Susannah,
I think it really depends on the personal dynamics of your organization.
I have supervised several interns during my 6+ years at my current
museum and have never had any issues (that I know of) between the staff
and the intern.  Granted, mine is an organization of about 80 full and
part-time staff with a large volunteer core (150+).  So we are perhaps
used to having non-staff persons involved with our everyday operations.
My only real issues have been the real variation among the interns skill
sets.  Good luck.

Shoshanna Lansberg
Exhibit Content Coordinator
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
P.O. Box 12874
Austin, TX 78711
Ph. (512) 936-2309
Fx. (512) 936-4699
email:  [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Susannah West
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 10:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: intern-staff relationship

Our museum may be getting an intern next year and I'm wondering about
others' experiences of how staff and interns "get along."  The
requirements
for a tour guide at our museum are not great; hopefully one enjoys
"working
with the public" and has at least a high school diploma, but this isn't
necessary.  (I myself have a masters in natural resources, with an
emphasis
in environmental interpretation and was told when I interviewed that I
was
"overqualified.")  An intern who would be majoring in some aspect of the
museum field would obviously be more knowledgeable, and I wonder if this
might not create friction between him/her and the staff.

Susannah West
John Rankin House
Ripley, Ohio

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