Blog and Newsletter

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

Quarterly Print Newsletter

Submissions: If you are a member interested in submitting articles, dispatches, opportunities, and/or photos to the print newsletter, please review these guideline and deadlines.

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Read now: Click here to view the current and past issues of the print newsletter (members-only; log in first).

News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

Posts to this news blog are automatically shared to the MAM Facebook page to get even more exposure!

MEMBERS: Log in, then click "Add Post." If you have trouble logging in, email info@mainemuseums.org.

NON-MEMBERS: To submit your bulletin board post, please email info@mainemuseums.org.

  • 22 May 2013 10:06 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

    Classes added in Wilton, Bangor and Augusta

    The Maine Department of Labor has added three more sessions of its popular free course that educates employers and the public about regulations governing the workplace.  The Laws Governing Workplace Rights classes are taught by staff of the Wage and Hour Division of the Bureau of Labor Standards.

    The new times and locations are May 23 in Bangor from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 10 in Wilton from 9 a.m. to noon, and June 19 in Augusta from 9 a.m. to noon.  Although the courses are free, registration is required because seating is limited.

    “I am glad to see business interest in these free classes,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “Understanding the law prevents businesses from making costly mistakes.  The class helps Maine’s employers save time, money and aggravation when complying with state regulations.”

    This course covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, leave requirements (family medical leave, family sick leave, and domestic violence) and break requirements. It also addresses commonly asked employment-related questions and participants have an opportunity to ask questions.

    Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette said, “The department wants to help Maine employers by giving them the answers before we give them the test. This course is designed for small business owners or staff who handle human resources and payroll functions. This is about education, not investigation.”

    To register, call the Maine Department of Labor at (207) 623-7900 or visit www.safetyworksmaine.com . Space is limited so reservations are required.

    The Wage and Hour Division is Maine’s regulatory agency overseeing labor and employment law; it provides both consultation and enforcement services. The division promotes and achieves compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of Maine’s workforce.

  • 18 May 2013 11:38 AM | Anonymous member
    Did you know that May 18 is International Museum Day?  This event, organized by the International Council of Museums, encourages museums worldwide to offer events, programs, and exhibitions that day that focus on the 2013 theme: Museums (memory + creativity) = social change. For more information and to participate, click here.
  • 10 May 2013 3:48 PM | Anonymous member

    The Maine Historical Society seeks a leader to manage all phases of its fundraising activity, including major, corporate and foundation gifts, annual giving, special events, grant writing, planned giving, donor cultivation, campaign planning, marketing, public relations and communications. Working closely with the Executive Director, Trustees and managing a staff of two, the successful candidate will help shape the continued growth of a nationally-recognized, statewide cultural institution. Founded in 1822, MHS is located in downtown Portland, Maine, and consists of the Brown Research Library, the MHS Museum, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House; and the Maine Memory Network (a collaborative online museum), among other programs and services.

    Qualifications should include: superior personal and communication skills; five plus years of comparable development responsibility; a record of major gift fund-raising and grant writing accomplishment; Raiser’s Edge (or comparable) database experience; demonstrable interest in history and education; and a willingness to meet the challenges of the cultural sector. Highly self motivated and directed.   Send letter, resume, and list of four references to: Steve Bromage, Executive Director, Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101. EOE. Electronic submissions should be sent to lwebb@mainehistory.org. Applications close June 15. No phone inquiries, please.

  • 06 May 2013 3:48 PM | Anonymous member
    MAM members, you have a new discount that comes with your membership! This benefit has been arranged in cooperation with HistoryIT™, a Portland-based full-service information technology firm that specializes in the review, preservation, digitization, presentation, and electronic management of historical collections. Effective immediately, MAM members will receive $100 off of the annual fee for HistoryIT's digital collections management software, ArchivesTree™. The discount is available for both new and renewing subscriptions (regardless of the package level) every year that your MAM membership continues.

    Designed and developed by professional historians and archivists, ArchivesTree provides sophisticated archival management tools and flexible functionality in an easy to use, intuitive format. Users can manage data collection, design specialized archival structures, create customized subject libraries, attach and store associated digital files, and implement personalized public web interfaces and search functionality to address their institution's particular needs. All that's needed to design, manage, and share your collections is a web-enabled computer or tablet, and an ArchivesTree account; no knowledge of coding or programming experience necessary.

    To receive the MAM discount, sign up for ArchivesTree at http://www.archivestree.com/purchase.html and indicate “MAM” in the Membership Affiliation field. For more information about ArchivesTree, visit http://www.archivestree.com/learn-more.html.


