You need to be able to show them the benefit of their tax dollars at  
work. As part of a Museum Assessment Program a couple of years ago, we  
conducted several surveys that overwhelmingly showed members of our  
community wanted us to do more programming for young people. With that  
data, plus data on the number of tourists we bring to town and how we  
could increase our membership and sustainability with the position, we  
were able to convince the county council to give us additional money  
for a part-time educator this year. Our situation is a little  
different in that we contract with the county to run the museum, and  
the contract provides for about 1/3 of our budget. Still, if you can  
show your political leaders a cost-benefit analysis, it helps your  
cause. Good luck!

Heather McClenahan, museum assistant/web master
Los Alamos Historical Society
http://www.losalamoshistory.org
[log in to unmask]
PO Box 43
1050 Bathtub Row
Los Alamos, NM 87544
505-662-6272 (office)
505-470-2912 (cell)


Quoting Ellen Ryan <[log in to unmask]>:

> Have you or the museum considered looking into any grant funding that might
> be available to cover such a position?
>
> Ellen
>
> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 11:45 PM, James Schulte   
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
>> Good luck trying to convince them. With the economy the way it is many
>> governmental services are shutting down, shortening hours, or trying to
>> privatize their museums. Convincing them in a tight economy might get you,
>> "it's nice to see you enjoy volunteering" Volunteers are free man hours and
>> no slash in budget except for GOF, so if it has been successful they aren't
>> going to change their style of thinking at all. I do wish you the best of
>> luck however.
>> Jim
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Andrea L
>> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:56 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Approaching City/Board about hiring a curator for the local museum
>>
>> Greetings all,
>>
>> I have just moved to a new town last week and seeking employment at the
>> local museum (I am educated and experienced in museum management). After
>> speaking with the staff I learned that the museum is 100% volunteer run and
>> does not have a curator or paid museum professional.
>>
>> As the museum could use the hand of a knowledgeable and skilled museum
>> worker I am thinking of approaching the Board and Town informing them of my
>> capabilities and what I can do for their community. The museum could
>> certainly use some smaller updates: fresh displays, typed labels, lightly
>> cleaned artifacts; as well as some larger projects, such as transferring
>> the
>> catalog to an electronic database.
>>
>> I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or has done anything like this
>> before and how they went about it? How can I convince the Town that an
>> investment in myself and the museum is worthwhile?
>>
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