Message-ID: <003d01cb0296$668715b0$0401a8c0@Jensen> From: "Don Jensen" <dnjkenosha@wi.rr.com> Subject: Re: Policy regarding interns Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 15:58:49 -0500
I am not sure what you meant with a couple of terms. You mention not
being sure you can trust them... I presume you mean trust them to make
the appropriate decisions, vs. trust them not to steal artifacts. When
you say they are being trained to evaluate, I presume you mean evaluate
whether the object appropriately should be in your collection or
deaccessioned, rather than mean assigning a dollar value to that
particular object
My assumptions are based on idea that if you thought they might steal,
you would never have them as interns. Also, if, by evaluate, if you
meant dollars and cents, as perhaps for insurance purposes, of course I
would never let untrained interns do that.
So, assuming my assumptions, to be reasonably certain they were properly
idenifying objects and cataloging them appropriately, I would suggest
working closely with the interns for two or three days. See that they
understand exacty what procedures to follow, how and where to look to
identify unknown objects, etc., etc. After two or three days, they
should understand the basics. After that, they can use a cell phone to
reach you in your more distant office if they have specific questions.
Then, perhaps once a week, at random times, briefly drop in unannounced
to see how things are going. Additionally, I would ask for weekly tally
of what they had done, how many objects were catalogued, in which areas
of the collection did they involve. Additionally, if you do, in fact,
have regular volunteers who handle artifacts and are familiar with the
cateloging process, perhaps they could spend some of the time working
with, and watching over, the interns.
It is really great to have interns, even if they are only partially
trained, to take on projects that the regular staff and volunteers never
seem to have enough time to do.
--don jensen
kenosha history center BOD member.
----- Original Message -----
From: LCHS Curator
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 3:23 PM
Subject: Policy regarding interns
I have 2 undergraduate interns working with me this summer and would
appreciate some feedback from others regarding your policies regarding
interns. Specifically I am wondering about supervision: these two
students are being trained to evaluate and catalog a collection of
artifacts on location at a museum not connected to our offices. I plan
to be with them some of the time but not all of the time. One of the
reasons for seeking interns is to expand the amount of work being done
in the collections, and if I need to oversee them every minute it will
defeat the purpose.
Am I making a big mistake? At present LCHS has no policy regarding
interns and their handling of artifacts, although volunteers do work
with artifacts in some situations. The students are being trained , and
I will not leave them on their own until I am satisfied I can trust
them.
Thanks everyone!
Peggy Derrick, Curator
La Crosse County Historical Society
P.O. Box 1272
La Crosse, WI 54602-1272
ph. 608-782-1980