Keely,
 
I'd second the recommendations of other posters about a "cataloging bible" - what we would call a "best practices" document.   The document should identify not only how to use your database system but establish some standards for data entry, (such as dates, order of names, abbreviations, etc.) .  While your volunteers are beginners and need some training wheels the language shouldn't be all "DON'T DO THIS, DON"T DO THAT"  Spell how how things should be done and provide examples.  Also explain in your training WHY things need to be done a certain way and what the benefits are of consistency and following the best practices.  
 
In your considerations for digital photography see the CDP's Western States Digital Imaging Best Practices www.cdpheritage.org/resource/scanning/
 
Also the UK's Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI) has a nice collections of materials about how to use digital cameras for capturing museum collection.
www.tasi.ac.uk
 
A few museums here in Colorado have also created "volunteer contracts"  if a museum is going to invest time and money training you for certain tasks they ask for a returned commitment from you. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard Urban
Operations Coordinator
Colorado Digitization Program

http://www.cdpheritage.org
[log in to unmask]
(303) 871-2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Keely Rennie-Tucker
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 9:08 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Training volunteers to catalog - advice needed

Hello list members,
 
I am going to put together a training session on cataloging for some of the volunteers at  our museum.  What are some of the more important lessons that were learned in your experiences with this?  Are there things I should watch out for?  How long does a project like this take?
 
The goal is to have a collection of over 4,000 objects digitally photographed, cataloged and researched by the end of the year.  My gut reaction is that it can't be done in that small amount of time even with regular, dedicated volunteers. Since I have not taken on a project this immense as yet in my career, I am needing some advice and guidance on how start this project and what to expect.  I will have a part-time intern for a couple months during the summer and 3-4 volunteers that come in anywhere between 3-12 hours per week. 
 
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
 
Sincerely,
 
Keely Rennie-Tucker
Curator
Union Pacific Railroad Museum

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