Volunteer Experience at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures
Lee, Sadie J.; Stavast, Paul
Abstract
As BYU’s “teaching” museum, the MPC provides a setting where BYU students can gain real museum experience. Under the mentorship of professional staff, museum class students and student employees are responsible for researching, developing, and installing exhibitions; processing and cataloging incoming and current collections; and organizing and cataloging excavation notes and other collection records. Beyond classes and employment, the MPC also provides an oft-overlooked educational experience for student volunteers. Under the supervision of student employees, volunteers provide assistance in creating and distributing educational materials, cataloging collections, organizing records, and other tasks necessary for the daily maintenance of museum operations. I hypothesize that this involved approach provides a unique learning experience that can help student volunteers develop useful skills and discover educational and professional opportunities within their areas of interest.