During my winter 2020 volunteer term at the Vancouver Art Gallery Library & Archives, I applied knowledge from my library courses at UBC and my co-op experience at MTM, as well as developed my knowledge of collections systems and research and analysis skills. Here, I was able to efficiently work as part of a small project team to organize, analyze, and summarize documentation and metadata of the Library & Archives’ collection management databases (LibraryWorld, CaudraSTAR) and relevant external information databases (Artists in Canada, MemoryBC). Such work will assist with an upcoming systems project at the Gallery. Through this project I gained an increased understanding of the role of libraries and archives within an art museum and the significance of library and archives management systems in supporting gallery staff and external researchers.
While this project enabled me to combine and build on my passion and knowledge of contemporary art which I garnered from my BFA in Visual Art from York University, most notably this experience further taught me how to be adaptable. Midway through the project, closures due to COVID-19 required me to quickly transition from in-person to remote work. Despite these unprecedented circumstances, I was able to continue to work independently and as a coordinated team with my supervisor (via email and videoconference) to complete research and reports.
Below is a presentation poster that I created to showcase my work term at Vancouver Art Gallery Library & Archives.