    Learn more about HistoryIT at www.historyit.com, or visit their booth at MAM's annual conference,
    scheduled for October 29 at the Collins Center for the Arts, University of Maine, Orono.

    We are delighted to make this discount available to our members, but please note that in doing so we do not necessarily recommend HistoryIT's software over other collections management systems. MAM offers an array of discounts to its members; to find out more and to get discount codes, please visit the Member Discounts page on the Members Only section of our website. Note that you MUST be logged in with your e-mail address and password in order to see this page!

    As always, contact MAM with any questions: info@mainemuseums.org or (207) 400-6965.
  • 04 May 2013 6:58 PM | Anonymous member
    Building Community Through Oral History 
    A Professional Development Workshop
    with Jo Radner, Noted Oral Historian and Storyteller 
    Saturday May 4, 2013 10 am - 4 pm 
    Fifth Maine Regiment Museum Peaks Island*
    $15 per person  
    Jo will conduct a lively, hands-on workshop for teachers, museum personnel, community and family historians, and writers. Participants will practice effective interviewing strategies, learn to design oral history projects, and sample successful ways community stories can be presented. She will give special attention to ways of creating collaborations between schools, local organizations, and museums to enhance curriculum and strengthen community bonds. Jo Radner is an award-winning storyteller who has performed from Maine to Hawaii. Her workshops on oral history techniques have served historical societies, libraries, hospice and home-care organizations, elementary and secondary schools, and intergenerational groups. She is past president of the American Folklore Society and the National Storytelling Network. A former professor at American University, she has been studying, teaching, telling, and collecting stories most of her life. Bring a bag lunch or order & prepay sandwiches from the Peaks Café.Morning coffee and afternoon beverages & snacks provided. Pre-registration required by April 27, 2013

    FMI or to Register: fifthmaine@juno.com
    Please Join Us! 

    *requires taking a 9:30 a.m. Casco Bay Lines ferry boat to Peaks Island and walking a pleasant one-quarter of a mile to the museum. A 5 p.m. ferry will offer a return trip.
  • 02 May 2013 9:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    SUMMER LIBRARY CLERK - 2013
    SWAN’S ISLAND EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY (SIES)

    ... SIES is seeking a mature, responsible, organized and friendly person to fill a summer clerk position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

    • Attending the needs of patrons: finding materials, gaining access to the wireless network, troubleshooting basic computer problems, and answering general questions
    • Assisting our volunteers as necessary
    • Re-shelving materials such as books, videos, and more
    • Assisting with check-out when necessary
    • Organizing and stocking the gift shop, keeping track of inventory
    • Tidying library as needed
    • Creating information sheet on how to use SIES equipment
    • Keeping a regular schedule as decided by the Director and keeping a work log

    Pay: $2500 stipend for mid-June/August 2013
    Expectation of 10 weeks of work for 20 hours/week.

    Qualifications: This position would be appropriate for a mature high school age student or older who is organized and friendly. Should enjoy the library environment and be interested in learning about working in a small non-profit organization.

    To apply: Please fill out application (available at library) or submit resume and mail or deliver to SIES by May 18.

    SIES
    Attn: Candis Joyce, Director
    PO Box 12
    Swan’s Island, ME 04685
  • 29 Apr 2013 5:00 PM | Anonymous member
    The Maine Arts Commission is currently seeking a full-time Visual Arts Director to develop and oversee the agency's visual arts programming for the state of Maine.

    The Visual Arts Director will work in a strong team setting with other program directors and under the supervision of the agency's Executive Director to further the arts in Maine. This position is an exciting one with a great deal of scope to develop new partnerships and programs that are essential to Maine's cultural development.

    The person selected will take the reins of some of the agency's ongoing programs, such as Arts in the Capitol, the Maine Youth Excellence in Art Project, and Maine's Congressional Art Awards Competition.

    Beyond that the Visual Arts Director will collaborate and consult with state and national arts organizations and institutions to promote best practices, exemplary visual arts programming, and to implement professional development opportunities.

    To be considered an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in an Arts or Humanities related field and two (2) years experience working with artists, art groups, and/or humanities organizations. Preference will be given to applicants with a master's degree or commensurate work experience preferably in the field of visual arts. Knowledge of Maine artists, galleries and museums is a benefit.

