Archivist/Curator

Archivist/Curator

This is the text of the original role specification from 2007.

The Board of Directors (Trustees) has identified the need for one or more individuals to accept the responsibility to identify, locate, catalogue, document and manage the artefacts and documents acquired by the Trust and some of its Members, relating to the Objects of the Trust, as expressed in its Memorandum of Association. It is accepted that some of these items are held in trust by Members with the express intention that they will be passed on, to be cared for by specific archives, but we wish to record such items and, where permissible, procure facsimiles for use in displays at the Mill and other suitable sites in the Borough. It is further accepted that cataloguing, scanning, photographing, documenting and restoring documents and artefacts may be a time-consuming work requiring several individuals and many different skills, hence it is intended that a team of Members should be formed, reporting to the Archivist/Curator, to undertake these tasks, with the Archivist/Curator keeping the Board apprised of progress.

Tasks

   1. Organise a meeting date and time at the Mill (or other suitable venue).
   2. Circulate Members with a request for interested parties to attend the meeting.
   3. Build a project team to care for and manage the documents and artefacts belonging to the Trust or loaned to the Trust by Members, and design and create displays.
   4. Identify documents and artefacts belonging to the Trust (or to members) which relate to the Mill.
   5. Catalogue documents and artefacts, including, but not limited to,
       a) Ownership/Copyright.
       b) Location.
       c) Type (Document or Artefact)
       d) Relationship to Mill.
       e) Condition.
       f) Dimensions.
       g) Photograph(s) or scan(s).
       h) Conditions for display, storage, maintenance (where required) and/or loan to other institutions.
   6. Identify storage requirements for documents and artefacts.
   7. Identify display requirements for documents and artefacts.
   8. Scan documents.
   9. Photograph artefacts.
   10. Identify restoration requirements.
   11. Determine a series of displays – titles, themes, etc.
   12. Design and create displays.
   13. Project manage fitting out of display space(s). The Mill work team will undertake the fitting out. Note that restoring the Glynde Windpump is their current highest priority.
   14. Developing collection management processes.
   15. Work with the Board to identify the requirements for the Visitor Education Centre/Museum conversion of the existing gate house building.

Responsibilities

This is a volunteer role required by the Trust to help it achieve its object (from the Memorandum of Association), “(f) To provide facilities in conjunction with the Borough Council of Worthing whereby items from the Borough Museum associated with farming and ancient crafts and trades can be displayed in the Mill or on the Mill site”. There is no remuneration, but reasonable expenses will be met by the Trust, subject to the prior agreement of the Treasurer. The relationship between the individual and the Trust will not be one of employment and nothing in this document should be construed as creating or intending to create an employment relationship. The primary responsibilities are the establishment and management of a team, coordination and facilitation of activities and reporting to the Board, as required. The degree of active involvement in the tasks required is up to the individual. At present, there is no vacancy on the Board for the individual to become a Director, but this may be appropriate at some future point when a suitable vacancy arises.