Vounteers helping at Western Illinois Museum

Fall 2011 Intern


Lilie, WIU Graduate History Major

 

Past Internship Projects

 

Collection Management: Created an accession manual

 

Created a facebook page as a communication tool for the promotion of the museum's exhibitions and programs

 

Installed an exhibition

 

Collected Oral Histories

 

Researched for exhibit

 

Created a Docent Training Program

 

Volunteer and Internship Programs



Jude Kiah

Guest Speaker: Jude Kiah

The Western Illinois Museum held its Fall volunteer meeting on September 22, 2011. The meeting featured a talk by Jude Kiah, Go West Transit and University Union Bookstore Director, about the importance of customer service skills while volunteering.


Kiah explained that volunteers are the frontline for the museum. In other words, people will judge the museum based on the experience they have with the museum’s volunteer. Kiah said that “people tend to remember the small things.” He said people remember small details because they are often tied to emotion. Kiah explained that the trick to volunteering is to go the extra mile and make the customer feel good about his or her experience. For example, he acknowledged that, unlike retail stores, museum visitors have no tangible product to take home to make up for poor service. Thus, he again stressed the importance of customer service as he said “the product that people receive when they come to the museum is service.”

 

Listen to the full program:

 
Ways to get involved

Docents

Description: Docents are an essential part of creating a memorable museum visit. Welcoming and guiding visitors through an exhibit is the role of the museum docent. Orientation to each exhibit is available to prepare docents for this valuable service.

 

See Docent opportunities for February 2012...

 

Outreach Program

Description: Not everyone can come to the museum and volunteers are needed to go into the community to reach those who are interested in learning about the region's unique history. Training is available for those interested in volunteering.

 

See Outreach opportunities for February 2012...

 

Database Entry

Description: Update the museum's mailing lists using the database program Past Perfect. Training will be provide. Being able to input information accurately is necessary.

 

See volunteer opportunities for February 2012...

 

Read the complete Volunteer Position Descriptions...

 

 

Internships

The museum offers internships for college students interested in museum administration, history or recreation programs. The museum staff is willing to work within the requirements from colleges or universities to define projects, monitor and report on a student's work at the museum. The museum currently has internship programs with the Western Illinois University History department.

 

Contact Sue Scott at the museum to discuss how to become an intern.

 

Internships are available in the following areas:

  • Collection management and registrarial practices

  • Curatorial practices and exhibition research

  • Educational and community programming

  • Membership and resource development

  • Public relations