[Part 5] Multitasking as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant: Artefacts Canada & Public Domain Day!
This is the fifth and final post in a series of five, each building on a project mentioned in my Belkin Art Gallery poster (see my September 11, 2020 post “Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant at the Belkin Art Gallery”). I worked on these projects in my position as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant from June 2020 to January 2021. This final post focuses on a public domain and Artefacts Canada project.
[Part 4] Multitasking as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant: Professional Development Activities
This is the fourth post in a series of five, each building on a project—or in this case, activities—mentioned in my Belkin Art Gallery poster (see my September 11, 2020 post “Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant for the Belkin Art Gallery”). I worked on or participated in these as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant from June 2020 to January 2021. This fourth post focuses on various professional development activities I participated in or undertook.
[Part 3] Multitasking as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant: M/T Archives Alias List Projects
This is the third post in a series of five, each building on a project (or more) mentioned in my Belkin Art Gallery poster (see my September 11, 2020 post “Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant at the Belkin Art Gallery”). I worked on these projects in my position as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant from June 2020 to January 2021. This third post focuses on archives-focused projects, with special focus on an alias list project.
[Part 2] Multitasking as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant: Copyright Project
This is the second post in a series of five, each building on a project mentioned in my Belkin Art Gallery poster (see my September 11, 2020 post “Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant for the Belkin Art Gallery”). I worked on these projects in my position as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant from June 2020 to January 2021. This second post focuses on a copyright project.
[Part 1] Multitasking as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant: Database Project
This is the first post in a series of five, each building on a project mentioned in my Belkin Art Gallery poster (see my September 11, 2020 post “Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant for the Belkin Art Gallery”). I worked on these projects in my position as the Belkin’s Collections Assistant from June 2020 to January 2021. This first post focuses on a database project.
Reflecting on a Remote Summer: Collections Assistant for the Belkin Art Gallery
For a summer 2020 UBC Arts Co-op, I worked as the Collections Assistant for the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at the University of British Columbia. In my position I assisted the Registrar, Teresa Sudeyko, and Archivist, Anna Tidlund, with projects that aim to increase and manage access to the Belkin’s collections of 5,000+ objects and 30,000+ archival documents. Due to COVID-19, I worked remotely from Ontario. My positive experience led to a contract extension until the end of 2020.
Analyzing Collections Systems: Library Intern at the Vancouver Art Gallery Library & Archives
As part of a volunteer professional experience through the UBC School of Information, I completed a systems project at the Vancouver Art Gallery Library & Archives during the winter 2020 academic term.
Arranging & Describing as an Archives Student at the Vancouver Maritime Museum
As part of a volunteer professional experience through the UBC School of Information, I completed an arrangement and description project at the Leonard G. McCann Archives at the Vancouver Maritime Museum archives during the fall 2019 academic term.
Site Volunteer, Cultural Resource Recording Project at Lower Burial Ground
From June to August 2019, I volunteered a few days a month on stage one of the “Cultural Resource Recording Project: Under the St. Paul’s Church Hall, Lower Burial Ground in Kingston.” The project allowed me to gain some experience in archaeological field work and learn more about some of Kingston's hidden history.
Another Summer at the Tower: Collections Management Assistant for the Murney Tower National Historic Site Museum
For the summer 2019 UBC Arts Co-op work term, I returned to Murney Tower Museum National Historic Sire of Canada; this time as a Collections Management Assistant. My work at MTM not only assisted with the Museum's efforts towards alignment with Community Museum Operating Standards in Ontario, but also earned me the 2018-2019 iSchool MAS Co-op Student of the Year award.
Preservation: Condition and Damage/Deterioration Reports for a Pocketbook Edition of "Les Misérables"
As part of my ARST 587 Preservation course assignments at the iSchool@UBC, I created two preservation reports for a secondhand copy of a pocketbook edition of Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables."
UBC Rare Books and Special Collections Exhibition
As part of our final outreach project for LIBR 548X Social Media and Digital Outreach, my course peers, our professor Dr. Erik Kwakkel, and I put together an exhibition promoting some of the many facsinating items in the University of British Columbia Rare Books and Special Collections holdings.
Presentation, "Unshredded Medical Records: A Hospital’s Trash Is a Patient’s Privacy"
In October 2018, as part of the course ARST 516 Management of Current Records, I gave a presentation on the ongoing and worsening problem of the improper disposal of paper medical records. Inspired by a recent study by Baxter et al. (2018), this presentation addressed the issue, relevant legislation, secure disposal methods, potential consequences, and suggestions moving forward. On January 23, 2019, I adapted this presentation for a talk at Molecular You, a digital health company in Vancouver.
A Summer at the Tower: Chief Historical Interpreter, Murney Tower Museum
During the summer of 2018, I had the opportunity to work as the Chief Historical Interpreter at the Murney Tower Museum (Kingston, Ontario). The Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest museum in Kingston. Some of my responsibilities included supervising interpreters, arranging and providing visitors with guided tours, and working closely with the curator to manage museum operations and collections.
400+ Artifacts Accounted For: Collection Inventory at Murney Tower Museum
In my role as Chief Historical Interpreter, I worked with fellow staff members to conduct a complete inventory of the Murney Tower Museum collection. Through the creation of a master Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and the careful handling, photographing, and re-packaging of artifacts, we were able to ensure the accountability and proper preservation of the collection at both on and offsite museum storage locations.
