Free Webcasts from the MCN Annual Conference
Posted: October 29, 2009 Filed under: Museum Librarianship, Museums, Opportunities: Professional Development, Professional Associations, Technology, Web 2.0 | Tags: conference, Professional Development, Technology, Webcasts Comments OffInteresting (and FREE!) professional development opportunity:
The Museum Computer Network is pleased to announce that five MCN 2009 sessions will be webcast live, free of charge. MCN 2009 takes place week after next in Portland, Oregon.
The webcasts will be on Thursday and Friday, November 12 and 13. We’ll use Twitter to harvest online questions during Q&A in those sessions, which are:
Museum Data Exchange
Tweets to Sweeten Collaborations for Archives, Libraries, and Museums
Libraries, Archives, and Museums: From Collaboration to Convergence
Ramping Up while Scaling Down: Strategic Innovation in Challenging Times
2009 Conference Roundup Roundtable
http://www.mcn.edu/mcn2009online has more information.
Short URL http://bit.ly/mcn09oL leads to the same page.
Do we need all those databases that librarians love?
Posted: August 3, 2009 Filed under: Academic Librarianship, ALA, ARLIS/NA, ArLiSNAP, Art Librarianship, Libraries: Academic Art & Architecture, Museum Librarianship, Suggestions for Categories, [ Libraries and Collections ] | Tags: Collection ideas Comments OffI am being asked daily if we want to renew databases that in the past it would have been unthinkable to cancel. Now, since I do most all of my own research on medieval pottery in Google et al., I tend to be discerning. For instance, what do you all think about finding auction sale prices? Can it be done in a webbed environment only? In other words, do we need to pay so many subscriptions? thanks, lucie
Forbes: “U.S. museums cutting back due to recession”
Posted: March 15, 2009 Filed under: Job Search, Museum Librarianship, Museums, News 1 Comment »A recent item with some bad news for our art museum colleagues.
“In New York, the Museum of Modern Art implemented a hiring freeze in October and ordered a general operating budget cut of 10 percent. Other major museums in the city declined to discuss whether they had suffered endowment losses or had plans for layoffs or salary cuts.”
Summer Job Opportunity in Calgary
Posted: March 12, 2009 Filed under: Job Search, Museum Librarianship, Opportunities: Job Postings | Tags: art, Calgary, Resource Centre, Summer Comments OffResource Centre Assistant ($10/hr x 14 weeks x 30 hours a week)
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Start Date: May 5, 2009
End Date: August 4, 2009
The New Gallery’s Resource Centre is seeking applications for a temporary Resource Centre Assistant. Candidates should be undergraduate students returning to studies in the fall, although people with plans to enroll in future studies or recent graduates are also welcome to apply. Candidates should be enrolled in fine art, art history, museum and heritage studies, information management, library science, communications, or another related field. Candidates should have an interest in the arts, artist-run culture and information management. Good research skills, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain focus while undertaking repetitive tasks are essential. Candidates will be working under the direction of the Resource Centre Coordinator. Some training will be provided.
The role of the Resource Centre Assistant is to help the Resource Centre Coodinator in the organization and digitization of archival and Resource Centre material.
Basic responsibilities include:
- Creating electronic records for digital images
- Creating electronic records for Resource Centre periodicals, catalogues and books
- Scanning slides and photographs to create digital images
- Digital image editing
- Copyright research
- Biographical research for artists
- Sorting and organizing artist files
- Adding keywords to existing records
- Creating a distribution list for current publications
- Responding to public inquiries about the Resource Centre and its contents
About the Resource Centre and Virtual Archive:
Since its inception, The New Gallery has subscribed to current arts periodicals and collected catalogues through exchange programs with other artist-run centres and galleries. Our long history has allowed us to develop a unique collection of material with a focus on emerging Canadian artists and artist-run culture.
In addition to published materials, TNG keeps files on artists and groups who have shown in the gallery in the past 10 years. These files include artist statements and CVs, descriptions of exhibitions, and published reviews.
TNG’s collection of publications and artist files provides the content of our Resource Centre. Although smaller than other institutional libraries, we have over 3000 books and periodicals to inspire and educate researchers, students and the general public.
TNG also maintains a virtual archive containing digital representations of historical material related to TNG. The archive includes images from exhibitions, as well as press releases, posters and other items related to the gallery’s history.
TNG uses open source software called CollectiveAccess to keep track of items in the Resource Centre and virtual archive.
About the New Gallery:
Established in 1975, The New Gallery is an active artist-run centre for the presentation and promotion of contemporary art in Calgary. Through exhibitions, performances, discussions and educational resources, The New Gallery stimulates critical discourse, recognizes diversity, develops collaborative networks and promotes a public appreciation of current art practices.
Application:
Review of applications will begin on April 13, 2009.
The letter of application should address the responsibilities, qualifications, and experiences listed for the position. Your letter, CV, and the names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of three professional references may be sent
(1) via email to info@thenewgallery.org (preferred method of receipt)
or (2) faxed to Jessica McCarrel, 403- 290-2399 ,
or (3) mailed to
Jessica McCarrel
The New Gallery
PO Box 22451
Bankers Hall RPO
Calgary, AB T2P 5G7
An Equal Opportunity Employer, TNG’s Resource Centre is interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who are representative of the province’s diversity.
For more information about the Resource Centre, see thenewgallery.org/research , and about the The New Gallery, http://www.newgallery.org/about.
