Collections Assistant- Historic Equipment Collection

The Pennsylvania State University; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a part-time Collections Assistant to accession, re-house, and curate its historic equipment collection. The role involves detailed inventory, location verification, object housing planning, creating digital images, and updating collections records.

Some outreach may be required. The EMS Museum's collection spans earth materials, mid-century industrial art, and historic scientific equipment.

Qualifications

• Background in museum curation or historic science equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs and stand or sit for extended periods.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with cursive writing.

Responsibilities

• Accession and curate the historic equipment collection.
• Inventory items and verify object locations.
• Identify housing and storage needs.
• Create digital images of objects as needed.
• Update collections management database records.
• Assist with outreach activities.
• Work primarily in the collection storage facility at the EMS Museum.

Skills

Museum curation

Software navigation

Research skills

Lifting 40 lbs

Attention to detail

Read cursive writing

Written communication

Tools

Collections database

Job description

Collections Assistant- Historic Equipment Collection### Collections Assistant- Historic Equipment CollectionApply: Penn State University Park: Part time: Posted Today: REQ\\_0000083795# **APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:*** ## CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.* ## If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants. **Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.** **JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS****Collections Assistant- Historic Equipment Collection**The Pennsylvania State University is seeking to hire a collections assistant to accession, re-house, and curate our historic equipment collection. **Job Description and Position Requirements:**The Collections Assistant will work closely with the EMS Museum curator to conduct a detailed inventory of the historic equipment collection in storage and on exhibit, confirm object location accuracy, identify object housing and storage needs, create digital images of objects as needed, and create or update collections management database records. Some duties, including outreach, will be assigned as needed. Compensation is $15/hour. 5-19 hours per week.The EMS Museum’s collections include earth materials (rocks, minerals, fossils, industrial by-products), mid-century industrial art (paintings, works on paper, sculpture), and historic scientific equipment and tools of research and education. The primary work location will be at the Special Services Building (Old Radio Astronomy Building on Google Maps)—approximately 3 miles from the main Penn State campus. This facility is not accessible by bus, bike, Catabus, or by walking, therefore the employee will need to supply their own transportation. This is not a hybrid position. ***Qualifications:**** + Background in museum curation, historic science equipment, or an interest in learning + Ability to navigate new software platforms + Ability to conduct research using print and online sources + Ability to lift and move up to 40 lbs., sit or stand for extended periods, maintain attention to detail for prolonged periods, read cursive writing, and write legibly. + Strong interest in museum collections care and management + Basic computer and communication skills The Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum & Art Gallery is comprised of an exhibition gallery on the campus of Penn State University Park plus the EMS Museum collection storage center off campus. While there may be an opportunity to work in the gallery on occasion, 95% of the project tasks take place in the collection storage facility.