Collections Stewardship & Digitization Intern
Overview
Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to celebrating Maine’s vibrant maritime culture. Because this culture includes different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices—and because our museum welcomes visitors from around the world—our institution is firmly committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. If you believe in museums’ important role to reveal the past, to inform the present, and to shape the future, we invite you to join our team. You will join us on the beautiful banks of the Kennebec River, on a twenty-acre campus where collaboration and creativity are encouraged.
Position Summary
This position will support an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant conducting a comprehensive inventory, cataloging, and digitization project in its principal collection storage space. The project will provide the museum with substantially improved intellectual and physical control of a large portion of its object collection, resulting in increased access and improved collection care. The internship provides exposure to wide-ranging Collections Management activities and an opportunity to work with a diverse collection that includes models, clothing and textiles, furniture, fishing gear, and other 3D and 2D cultural heritage objects.
The primary role of the internship is to enhance online collections access and engagement through assistance with photo-documentation and related digital asset management activities. Reporting to the Collections Manager, and working closely with other project staff and volunteers, the Intern will gain an understanding of best practices in digital collections, metadata standards, collection database management, and museum registrarial practice.
Specific Duties
- § Prepare and transport objects for digital photography in imaging studio
- § Maintain imaging lists with accurate object data
- § Post processing of image files using photo-editing software
- § Publish images to collections database
- § Data entry in adherence to established metadata standards
- § Object cleaning and rehousing
- § Craft social media posts
- § Generate reports
- § Collections provenance research
Qualifications
- § Baccalaureate or Graduate coursework in History, Art History, Museum Studies, or related discipline
- § Excellent written and organizational skills
- § Ability to perform repetitive tasks with close attention to detail
- § Ability to work independently or in close collaboration within a team
- § Desire and openness to learn new skills and methodologies
- § Photography experience and post-processing knowledge a plus
Terms & How to Apply
This internship opportunity is part-time position for a period of 10 weeks, June 4-August 11, 2023. Internships are hourly positions and will not exceed 40 hours/week. Compensation for this opportunity is $16/hour and includes off-site housing. Transportation to and from the museum is not provided.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@maritimeme.orgwith subject line “Collections Stewardship & Digitization Intern.” Review of applications will begin March 10, 2023.
Maine Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, protected genetic information, status as a parent, marital status, political affiliation, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
February 2023