Position subject to funding
Student Position – National Gallery of Art
Posted: October 16, 2007 Filed under: Art Librarianship, Museum Librarianship, Opportunities: Job Postings Comments OffNational Gallery of Art Library
Vacancy Announcement
Library Technician (Technical Services)
The National Gallery of Art Library is seeking applicants for two student assistant positions in the Technical Services Department. The primary purpose of these positions is to provide clerical support for acquisitions, cataloging, and technical processing activities.
Duties include unpacking and receiving newly acquired library materials, performing bibliographic searching in local and worldwide library networks, entering cataloging information using a personal computer, producing labels and adding item-level information (barcodes) for cataloged titles, and assisting with the maintenance of departmental manual and automated files.
Applicants should have a familiarity with library technical services procedures and basic descriptive cataloging principles; familiarity with the operation of personal computers; an ability to recognize and transcribe detailed bibliographic information; an ability to type and file accurately; and an ability to work cooperatively with other staff members.
In order to qualify for this position, applicants must be registered at least as a half-time student, and be able to provide certification of student status, including a current class schedule. Work schedules will be determined to accommodate the student’s class schedule and the Library’s work requirements. A typical schedule is 20 hours per week while classes are in session; full-time employment is available during semester and summer breaks. The incumbent earns sick and annual leave based on the amount of hours worked.
Those interested in this position should send a résumé and any inquiries by email to:
Anna M. Rachwald, Technical Services Librarian
National Gallery of Art Library
Telephone: (202) 842-6525
email: am-rachwald@nga.gov
At the Airport – Libraries and Museums in Unexpected Places
Posted: August 9, 2007 Filed under: Alternative Careers, Libraries: Museum Libraries, Museum Librarianship, Museums, [ Suggestions for Improving this Blog ] Comments OffThe San Francisco airport is home to the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library & Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum. The museum and library are “dedicated to commercial aviation and San Francisco International Airport’s role as the ‘Gateway to the Pacific.’”
Over 6,000 books and periodicals have already been catalogued in the library. The museum collections include over 3,000 photographs and documents, and more than 5,400 artifacts have been accessioned. Collection objects are being professionally conserved and researched and will be available for study by digital imaging with on site and on-line access. Collections will also be utilized for Airport exhibitions programming. This facility, with its focus on commercial aviation and emphasis on the Pacific, will provide a unique repository and study center for scholars, the aviation community, and the traveling public.
More info here.
M-LEARN, a new student group at Pratt
Posted: April 30, 2007 Filed under: Museum Librarianship, Museums, News, Student Organizations Comments OffWe are pleased to officially announce M-LEARN, a new Library and Information Studies student group at Pratt.
M-LEARN (Museum Library Education and Research Network) at Pratt Institution’s School of Information and Library Science (SILS) shall promote the professional and social growth of its members and support the School of Information and Library Science at Pratt Institution. It will provide Pratt students with the opportunity to explore issues relating to museum collections, development, maintenance, conservation, and preservation of the humanities, sciences, visual and performing arts. M-Learn will encourage professional networking within the fields of museum librarianship, visual and digital resources, achieves, cultural informatics and arts libraries, and will actively promote involvement in professional activities beyond the classroom through lectures, workshops, visits to local collections, special events, and liaison with regional and national associations and networking with New York City universities, museums, archives, and libraries.
M-Learn endeavors to explore and understand in greater depth museum librarianship in all of its form and function. It is necessary for students who are interested in the field of museum librarianship to have an interest group that will build connection, relationships, and lesions with professionals and organization in this field. The association will provide a vital outlet for the students to address the various issues in Museum Librarianship through network and dialogue. This student association will address the needs of museum libraries and information professionals and support the advancement of the profession, pursuing partnerships with other professional organizations, higher education organizations, and national forums. While advancing the social and professional growth of students, Pratt, and SILS, M-LEARN also offers members the chance to combine practical and theoretical experiences in museum librarianship with that of the collection, preservation, and exhibiting element of museums and libraries.
This association will offer students learning experiences first hand from professionals in the field. The association will prepare Pratt’s students for the upcoming realities in their careers and build relationships with other professionals already active in these fields. We plan to hold monthly meetings as well as monthly events. The aim of these meetings will be to discuss activities, events, plan trips to different museums, achieves, libraries, and have lecturers from various organizations, museums, libraries, and universities to come and speak. In addition, we plan a to create a website to post new, events, links, etc. and we plan to create a blog where students can continue to discuss various issues in Museum Libraries. Moreover, we will encourage students to join regional and national associations. M-Learn will also actively promote open communication between the Pratt community, museum and library communities and other organizations throughout New York City. It is vital to have an organization within Pratt for the students in which they can network, engage in discussions, attend lectures and participate in trips with other professionals in the field of Museum Librarianship.
Since Pratt is the first Masters in Library Science program in North America to offer a Museum Library Certificate, it brings to the forefront the growing commonalities between museum and research libraries evidenced by expanding roles for librarians in education and outreach, digital resources and services, and information systems. Importantly, its curriculum transforms the education of museum librarians by defining the full range of knowledge and skills librarians will need to advance the mission of librarianship in museums, art libraries and cultural institutions. All Pratt students who are interested in Museum Librarianship are welcome to join and assist in the establishment and continuation of this dynamic and vital student organization.
Sincerely,
Nicholas C. Jackson