230+ World Towers: Exhibition Renewal at Murney Tower Museum
As the Chief Historical Interpreter at the Murney Tower Museum, I was given the opportunity to assist the Museum Curator with the 2018 exhibition renewal. I was given an independent project of researching curator-approved and museum-related topics of my choice. The project also entailed generating the text, selecting the images, and creating a digital draft of a panel to be included in the renewal. This project enabled me to expand and utilize my research, design, and collaboration skills.
In-Class Search Assignment
For an assignment at the iSchool@UBC for LIBR 506: Human Information Interaction, I acted as an information intermediary in the search process for a classmate. In completing this assignment, I was able to draw on skills learned in previous class lectures regarding the reference interview and the use of various information resources and tools, such as the UBC LibGuides and Summon and backward and forward chaining.
19th Century Meets 21st Century: Social Media Planning for Murney Tower Museum
In my role as Chief Historical Interpreter at Murney Tower Museum, one of my responsibilities was to create a social media plan for the museum. I was also in charge of running the museum's social media platforms, which included, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google My Business.
Colouring the Tower: Creating the Murney Tower Museum Colouring & Activity Book
During my time at the Murney Tower Museum, I created an interactive colouring book featuring drawings of museum artifacts. The colouring book is designed to work like a scavenger hunt or learning tool mainly for children. Some pages include questions that can be answered by interacting with the museum displays or going on a guided museum tour. The goal is to enhance visitor engagement and museum revenue. It will be available in the museum gift shop in the 2019 season.
Professional Development Activity: Social Media Strategies for Small Businesses Workshop
In July 2018, I participated in a social media workshop in Kingston, Ontario hosted by KEDCO and Jennifer Baker Consulting. I attended the workshop as the Chief Historical Interpreter of the Murney Tower Museum. The museum is a small, non-for-profit historical site. Social media plays a key role in it's marketing. One of my responsibilities was to create a social media plan and run the museum social media accounts. Tips and strategies from this workshop have been beneficial to the museum.
Calm and Collections: Colouring (in) Vancouver's Bibliospaces
For a group term project at the iSchool@UBC, I collaborated with Elizabeth Bassett and Rachel Wertheim to design an adult colouring program for Vancouver Public Library to promote relaxation, well-being, and contemplation. We created a colouring book as well to be used either in conjunction with the program or separately. Both were designed with the goal to help users cope with information overload.
Topic Briefing, Information Literacy Education and the Re-establishment of the Teacher-Librarian at Southview Public School
As part of a class assignment during the Winter 2018 term at the iSchool@UBC, I created a topic briefing addressing the enhancement of information literacy education at Southview Public School (Kingston, Ontario) and the re-establishment of the teacher-librarian. The position was eliminated from not only Southview P.S. and across Kingston’s Limestone District School Board, but also from a vast number of school libraries across Canada. This briefing advocates for this national issue.
Seminar Facilitator, Personal Information Management: Tools, Practices, and Overload
In March 2018 I acted as a seminar facilitator for an hour long group seminar on Personal Information Management: Tools, Practices, and Overload. Everyday we are encountering all forms of information at an increasingly accelerated rate and from a multitude of outlets. This seminar addressed the issues, benefits, and potential coping mechanisms that arise from information overload.
Kingston Museums Illustration Commission
Through my work with the Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites (KAM), I was commissioned to create illustrations of their member institutions that are used as colouring sheets at association events. The commission increased public awareness of member institutions and participation at events. Due to their popularity, the sheets are being made into a colouring booklet.
Event Photographer, Bring Your Thing Pop-Up Museum
As an Event Photographer for the Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites, I was specifically in charge of photographing objects, participants, and visitors at the monthly Bring Your Thing Pop-Up Museum events for 2017. Photographs are used on official KAM social media platforms, website, and also archived for future uses.
Conference Photographer, 2017 Ontario Museum Association Conference
As the Volunteer Photographer at the 2017 Ontario Museum Association Conference held in Kingston, Ontario, I helped document session speakers, presenters, award winners, and exhibitors. The annual three day conference involved managing my time to successfully capture for the OMA website and for future association uses.
Social Media Marketing Assistant, Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites
As a volunteer for the Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries, and Historic Sites, one of my tasks was to assist in promoting events on the association's social media platforms. I helped specifically with creating posting material for their Instagram account (@kingstonmuseums). Some of the posts were also linked to Facebook and Twitter.
EQAO Scribe, Southview P.S., Limestone District School Board
As a scribe, I assisted Grade 3 students with learning difficulties at Southview Public School complete provincial testing by following EQAO guidelines . Students were tested on their reading, writing, and mathematical skills.
Library Volunteer, Southview P.S., Limestone District School Board
I volunteered in the Southview Public School library once a week from March to June 2017. Whether it was organizing shelves, monitoring students or checking in and out books, I was there assist the school librarian and students where needed.
"Redolent," Alumni Art Exhibition, York University
As an alumni of York University, I was selected to be featured in the 2016 Alumni Show at Eleanor Winters Art Gallery in Toronto. I collaborated with the other featured artist, Eleanor Szydlowksa, and the gallery curator to conceptualize a theme, create artwork, promote, curate, and install/deinstall the exhibition.
"Watch This Space," Curated Group Art Exhibition, University of Leeds
"Watch This Space," was a group art exhibition that I co-curated and participated in while studying abroad at the University of Leeds. The group exhibition was a year-end project for the Fine Arts program. It was held in the historical prison cells of Leeds Town Hall. As part of the group, I helped organize, curate, create artwork, and catalogue the exhibition.