Archivists, Curators and Museum Workers

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Duties

Archivists usually perform the following:

• An evaluation of historical papers, archives, and other archival resources.
• Maintain and preserve records and other artifacts.
• Maintain and preserve electronic records by creating and managing a system for doing so.
• Archival items should be organized and classified.
• Film and digital copies can be made to protect important documents.
• Display and preserve artifacts with the aid of employees.
• Implement guidelines for public access to resources.
• Their archives need to be updated with new materials.

Museum curators, museum technicians, and conservators usually perform the following tasks:

• Collect, store, and display artifacts.
• Themes and designs for displays can be chosen.
• Organize and lead public tours and seminars.
• Attend public meetings and activities to raise awareness of their organization.
• Ancient artifacts such as tools, coins, and sculptures can be cleaned.
• Curators, technicians, and students are all under your command and supervision.
• Organize and carry out research initiatives of your own design.

An archivist is a person who is responsible for preserving valuable or historic papers and data. Public outreach initiatives, such as talks or tours, are organized by them. They may also collaborate with scholars on related themes and things.

This specialization is done so that they may better grasp the documents from the relevant historical era. In most cases, archivists deal with specialized types of material, such as manuscripts, electronic records, and websites as well as photographs, maps, moving images and sound recordings.

The purchase, storage, and presentation of museum collections are overseen by curators, who may also be museum directors. Purchasing, selling, exchanging, and lending of collections is what they do. The artifacts in a collection may also be researched for authenticity, evaluated, and categorized by the curators.

Curators are typically involved in the administration of their institution's research initiatives and teaching initiatives. At public events and professional conferences, they can represent their university in the media and in person.

Some curators in major institutions may focus on a particular subject, such as botany, art, or history, for instance. A big natural history museum, for instance, would have curators in charge of its bird, fish, and animal collections.

A single curator may be responsible for everything from maintaining the museum's collection to supervising the museum's operations in smaller institutions.

Collections experts and preparators are some of the most common job titles for museum techs, who also go by registrars and preparators.

It is the job of museum preparators to ensure that artifacts in the collection are ready for exhibition or long-term storage. They may, for instance, create frames and matting for artwork or attach mounts to hold things. This includes creating exhibit cases and ensuring that exhibits are properly illuminated. Transportation and preparation of things for transportation are also part of their job description.

They handle the purchases, insurance policies, risk management and loaning of artefacts for exhibition or study. When an object is on exhibit, in storage, or in route to another museum, it is meticulously documented. In addition, they safeguard and retain any accompanying paperwork.

These employees can also answer visitors' queries and assist museum curators and researchers from other institutions in using the museum's resources.

Artifacts, specimens, and works of art are handled, preserved, treated, and documented by conservators. In-depth historical, scientific, and archaeological study is possible. In order to preserve or repair objects, they document their results and provide treatment. Documents and books, artworks, and textiles are common areas of concentration for conservators.

It is not uncommon for conservators to employ laboratory equipment and procedures such as x-rays to analyze and identify the state of artifacts before deciding how to conserve them. In addition, they may take part in educational initiatives, conduct in-depth research, and publish for academic publications in their fields of expertise.

Education

Archivists. A master's degree in history, library science, archive studies, political science, or public administration is often required for archivists to work in the field. In order to get useful archiving experience, students might volunteer or intern.

Curators. A master's degree in art history, history, archaeology, or museum studies is often required for curators. Applicants with a bachelor's degree may be eligible for curator posts in smaller institutions. Courses in business administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising are suggested for curators because of their administrative and management duties.

Technicians at the museum. A bachelor's degree in museum studies or a related discipline, such as archaeology, art history, or history, is often required for museum technicians. Museum studies master's degrees are required for several positions. Museums may also favor applicants who are familiar with the museum's specialty or have previous museum employment experience.

Conservators. The majority of conservators require a master's degree in conservation or a related subject to practice. Internships are required in the last year of most graduate programs, which can be anywhere from two to four years long. Archaeology, art history, chemistry, or studio art are required prerequisites for admission to these programs. A conservation internship completed as a college student may improve an applicant's chances of admission to a graduate conservation program.

Registration, Certification, and Licensing

Voluntary certification is an option for archivists who want to show their competence in a particular subject but is not required by most companies.

Academy of Certified Archivists offers a certification for Certified Archivists. A master's degree, professional experience in archive work, and passing an exam are often required for certification. Retaking the test or completing continuing education credits is required to keep their certification current.

Experiential Learning

Candidates may have to work part-time, as an intern, or as a volunteer while they are in school or thereafter in order to gather experience. For full-time roles, you'll need a strong background in collection administration, research, display design, or restoration, as well as database management abilities.

Advancement

Archives, historical, and museum organizations offer educational events such as conferences and seminars to keep members up to date on the latest developments in their fields. Some big institutions, such as the US National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, DC, provide in-house training programs.

The best jobs in museums are in high demand. Large institutions place a high value on original research and the publication of one's findings. Additionally, a PhD degree may be required for some high-level employment.

In smaller museums, museum staff may have less prospects for advancement. They often go to a larger institution with management responsibilities in order to progress.

Qualities that are critical to success

Ability to think critically. To learn about the origin, history, and significance of the items they work with, archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators must delve into the smallest of details.

Competencies in providing excellent customer service. It is common for archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators to interact with members of the general public. 

Dedicated to accuracy and precision. As archivists and museum technicians, we need people who can concentrate on details since we utilize and construct complicated databases relating to the resources we archive and have at our disposal."

The ability to manage one's time effectively. A variety of specialists in document storage and retrieval work in museums and archives. They also need to come up with a way for the public to access their data.

Pay

Workers at museums and archives made an average of $52,140 per year as of May 2020, according to the BLS. When half of an occupation's workforce earns more than the median wage, the wage is referred to as the "median." Between the bottom 10% and the top 10% of earners, there was a wide disparity in income.

Job Projections

Museum and archival jobs are expected to grow at a substantially greater rate than the average for all occupations, by 19% between 2020 and 2030.