This exciting initiative, developed by the Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor (Lismore Historical Society) involves the building of a new community and visitors facility on the island of Lismore, incorporating a heritage museum, library, tea room and gift shop in 2006.
As Museum Development Officer you will be responsible for the management of the Society's combined (archives, photographs and artifacts) collections - their documentation, conservation, storage and preparation for display. You will work closely with the Society, their consultants and the wider community on the content for the displays and liaise with the designers.
You will develop an access and education plan, a sustainable genealogical and general enquires answering service and volunteer recruitment and training.
The Society is looking for a highly motivated person with a qualification or demonstrable experience in the aspects of heritage activity described above, A keen interest in working with a small island community or a working knowledge of Gaelic will be an advantage.
Apply by CV and covering letter by the 22nd October 2005
For more details and information pack contact
A. E. Perkins,
Project Manager,
7 Port Ramsay,
Isle of Lismore,
Argyll. PA34 5UH
Tel/Fax: 01631 760286
Museum Development Officer
1. Duties and Responsibilities
As the first and most urgent part of your work you will undertake an inventory of the archives, photographs and artefacts collected by the Historical Society to date.
You will document the collection in digitised format utilising a propriety database already selected by the Society and identify the most effective ways of provide optimum public access. You will develop a collections policy aimed at filling in gaps as identified in the process of the collections' documentation.
You will investigate the collections' conservation and storage requirements and develop a rolling programme for meeting these needs utilising all available sources for grant aid.
In close cooperation with the Society you will further research all aspects of the history of the island and draw up the content for interpretation materials to be designed and produced by the consultant contracted by the Society.
You will take active part in the development by the consultant in the implementation of an audience development and visitors management strategy.
To secure a sustainable future for this venture, you will assist the Society with a strategy for volunteer recruitment and retention and an appropriate training programme for all involved, thus to secure the widest possible skills sharing across the island community. This training will focus in particular on an effective system for dealing with genealogical and general enquiries from the public on the basis of a realistic system for charging.
2. Person Specification:
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications/Education
Relevant professional qualification in museum or heritage field
Working knowledge of the Gaelic Language
Skills/Experience
Demonstrable experience of all of the post's tasks and responsibilities
Research Exhibition development Fundraising
IT skills relevant to collections management
Personal characteristics
Self motivated Excellent communicator with groups/individuals Disciplined Sense of humour
N.B.
Lismore is a small island with a small population. You should be prepared to work with all groups and all individuals in the community. Whilst being respectful of members' considerable knowledge and experience, you should be prepared to move the project on aiming to achieve standards as are expected today by both project users and grant giving bodies.
For more information about Lismore see the community website at www.isleoflismore.com
