Museum Technician

NPS UNIT: William H. Taft National Historic Site

LOCATION: Cincinnati, OH

Museum Technician: Identifies, independently sorts, and classifies objects that are similar to previously identified objects. Catalogs museum objects and enters cataloging data into the designated NPS catalog program. Handles, cleans, stores, and labels objects in the permanent collection. Performs routine cleaning, stabilization, or preservation of artifacts whose treatment does not require a high degree of specialization. Makes recommendations for the care of museum collections. Implements housekeeping schedules and oversees the housekeeping work of other museum or maintenance staff. Provides daily and cyclical cleaning and monitoring of artifacts in accordance with standard operating procedures. Reports object deterioration, damage, movement, or theft to the supervisor. Cleans and monitors public areas, exhibition spaces, and artifact storage areas. Processes incoming and outgoing loans in accordance with NPS standards for insurance, security, and environment. Ensures proper handling, exhibition, packing, and return of loan objects. Ensures that all loan agreements, renewal forms, insurance certificates, shipping papers, and related documentation are completed and properly signed.

Maintains museum records, including accession, catalog, and loan records, in accordance with NPS standards. Completes the accession of new objects and insures that required paperwork and files are complete. Updates standard operating accession procedures as needed and instructs other staff and volunteers in their use. Conducts or assists others to conduct the annual inventory of museum collections and contributes as required to the annual Collections Management Report. Monitors the environment of the collection storage and exhibit areas by keeping records on temperature, relative humidity, and pest infestation. Compiles climate data into summaries, charts, and reports. Maintains the condition of the storage room monitoring equipment. Reports on the physical conditions of storage and exhibit areas, and keeps track of museum supplies and equipment needed for the operation of environmental monitoring equipment and the care of the museum collection. Assists with the design, installation, repair, and rehabilitation of exhibits. Serves as team member, and at times a team leader, on curatorial projects such as the elimination of cataloging backlogs; organization of photograph and archival collections; production of finding aids and location guides; photo documentation of collections; and the reorganization of storage areas. Recommends appropriate methodology and procedures to accomplish projects. Instructs others in appropriate techniques and procedures. Monitors day-to-day work on projects. Prepares progress reports for the supervisor.

Park Guide: Present a wide variety of formal and informal interpretive and educational experiences using a range of interpretive skills, techniques, and tools delivered in person and through interpretive media and technology. Staff the visitor center, providing information, orientation, and assistance to visitors. Present formal programs such as guided hikes, talks, living history programs, guided tours, demonstrations, evening programs, and virtual interactions.

The park superintendent and friend's group board members have identifies a high level priority - updating and digitizing the site's collections paperwork. Successful completion of this project is crucial because the park is engaged in an exhibit redesign project; digitizing our possessions will make it easier to recommend and actively rotate new and rotating exhibits for the foreseeable future.

With support from the director of operations, historian and museum tech (at neighboring park sites), the intern will be responsible for organizing our hard copy records and creating/compiling this information into a digital database. Responsibilities will also include photographing the park's collection of artifacts, creating social media content, contributing to the re-design project with thoughtful comments, suggestions and critiques, and providing updates to the friend's group board members.

Additional responsibilities will include providing visitor services by staffing the front desk, greeting visitors, and providing tours of the historic birth home of William Howard Taft.

Learning Goals:

The intern(s) will learn the inner workings of a cultural national park site, and park partnerships. There will also be opportunities to learn formal and informal interpretive techniques.

Apply by creating/using an account

Quick Apply