Happy New Year!

 

I sent out a short survey in early December about Museum Libraries and their organizational structures.  Many of you were interested in seeing the results so I am sharing them here.  Thank you to everyone who responded.  If you didn’t and are still interested, I would love to hear from you! 

 

I am still working on unpacking a lot of this, but it mostly seems to come down to priorities and advocacy.  What department best aligns with your libraries goals and priorities, who will advocate for you and who you work well with.  This is not always a straightforward answer, particularly for those libraries who may be looking to change a bit themselves. 

 

Museum Library Organizational Structure Summary

27 responses received

Questions:

 

What department or area is your library a part of?

Collections/Registrar  -- 8

Curatorial – 8

Education – 4

Autonomous (report to Director of Museum) – 4

Curatorial/Collections Dept – 1

Information Systems – 1

Collections and Interpretation (Research, curatorial and education) – 1

*There were a number of varied departments across museums, but the most common structure included a Collections Department which consists of some combination of registrar, conservation, and exhibitions), a Curatorial department and Education (though varied in name).  Smaller institutions combine some of these departments)

 

Who does your head librarian/library director report to? 

                Chief/Head Curator – 8

                Head of Collections/Registrar – 7

                Director of the Museum – 5

                Head of Education/Academic/Public Programs – 4

                Other – 3

*In most cases the library director reports to the head of the department in which the library is positioned.  When the library exists as its own department, they report to the director of the museum. Other consists of crossover director roles (such as collections and curatorial)

 

Is the current structure working for your library?  If not, what would you prefer?

Yes – 15

Better – 2

Unsure – 2

No answer – 6

Not ideal – 1

Almost everyone says that their current structure is working.  Those with relatively new structures are positive, but not yet sure.  One library within education says that curatorial or collections makes more sense.

Four libraries that were previously under education noted that things were much better now that they are in curatorial or collections.

 

Comments – Made by those currently or previously in each department.

 

Collections Dept.

Library and archives viewed as collections

Missions can be different, preservation vs. access

Role/function of the Librarian/Archivist is viewed as a similar one to the Registrar of the art collection.

More in common with collections focused departments such as registrar, conservation and photography.

Curatorial

                Best is to align with your major user group and advocates

Being in the same department as the curators puts us in closer proximity to information that helps us develop the research collection in regard to new acquisitions, exhibitions, and collecting focuses

We work WITH the curators to develop exhibitions now, rather than react after the fact.

Library is more appreciated because they “get” our work.

Curatorial makes sense for what our emphasis is—support research on the museum’s collection and scholarly pursuits of staff.

Curatorial overlooks us when planning budgets and staffing.

Education

                Struggles with understanding what the library does.

Nothing in common with that department except with the Docents.  The dept was only a minor user population and thus not actively engaged with the library.

More of a struggle to get my supervisor to understand how the library works and everything that we do, but at the same time, more freedom to do things our own way. 

Education department at the museum has different priorities so it wasn’t the greatest fit.  It’s more public-facing and tends to be geared toward a different audience than who we serve.

We are much better integrated into the wider workings of the museum and better aligned with the kind of socially relevant program the department is aiming at.

As long as I can establish an effective relationship with Curatorial for purposes of collection building and reporting.

Direct Reporting

I enjoy being able to appeal directly to him/her for needs, as well as directly report successes. I feel like I’m a more visible and vital part of the museum’s structure, as opposed to being considered primarily a support of the curatorial department.

It is much easier to advocate for the library now with our administration and I am able to work alongside the curators to help them with their needs, rather than under them.

 

 

-Alison

 

 

Alison L. Huftalen

Head Librarian

Toledo Museum of Art

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419-255-8000 x7386

 

http://www.toledomuseum.org/learn/library/