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Exxon Mobile Cataloging and Collection Management Summer Intern
The Museum of Printing History (MPH) seeks a talented and motivated undergraduate student who would like to join our team as a paid summer intern and gain hands-on experience in a museum environment. Under the supervision of the museum curator, the collection management intern will be responsible for cataloging works in the museum collection, consisting of fine art prints, historical books and periodicals, as well as tools and equipment significant to printing history. However, as a full-time staff member of a small non-profit organization, the intern will be integral to the daily function and operation of the museum. S/he will learn about museum policies, procedures and practices and gain insight into to how a non-profit collection is created and developed. Through access to museum staff, patrons, donors, exhibitions, and on-site studio workshops, the intern will gain a broader understanding of cultural production and preservation, as well as learn how historical artifacts relate to contemporary culture and practices. This position presents an exceptional opportunity for a student who is considering a graduate degree in museum studies or library science to gain valuable professional experience.
The Cataloging and Collection Management Intern will:
1. Learn about the museum’s collection and how it advances the larger institutional mission
2. Become familiar with the MPH Collection Management Policy, which outlines proper documentation procedures and practices
3. Create physical (paper) files for each object in the collection
4. Create corresponding digital files for each object in PastPerfect (the museum’s collection management database), including taking digital photographs
5. Conduct basic research on objects in the collection
6. Learn about professional organizations, such as the American Alliance of Museums
7. Learn about a small, non-profit organization in the arts and how the MPH contributes to broader Houston community
Required Skills:
• The intern must be detail oriented
• The intern must respect the confidentiality of donor files and other museum records
• The intern must possess superb time management skills and be responsible for managing his/her own work flow
• The intern must maintain a professional attitude and appearance
Desired Skills:
• Awareness of proper physical handling of a variety of museum objects, including rare books, prints, and works on paper
• Awareness of basic collections management and basic cataloging procedures
• Awareness of collection management databases or library cataloging systems
• Awareness of archival materials for object storage
Eligibility Requirements:
• The intern must be a currently enrolled, full-time (minimum of 12 hours), undergraduate having completed at least their freshman year.
• The intern must be returning to school in the fall of 2013 as a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior. (Graduate students are not eligible).
• The intern must not be related to any employee or permanent contractor of ExxonMobil.
• The intern must not be related to any employee, volunteer, contributor, or board member of the Museum of Printing History.
Salary: $2750 total for 8 week internship; paid bi-weekly
Hours: 35 hours per week (Monday -Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm)
Dates: 8 consecutive weeks, between June 3, 2013 - August 30, 2013
Supervisor: Keelin Burrows, Curator, kburrows@printingmuseum.org
The Museum of Printing History displays a dynamic collection of historical documents, fine art prints, and antique printing equipment. Artifacts in the collection range in time from humanity's earliest writing through the twenty-first century. The collection reflects the beginning of printing in Europe with Gutenberg's invention of movable type, and illustrates printing of the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, and beyond. The Museum contains exhibit spaces devoted to American Colonial printed documents and examples of early Texas printing. In addition, the Museum contains four galleries which present original, rotating exhibitions upon a wide range of topics. The Museum of Printing History features printmaking and letterpress workshops, a papermaking shop, and a book bindery.
To Apply:
Please send a current resume and a letter of interest to Keelin Burrows, MPH Curator at kburrows@printingmuseum.org (no phone calls please). Applications will be accepted until position is filled. No applications will be accepted after Friday, March 22, 2013 at 5:00 P.M. CST.
Your letter of interest should address the following questions:
What interests you about the Museum of Printing History?
How do you think the Cataloging and Collection Management Internship at the Museum of Printing History could help you work toward your academic and career goals?
If selected for a phone or in-person interview, prospective interns shall be prepared to provide the contact information for 2 references and official verification of enrollment. Final decisions will be made by Friday, April 12, 2013.
Please address all questions to Keelin Burrows, MPH Curator at kburrows@printingmuseum.org (no phone calls please).
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