Libraries, Museums, and Archaeology

Due to the ever increasing portrayal of history in the media through film, documentaries and TV series, archaeology, history and cultural heritage are more accessible to the public and prominent in today’s popular culture more than ever before. Considerable investment has gone into new and refurbished museums across the UK, including the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and the new Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee. And, this year, the new visitor centre on the site of the Battle of Bannockburn is now complete in time for the 2014 Homecoming celebrations. The museum sector in Scotland is worth an estimated £800 million to the economy; both museums and galleries have been improving the presentation of their collections and the level of access given to the public. Scottish museums hold an annual event, Museums at Night, to give people the opportunity to visit our museums out of ‘normal’ hours. More use is being made of new media to allow visitors to interact with exhibits in more exciting and interesting ways. And, of course, libraries have also been changing and adapting to new technologies. More and more collections of literature, art and film are being made available digitally to the public. However, all of these sectors are largely supported by public funding, meaning they can be vulnerable to cuts in funding. This was particularly the case when the effects of the recent economic downturn saw central government and local authorities cutting costs in many areas, with culture and heritage being a featured casualty. As a result, library services and museums have had to look for ways to reduce their running costs, which has seen a dip in the number of vacancies in the last few years and even tougher competition for jobs. So, with stiff competition for jobs that sometimes are not particularly well paid, you will need to be determined, persistent and highly motivated.

• In April 2012 there were 6,012 archaeologists working in the UK, 66 posts more than last year, but still around 9% less than in 2007.
• Last year’s increase in archaeologists has been attributed to the growth of commercial, applied archaeology; over 50% of archaeological posts are funded by income coming from work related to land development or the planning process.
• There are limited opportunities in museums. Museum volunteering is a good way to get experience and make contacts.
• You really need to get voluntary work experience for both archaeology and museum work before applying for a job.
• There is also a lot of competition for jobs in libraries. Many local authorities are reducing the number of libraries in their area.
• It is easier to get jobs if you can move around the country.

If you want to work in any of these areas, you should be methodical, patient, well organised and prepared to pay attention to detail.

You need a degree for many jobs in this career area. If you want to be an archaeologist your degree should be in archaeology. To become a library or information professional, or a museum curator you could take a degree in a variety of subjects and follow that with a specialist postgraduate course. There are some jobs, such as library or information assistant, or museum or visitor services attendant, which you can get into straight from school.

Sources

Institute for Archaeologists website(www.archaeologists.net)

SLAINTE - Information and Libraries Scotland (www.slainte.org.uk)

The Economy...Loves Museums, 2010 (www.museumsassociation.org)

State of the Archaeological Market, April 2012: Landward Research Ltd (http://landward.eu)

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