First, I'd love to have 20 interns vying to be here - but you don't actually
need to love history to work at a museum, an appreciation, yes. You only
have to love your job! The majority of the interns at the Buggy Museum were
not history majors, nor were they planning to enter into the museum field -
but they were still great interns. Interns here choose a project that helps
them educationally and professionally. I had an education major who created
some school programs for us - complete with the correct standards and tests;
something she needed to be able to do for her intended career and something
that was useful for us. Other interns have created exhibits, both large and
small, while one mapped the contents of a building and yet another created a
year's publicity campaign. Not one was a history major and not one went
into the field. Only my most recent intern (a history major who has a
degree in communications) came here with the plan to enter the museum field,
he is still volunteering because he wants to gain more experience. So if
anyone is seeking an employee - I have an intern you need to interview. Has
it been time consuming for me, as a staff of one to oversee interns,
volunteers and the other participants in the programs that we host - you
bet, but for me, it's worth it. If you are pressed for time and don't want
to teach the basics, change your criteria for an internship and specify the
computer skills, etc that you want them to have. Make sure you express this
to all the departments of whatever universities you get intern applicants
and then you may have a more "select" pool to choose from. PS. One of my
interns was a communications major who didn't know what a preposition was
and didn't know how to research. But she learned a few things, managed to
produce a useable product and her parents made a nice monetary donation to
the museum.
Bronwen Anderson-Sanders
Mifflinburg Buggy Museum
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christa McCay" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:09 PM
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Is a love of history enough for interns?
Hello All,
My question is about interns. After having recently interviewing over
20 interns for the summer semester (fyi, we are a staff of 4 and will
have more interns then staff at the Museum this summer), I have begun
to feel that potential interns think that a love of history is enough
to get them a position. Is it really enough?
I have begun to feel that no it?s not. Often times they don?t have
the experience with basic computer programs or with graphic design
programs (mainly exhibits and marketing interns). I understand with
this economy getting an internship and experience is the best for
their resume and for getting a job after college. Also I understand
that people need to start their experience somewhere,but most of these
students don?t want to be in the Museum world when they graduate and
often times assume that they will get to ?play? with cool artifacts
all day. We all know that the truth is, there is a lot of paperwork
involved with maintaining a collection along with data entry, both of
which are not glamorous or very exciting.
I know that our job is to teach interns but like many of us, we are
juggling multiple tasks to make up for the positions that are
currently empty and can?t be filled due to budget. Our teaching and
training time is limited. I do want to have interns with a passion
for history but also a passion to work in Museums. I sometimes feel
like my time was wasted trying to teach and train someone who just
wanted to do this for fun.
I am sorry if this sounds like whining or sour grapes but I would like
to know from others if a love of history is enough?
Sincerely,
Christa McCay, M.H.P.
Registrar
Marietta Museum of History
1 Depot Street, Ste. 200
Marietta, GA 30060
770-794-5726
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