 |
|
|
|
Museum Information Desk Program* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Volunteers in this program work at a museum information desk
where they are on the front lines interacting with visitors
of all ages on a daily basis. They not only welcome Smithsonian
visitors but also provide information and answer questions
about the Institution—its exhibitions, activities, and services. |
|
|
|
|
Assignments are available at the Smithsonian Information
Center in the Castle and the following museums and galleries:
African Art, American Art and its Renwick Gallery, American
History, American Indian (on the Mall), Freer, Hirshhorn,
Portrait Gallery, Natural History, Postal, and Sackler. |
|
|
|
|
The Visitor Services Program of the National Air and Space
Museum oversees Welcome Desk operations at the museum on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C., and at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy
Center in Chantilly, Virginia. For information on the program
and an application go to:
www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/volunteer/visitorservices.cfm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A minimum of 1 year of service is requested of volunteers who successfully
complete the training program. Weekday volunteers are expected to
fulfill a minimum assignment of 3.75 hours weekly. Weekend assignments
can be scheduled on alternating weeks. Duty shifts in most museums
are 9:30am to 1:15pm or 12:45pm to 4:30pm; an additional shift from
8:30am to 12:15pm is available in the Smithsonian Information Center. |
|
|
|
The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture,
which houses the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American
Art Museum, has daily hours from 11:30am to 7pm. Volunteer shifts
at these information desks are 11am-2:30pm, 2-5:30pm, and 5-7pm. |
|
|
|
|
|
We are recruiting for the next training classes (choose weekday
or weekend training):
Weekday: January 29, February 5, 19, 26 & March 5 (Thursdays)
Weekend: January 31, February 7, 21, 28, & March 7 (Saturdays)
There will be no classes February 12 & 14
|
|
|
|
Applicants must attend an interview, classroom instruction (including
homework assignments and a final exam), and on-the-job transition
training. Classroom instruction typically requires one day a week
for five consecutive weeks, followed by 1.5 days of on-the-job training.
See details below. |
|
|
|
Pretraining Interview To participate in the training program,
a pretraining interview is required as well as successful completion
of a background investigation. Upon receipt of a completed application,
the training coordinator will set up a weekday or weekend interview
with applicant to discuss volunteer expectations, training parameters
and dates, and to confirm availability. |
|
|
|
Training Satisfactory completion of all phases of a three-phase
course of instruction for Volunteer Information Specialists is required
for participation in the two volunteer programs referenced. |
|
|
|
| - |
The first phase involves classroom sessions and museum
orientation tours. It acquaints trainees with the history
and organization of the Institution, the museum focus and
collections, and the use of information resources. Options
are available for weekday or weekend training. |
|
|
|
|
| - |
The second phase of the training is a supervised transitional
period during which trainees work directly with the public
in the Smithsonian Information Center. Additional museum tours
and self-study exercises may also be included. |
|
|
|
|
| - |
The last phase of the training is a one-session orientation
to the new volunteer’s regular museum information desk
assignment. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
While every effort is made to accommodate volunteer preference
for day, time, and museum placement, staffing vacancies dictate
assignment priorities. |
|
|
|
|
|
Contact the Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center
at 202.633.1000 (voice/tape) or 202.633.5285 (TTY) or e-mail volunteerinfo@si.edu (please provide return postal address). Note: Applicants
must be 18 years or older. |
|
|
|
Or print the application
form (requires Acrobat Reader) and fax it to 202.633.9353. |
|
|
|
Or fill out the online
application form and click on the Submit button in the lower right hand corner of the page to have your application
e-mailed to info@si.edu. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information
so please do not include sensitive information such as your SSN. |
|
|
|
Upon receipt of a completed application, the training coordinator
will contact applicant to set up a weekday or weekend pretraining
interview. Please Note: Volunteer appointments for applicants
will be subject to successful completion of a background investigation. |
|
|
|
For more information, please contact:
Training Coordinator: 202.633.5246 (voice/tape)
E-mail: volunteerinfo@si.edu |
|
|
|
You may download the free Acrobat Reader at www.adobe.com/acrobat/readstep.html |
|
|
