Archivists, curators, and museum technicians search for, acquire, appraise, analyze, describe, arrange, catalogue, restore, preserve, exhibit, maintain, and store valuable items that can be used by researchers or for exhibitions, publications, broadcasting, and other educational programs. Depending on the occupation, these items include historical documents, audiovisual materials, institutional records, works of art, coins, stamps, minerals, clothing, maps, living and preserved plants and animals, buildings, computer records, or historic sites.

Archivists and curators plan and oversee the arrangement, cataloguing, and exhibition of collections and, along with technicians and conservators, maintain collections. Archivists and curators may coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes, and may work with the boards of institutions to administer plans and policies. They also may research topics or items relevant to their collections. Although some duties of archivists and curators are similar, the types of items they deal with differ. Curators usually handle objects found in cultural, biological, or historical collections, such as sculptures, textiles, and paintings, while archivists mainly handle valuable records, documents, or objects that are retained because they originally accompanied and relate specifically to the document.

Career Sources and Professional Organizations

	American Association of Advertising Agencies
	American Association of Museums
	American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
	Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA) - an organization devoted to fostering excellence in art and design librarianship and image management.
	ARLIS/NA Job Net
	Art History Network
	Art History Resources on the Net
	ArtsNet
	Association for Art History
	Museum Employment Resource Center
	Museum Job Resources Online
	Museums-The Links
	National Archives and Records Administration
	National Art Education Association
	National Museum of Women in the Arts
	Smithsonian Institution
	Smithsonian Institution Fellowships & Internships
	Society of American Archivists
	The Kennedy Center ArtsEdge
	Worldwide Arts Resources

SAMPLE JOB TITLES

Entry Level:		Experienced:
	Archive Assistant		Archivist
	Assistant Curator		Art Appraiser
	Conservator Technician		Conservator
	Library Assistant		Curator
	Museum Attendant		Education Director
	Museum Inventory Specialist		Exhibit Designer
	Museum Technician		Historian

ENHANCING EMPLOYABILITY

	Participate in internships
	Foreign language(s)
	Strong communication skills essential
	Ability to work independently
	Strong research and analytical ability
	Ability to organize large amounts of information and write clear instructions for its retrieval and use
	Computer skills
	Courses in business administration, public relations, marketing, and fundraising also are recommended