collections use. 2. Legal issues. 3. Publications. 4. 2-Dimensional reproductions. 5. 3-Dimensional reproductions. 6. Special uses of museum collections. 7. Using museum objects in exhibits. 8. Using museum objects in demonstrations. 9. Furnished historic structures. 10. Research. 11. Guidance for planning research space. 12. Reference interview process. The Museum Handbook, Part 4, Museum Collections Plan. it should address the following topics: 1. Long-range collections development plan. 2. Security and safety procedures for collection. 3. Collection goals: That can be done with the current resources. 4. Collection goals: That can be done with funding and staff. 5. Collection goals: That can be done with a lead gift, staff growth, restoration of the faculty, and new technology initiatives. The Museum Handbook, Part 5, Appendices. it should address the following topics: 1. Mandates and standards for museum collections. 2. Accreditation. 3. Professional organizations and societies. 4. Code of ethics. 5. Scope of collection statement. 6. Museum collections management checklists. 7. Protection of museum collections. 8. Curatorial health and safety. 9. Curatorial care of archeological objects. 10. Curatorial care of paper objects. 11. Curatorial care of textile objects. 12. Curatorial care of easel paintings. 13. Management of cellulose nitrate and cellulose film. 14. Curatorial care of wooden objects. 15. Curatorial care of metal objects. 16. Curatorial care of ceramic, glass, and stone objects. 17. Curatorial care of natural history collections. 18. Curatorial care of photographic collections. 19. Curatorial care of objects made from leather and skin products. 20. Curatorial care of organic samples.
Purpose: To actively support and uphold the mill's stated mission and values. To perform educational programming; exhibition planning and installation, collections management, and preservation for the historical mill museum. Summary: Performs coordinating role for the museum activity, such as collection management. Performs a wide range of advanced curatorial and administrative duties, requiring specialized knowledge of the collection. Oversees day to day workload and in absence of a Regional or Head Curator. Under general supervision, accomplishes most tasks independently, keeping supervisor informed of progress and problems. Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives direction from the Museum Administrator or from other supervisory or management staff. Examples of Duties: This class specification is intended to indicate the basic nature of positions allocated to the class and examples of typical duties that may be assigned. It does not imply that all positions within the class perform all of the duties listed, nor does it necessarily list all possible duties that may be assigned. Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Plan, organize and coordinate various changing and permanent exhibits and other special events in the city museum and other municipal buildings; schedule changing exhibits. 2. Receive historical photographs, artifacts and archives for the museum collection; make recommendations for collections; present recommendations to the Accessions Committee regarding potential donations, select collections for exhibits. 3. Plan; develop and implement primary themes for educational programs and displays for the general public, coordinate themes with museum exhibits to enhance museum focus as a community resource, promote special events, exhibit openings, and other public programs. 4. Catalog and provide detailed descriptions of historical artifacts; photographs and archives enter information into computer for future reference and inventory, maintain and update new information as received. 5. Preserve and expand the museum's research base; ensure research base accessibility to the public and other professionals, oversee organization of research library, assist staff and patrons in use of research library. 6. Determine and order proper preservation storage equipment and/or supplies for all artifacts, photographs, and archives; maintain proper storage conditions for all artifacts, photographs, and archives; assist in the management, maintenance and conservation care for the artifacts' physical state in collections, storage, museum and Museum proper; recommend, design and fabricate physical support, mounts and archival housings for materials; plan and supervise a collections maintenance schedule. 7. Participate in the formulation of policies and procedures relating to the operations of the Historical Museum. 8. Participate in the budget process and monitor expenses. 9. Supervise, train and evaluate assigned volunteers and staff. 10. Perform related duties as assigned. Typical Duties: 1. Maintains and organizes the collection. 2. Works with Curator in developing exhibits; may participate in curation, collecting specimens, collections management, preparation for a specialized collection or related publications. Coordinates movement, storage, and handling of collection in keeping with standard professional practices and procedures. 3. Assists in planning for growth of the collection, as well as its care and preservation. Processes acquisitions in keeping with museum policy and space availability. 4. Serves as an initial source of specialized information in a museum function, collection, or facility. 5. Advises visiting scholars, faculty, staff, students, colleagues, and general public in use or handling the collection. Facilitates use of collection by visitors and through loans and exchanges. 6. Responds to technical inquiries by phone and in person. May compose correspondence related to inquiries 7. Performs research: searches local and national databases for information pertaining to materials and objects. 8. Develops and updates record keeping systems. Utilizes collections management database to create or maintain records. 9. Oversees work flow, schedules and trains other support staff, students, interns, casual employees, and volunteers. Assists with hiring process. 10. May compile information used in preparation of grant proposals and publications. 11. May plan and deliver gallery talks, conduct object handling training and/or assistant training on selected topics. 12. May perform translation assignments. Experience and Training Guidelines: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Experience: Two years of increasingly responsible professional museum curatorial experience. Typical Education Requirements: B.A., B.F.A. in specialty area or equivalent work experience required. Master's degree may be preferred. Maximum Skills and Experience: Five or more years of related experience required with broad knowledge of curatorial methods and techniques. Skills and knowledge of the history of flour milling and a working understanding of its machinery. Familiarity with collection specialization, knowledge of issues of handling, storage, and preservation of collection. Knowledge of computer applications and literature relating to particular collection. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team. Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to set/adjust priorities, and manage multiple tasks. Team leadership and customer service skills. May require fluency in one or more foreign languages. A foreign language may be important to translate records, journals and first-hand accounts written in a person's native language and to do research in their country of origin. But the lack of being knowing a foreign language should not be used to disqualify someone from selection of the position. Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in fine arts, history or a related field. Licenses and Certifications: May require the possession of, or the ability to obtain an appropriate valid state driver's license. Job Code: Salary Range: Compensation Plan:
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