Elizabeth McKinnon
Croydon,NSW
Summary
Organized Archivist with ten-year background in acquiring, managing and maintaining archives, records and collections. Committed to making information easily accessible and following Museum standards, policy and procedures. Inquisitive and methodical with proficiency in operating database software such as KE EMu, Content Manager and DAMs. Adept at delivering outcomes with long-term impact on clients, collections, and colleagues as demonstrated with four years experiences with the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences working within the Archives team.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Archivist
Museum Of Applied Arts And Sciences
2020.08 - Current
- Demonstrated initiative and judgement in arranging and describing the archive for the Chief Executive, ensuring discretion and integrity handling confidential and sensitive records.
- Effectively balanced requirements for access to Institutional Archives by managing the re-organisation archive storage at Castle Hill.
- Managed acquisition process for Are Media archive, collaborating with the Manager Archives in listing and assessment of the archive.
- Trained volunteers and interns in archival practices, including proper handling techniques, cataloguing procedures, ensuring high standard of care for collections.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to care for collections, including registration, curatorial and conservation.
- Assisted internal and external researchers to access and utilise collection in accordance with the Museum's Archive Policy and procedures.
- Managed the redevelopment of the Museum's access directives, instating new directives for First Nations' records (in collaboration with First Nations Team), in accordance with the amendments to the NSW State Records Act.
- Maintaining consistent workflow while working on projects with competing priorities.
- Demonstrated flexibility collaborating with teams and accessing collections across all sites.
- Researched and fact checked images and information for relaunch of the Museum website, working closely with the Photo Library.
- Promoted awareness of Renewal Archives through presentations at all staff and divisional meetings.
Records Coordinator
Australian Museum
2015.10 - 2020.08
- Maintained EDRMS, Content Manager, including setting security and access restrictions, creating and closing user profiles, quality control of entered records, developing and implementing record types. Analysing daily audit logs for monthly reports to the Manager of Archives, Rare Books, and Research Library, using findings to influence training and communication strategies to increase the use and quality of records.
- Developed guides and procedures for Content Manager for users at various profile levels. With a customer focus, guides were succinct yet informative with screenshots for users to follow. Created guides in plain English for ease of use for the general record keeper. Provided guidance and advice to staff creating and managing records.
- Project managed records disposal ensuring the correct sentencing of files following NSW Government retention and disposal authorities.
- Developed and implemented plans for ongoing storage of records and archives at multiple facilities based on retention, usage, and future disposal planning.
- Weekly off-site collection work at the Museum's storage facility at Castle Hill, completing sentencing and disposal projects, rehousing paper and material archives, and accessioning material into the collection. Assisted with collection administration, documentation and cataloguing, processing, storage, movement and transport of archives, and creating and maintaining records.
- Project managed a large paper file relocation project with excellent time management skills to complete in a short timeframe. This project included managing a tight budget and a small team to sentence, box and relocate 3000 files in 5 weeks. During this project, records identified as archival were accessioned into the collection after the freezing process for their transfer into a strict pest controlled environment.
- Developed strategies to transition from paper-based record keeping to electronic. These strategies included user training, reporting to the Executive on project goals, communication, and internal PR campaigns. Under my management of the record keeping program, the museum increased electronic record keeping from 45% to 93%.
Archivist
Australian Museum
2013.09 - 2018.06
- Assisted internal and external users of the archives with research enquiries. This included facilitating access to the Archives, providing resources, and effectively communicating with customers. Associated administration with this task involved the completion of access and image use forms and often licensing documentation when researchers wished to publish material from the archives.
- Supervised the acting records coordinator, developing their skills and promoting their professional growth. We set goals and a work plan to meet the Archives, Rare Books, and Research Library unit goals and continued quality management of the EDRMS.
- Operated various scanners and accompanying software and photographic equipment for the digitisation of documents, photographic prints, film negatives, transparencies, slides, and glass plate negatives for access, preservation, and publication. For photographed/scanned archives, once uploaded, selected images were adjusted post-production using Adobe Photoshop to crop and balance contrast.
- Demonstrated archival knowledge and attention to detail in archival catalogue software, KE EMu, to accession and create new series items and item parts. Location and change in location of archives updated accordingly.
- Demonstrated archival handling techniques for both paper and non-paper formats through daily use of the collection for activities such as digitisation, display, and research.
- Liaised with Materials Conservation team in up-keeping of the Integrated Pest Management program, including but not limited to freezing or fumigation of incoming archival material, housing material in appropriate storage containers, and monitoring the environmental conditions in collection storage areas.
- Boxed, wrapped and prepared archival material in ongoing storage relocations to the Museum's off-site facility. Followed correct work health safety procedures when interacting with high shelving and lifting of objects.
- Curated displays within the Museum, drawing on prior experience working in exhibitions teams and applying archival and conservation knowledge. The displays promoted the Archives and became the first of continued archival shows held in a permanent location in the museum.
- Assisted in the research and authorship of the publication ‘Capturing nature: early scientific photography at the Australian Museum 1857-1893’. Applied research skills to investigate these images, cross-referencing our archives, such as correspondence, reports, accession schedules, and more.
Project Officer
Sydney Living Museums (Museums Of History NSW)
2013.07 - 2015.09
- Uploading professionally photographed images and accompanying metadata into the Image Management System, FotoStation. This data entry required great attention to detail to correctly enter data for usability, such as copyright information and image rights.
- Maintained and updated exhibition content lists in an in-house access database. Full records of objects included and excluded in each exhibition were kept in content lists and entered in the records management system, TRIM, after each project.
- Provided background research on objects, themes, and images for exhibition and website use. Researched sources were from primary resources as well as articles, books, and internet research.
- Drove to various locations to collect loans, donated and purchased materials for display. Excellent communication and people skills were required when collecting from lending institutions and donors to the museum to maintain strong relationships and community connections.
- Demonstrated teamwork by assisting in exhibition installation and de-installations. With white card certification, operated power tools to assemble display cases and plinths along with the painting of walls, installing lighting with correct lux for best practice standards for objects conservation.
- Transcribed film dialogue to create subtitles for films on the Museum website and in exhibitions, enabling hearing impaired visitors to have a fulfilling experience interacting with the films. Attention to detail was necessary not only for correct spelling and accurate transcription, but the formatting and flow of the words were transitioning on the screen for ease of reading.
- Maintained exhibition schedule using Microsoft excel and distributed to the team as updates appeared.
- Generated purchase orders and paying invoices for the team in SAP.
Education
Graduate Diploma - Records Management And Archives
Curtin University
Perth, WA06.2019
Master of Museum Studies -
University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW11.2013
Bachelor of Arts And Sciences - Archeology
University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW11.2012
Skills
- Archival/collection catalogue - KE EMu
- EDRMS - Content Manager
- Financial system - SAP
- Microsoft Office suit
Languages
Spanish
Full Professional
Timeline
Archivist
Museum Of Applied Arts And Sciences
2020.08 - Current
Records Coordinator
Australian Museum
2015.10 - 2020.08
Archivist
Australian Museum
2013.09 - 2018.06
Project Officer
Sydney Living Museums (Museums Of History NSW)
2013.07 - 2015.09
Graduate Diploma - Records Management And Archives
Curtin University
Master of Museum Studies -
University of Sydney
Bachelor of Arts And Sciences - Archeology
University of Sydney
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