In article <[log in to unmask]>, Linda Tanaka <[log in to unmask]> writes: > I have been charged with the onimous duty of finding out for my museum what > exactly the collection manager does in a medium sized institution. Because > we are very short of funds jobs have been consolidated into fewer resource > people. In this new position, which will be called something with a > technical connotation to it, the management is proposing a person who is > able to supervise and perform the following functions: be in charge of all > research activities (directing what is to be done and handling the data > produced); data processing and all data base management like storage, > archiving and uploading to national databases; all activities within the > storage vaults (supervising access and activities); security for the whole > building (determining who has access to the collections and that the > building is physically secure from intruders); exhibit maintenance (may > include directing teams of trained cleaners) and responsible for > conservation (not active but preventive and not physically doing the work > but determining priorities and making the collection accessible to the > conservators). The untold story here seems to include network management on > a very basic technical level. > > If your museum has a collections management or administration position that > fits this description or even close please mail to me at my e-mail address > as this may not interest everyone on the list. The information is urgently > required and will be greatly appreciated. Incidently, I'm in Vancouver, > Canada and yes it is still raining. But it's a warm rain. > Thanks Linda Why ominous? Anyway, I suggest you check the article "Natural history collections management in North America", by John E. Simmons, in _Journal of Biological Curation_ 1(3/4): 1-17. Simmons is at MNH, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 66045-2454. The article is a great overview of the various interpretations of the terms "curator" and "collection manager", across institutions and across history. Robin (I am using museum-l because I believe that this is a topic that ought to be of interest to museum personnel everywhere.)