A 30-60-90 day plan is a vital tool for new museum archivists to establish a clear path for their onboarding and professional development. It helps set achievable goals, define key milestones, and outline the steps necessary to become an effective steward of the museum's archival collections.
This customized 30-60-90 day plan for museum archivists enables you to:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the museum's archival holdings, cataloging systems, and preservation standards.
- Build collaborative relationships with curators, conservators, and other museum staff to support cross-departmental initiatives.
- Document progress and challenges while adapting workflows to meet the museum's mission and compliance requirements.
Whether you are stepping into a new archivist role or transitioning from another department, this plan provides a clear framework to guide your initial months and set you up for long-term success.
Benefits of a 30-60-90 Day Plan for Museum Archivists
Implementing a structured onboarding plan tailored to museum archivists offers several advantages:
- It provides a focused roadmap to navigate the complexities of archival management within a museum context.
- Accelerates your ability to contribute to collection preservation, digitization projects, and exhibition planning.
- Facilitates early engagement with key stakeholders, fostering trust and collaboration.
- Helps prioritize tasks that align with the museum’s strategic goals and compliance with archival standards.
Core Elements of the Museum Archivist 30-60-90 Day Plan
This plan is structured into three progressive phases, each with specific objectives and deliverables:
First 30 Days: Orientation and Assessment
- Familiarize yourself with the museum’s mission, organizational structure, and archival policies.
- Review existing archival collections, cataloging databases, and digital asset management systems.
- Meet with curatorial, conservation, and education teams to understand ongoing projects and collaboration opportunities.
- Identify immediate priorities such as backlog processing, condition assessments, or urgent digitization needs.
Days 31-60: Integration and Skill Development
- Begin hands-on work with archival materials, applying proper handling and preservation techniques.
- Develop or update finding aids and metadata records to improve collection accessibility.
- Participate in cross-departmental meetings to align archival activities with upcoming exhibitions or research initiatives.
- Attend relevant training sessions on archival software, preservation methods, or museum compliance standards.
Days 61-90: Contribution and Leadership
- Lead a small-scale project such as a digitization campaign, oral history collection, or public outreach program.
- Evaluate and propose improvements to archival workflows and documentation practices.
- Establish regular reporting mechanisms to track archival activities and outcomes.
- Mentor volunteers or interns assisting with archival tasks.
Throughout all phases, maintain detailed notes on progress, challenges, and feedback from supervisors and colleagues. Assign clear responsibilities and deadlines to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
This 30-60-90 day plan serves as a dynamic guide to help museum archivists transition confidently into their roles, contribute meaningfully to the preservation of cultural heritage, and support the museum’s broader educational and research missions.