    To view the full job posting and for details of how to apply, please visit http://www.maine.gov/bhr/state_jobs/direct_jobs.shtml
  • 16 Apr 2013 4:56 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    The Owls Head Transportation Museum is accepting resumes for the position of Volunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and possess a strong desire to work with volunteers. Duties include, though are not limited to, coordinating volunteers for specific events and special projects, recruiting and interviewing volunteers, facility use scheduling, contracts and documentation, reception with the front office and phones and providing assistance in the Museum Store as required. The Volunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant is part of a team involved in Museum events, programs and services. He/she must be detail-oriented with strong organizational, written and verbal communication skills. The ability to work under pressure and interact with volunteers and the public is a must. Experience in non-profit volunteer management is a plus.

    This is a perfect opportunity for someone wishing to work in a dynamic, people-oriented work environment that offers excellent compensation.


    How To Apply


    Interested applicants should submit a resume with cover letter to Sherrie Schmitt - ss@ohtm.org or mail to OHTM, PO Box 277, Owls Head, ME 04854.
  • 06 Apr 2013 4:02 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Portland Observatory Site Manager

    Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc.


    Company:   Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc.
    Location:   Portland Observatory Museum, 138 Congress Street, Portland, Maine
    Type:   Temporary/Seasonal
    Salary:   $12.75/hr up to 32 hours/week
    Start Date:   May 25, with pre-season training

    Job Description


    The Portland Observatory Site Manager will work closely with the Manager of Education Programs to oversee daily operation of the Portland Observatory Museum and leading public tours. Portland Observatory is open daily from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

    Responsibilities:
    • Open and close the Observatory for business during its scheduled hours of operation.
    • Schedule docents to cover tour shifts using on-line Google Calendar/Master Calendar and supervise volunteer docents on-site
    • Greet visitors and create a positive and professional atmosphere for both docents and visitors
    • Sell tour tickets and retail merchandise; present tours to the public, as needed
    • Oversee cash management and make bank deposits
    • Attend Staff Meetings when possible
    • Be available to work alternating weekends with Assistant Site Manager as needed

    Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to;
    1. Awareness and responsibility for visitor safety
    2. Oversee docents and the “docent sign-in” log
    3. Manage gift shop, including keeping shelves stocked and notifying Manager of Education Programs when stock items are low
    5. Close the cash register and credit card purchases
    6. Provide additional assistance to the Manager of Education Programs during scheduled special events.
    7. Keep Manager of Education Programs informed of scheduling additions and changes through daily phone conversation or e-mail correspondence.
    8. Make last minute or emergency scheduling changes due to unforeseen situations (i.e. a docent does not show up for a shift, the Observatory is “over run” by ship tourists and an extra docent is needed, etc.)

    KEY COMPETENCIES:
    - ability to walk up and down stairs
    - basic computer skills
    - excellent human relations skills
    - demonstrated customer service skills
    - strong oral and written communication skills
    - enthusiasm for working with people of various ages
    - ability to manage, and organize activities and people
    - enthusiasm for sharing knowledge
    - available to work on the weekends and/or evenings
    -
    A background and/or interest in history or historic preservation is preferred but not required – we will provide training.



    How To Apply


    Interested applicants please send cover letter explaining your background and interest in the project, a resume, and three references by April 22, 2013 to: Jennifer Pollick, Education Manager, Greater Portland Landmarks, jpollick@portlandlandmarks.org. Electronic applications are preferred.
  • 06 Apr 2013 4:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Farnsworth Art Museum is seeking a full time Membership Coordinator. Reporting to the Director, this individual oversees and aggressively works to grow membership at the Farnsworth Art Museum. Creates, implements and evaluates membership renewal and acquisition programs. Assists in the production of related advancement activities, creates correspondence, reports, and other written materials related to servicing membership, prospect research and advancement activities. Responsible for program marketing, data processing, benefit fulfillment and data analysis.


    Strong organizational skills and problem solving ability essential, attention to detail, and capability to recognize and address day-to-day and long term responsibilities without direct supervision. Successful candidate is goal oriented; flexible; cooperative; and supportive of colleagues in all areas of museum operations. Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Blackbaud’s Raisers Edge or comparable database software is essential.
    Qualifications include B.A. in Liberal Arts or related field, a minimum of five years museum or non-profit fundraising experience, including membership, or equivalent work experience. Demonstrable strengths in information and budget management and membership communications, excellent communication (verbal and written) and organizational skills, professional demeanor with strong interpersonal skills and a high level of comfort working with the public, trustees, members and donors.

    How To Apply

    Please email cover letter and resume to employment@farnsworthmuseum.org or mail to Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St., Rockland, ME 04841, attn: Membership Coordinator Search.

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Maine Archives and Museums

P.O. Box 95, Portland, Maine 04112

info@mainemuseums.org 


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