The Volunteer Organization

	Purpose
	How to Become a Volunteer
	Volunteer Privileges
	Structure
	Program

In 1974, in response to a call for volunteer guides, 15 women applied for, and subsequently completed, a course of study. This was the nucleus of a volunteer organization which today numbers more than 240 men and women, encompassing every area of the Museum from guiding, information and research, to curatorial and shop assistance.

• The primary function of the Volunteer Organization of the Israel Museum is to serve the Museum. The Organization is integral to the process of utilizing the Museum's resources for the benefit of the largest possible public.
• Volunteer work is time-consuming and demanding, but it provides an outstanding and continuous education in all fields represented by the Museum's collections.
  
  All volunteers must be members of the Israel Museum.

Volunteers are invited to apply in the following areas:

• Guiding
• Staffing the Information Desks
• Assisting in the Museum Shops
• Assisting in Departments
• Applicants should make an appointment with the Coordinator of Volunteers for a preliminary interview and fill out a questionnaire documenting education, experience, and skills. A working knowledge of Hebrew and English is essential; any additional languages are an asset.
• It is advisable to join the scheduled guided tours in the Museum in order to become thoroughly acquainted with the collections.
• The time commitment required of all volunteers is substantial. In general, the Coordinator and the appropriate subcommittee of the General Executive Committee set the time requirements for every area of volunteer activity. This may be revised as the need arises. Tuesday mornings should be set aside for Museum-related activities.
• When the required training course has been completed, volunteers sign a Museum Volunteer Agreement which states their commitments and responsibilities.
• Upon acceptance to the program, volunteers receive Museum security identification tags.

• Ongoing education ( hishtalmut ) is open to all volunteers. These sessions are compulsory for the guides and recommended for all volunteers.
• All Museum libraries and information centers are available to the volunteers. The Museum library is a source of information on all fields covered by our collections. The small library established in the Volunteer Office is available during office hours or in coordination with the librarian.

  The following privileges are available after three months of service:

• A number of scholarships are available for Youth Wing courses. Allocation is at the Museum's discretion, upon recommendation of the Coordinator.
• Volunteers enjoy special discounts in Museum shops and restaurants.
• Free tickets to Museum events may be obtained from the Volunteer Office when available. Audioguides are free of charge.
• Parking: A sticker for identification of the volunteer's car may be obtained from the Volunteer Office. This permits entry into the Museum's private parking area to volunteers whose area of activity is within the main building.

The Volunteer Organization is under the aegis of the Director of the Museum.

Coordinator of Volunteers

• The Coordinator of Volunteers heads the self-governing organization and reports to the Director of the Museum.
• The appointment of the Coordinator of Volunteers is approved by the Director of the Museum.

  The Coordinator:

• serves as liaison between the Director and staff of the Museum and the Volunteer Organization.
• heads and works in cooperation with the General Executive Committee in ensuring the smooth operation of the volunteer program.
• serves for a four-year term, renewable with the consent of the Director of the Museum and the General Executive Committee of the Volunteer Organization.

  The General Executive Committee
  The General Executive is composed of:

• the Coordinator of Volunteers
• the former Coordinators of Volunteers
• the Administrative Assistant
• the chairpersons of the English-speaking and Hebrew-speaking guide programs
• the chairperson of the information desk program
• the chairperson of the shop program
• the chairperson of the departmental program
• representatives of the Education Committee
• the chairperson of special events

  Administrative Assistant
  The Administrative Assistant assists the Coordinator of Volunteers in the administrative and clerical responsibilities of the office, works with the volunteer leadership, serves as liaison to the Education Committee, and works with the Museum staff, both curatorial and administrative.

  Volunteer Program Chairpersons
  Each volunteer program has its own chairperson, who heads a working committee that ensures the smooth operation of the program in conjunction with the Coordinator and the Museum staff. Chairpersons serve for a two-year term, renewable by consent of members of the particular program.
  Chairpersons report to the Coordinator.

  Education Committee
  The Education Committee is composed of:

• chairpersons of ongoing training ( hishtalmut ) in Hebrew and English.
• coordinators of temporary exhibitions guided in Hebrew and English.
• coordinators of special courses, for the duration of the course, in Hebrew and/or English.

  The Education Committee serves a two-year term. Its chairmanship rotates every eight months among the above-mentioned chairpersons/coordinators. The chairperson reports to the Coordinator of Volunteers. Program chairpersons and volunteers assigned to specific projects are invited to attend the Education Committee as the need arises.

  Ombudsman
  The Ombudsman is the coordinator of the Museum's Visitor Service, whose duties are to investigate complaints, report findings, and mediate fair solutions.

The Volunteer Program is divided into four categories:
1. Guide Program
2. Information Desk Program
3. Shop Program
4. Departmental Program

1. Guide Program
The Guide Program is the most challenging and demanding volunteer activity. Guides convey the image of the Museum to the public, not only imparting the information necessary for a successful tour, but also acting as public relation officers.

• Scheduled guided tours are given in Hebrew, English, German, and French. Perfect command of the language of the tour is a requisite. Knowledge of other languages is an asset for special tours.
• Training courses for the Guide Program in Hebrew and/or English are conducted according to the needs of the Museum. Candidates are screened by an interview committee. Fees may be required for courses.
• Following a period of intensive study, the guide is tested by the curatorial staff and/or course directors and approved by the Coordinator of Volunteers and the Education Committee. A three-month trial period precedes the decision to accept the guide. After a period determined by the Education Committee a peer review is held.

Training Program: The training program consists of two parts.

• The first is an intensive preparatory course covering every aspect of the collections in the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, Rockefeller Museum, and Ticho House. The candidate learns how the Museum functions and how collections are preserved, restored, and displayed. The activities of the Youth Wing are surveyed. Special attention is paid to the public relations aspect of the tours.
• The second area of training is under the heading of hishtalmut , an ongoing program of lectures given by curators or by experts from outside the Museum. Attendance is compulsory for guides.
• After the training period, the candidate is required to lead tours in the presence of guides or members of the Museum staff, or both. This informal presentation helps both the candidate and the staff to clear up any difficulties.
• Candidates are assessed not only for the information they convey, but how they convey it (diction, objectivity, etc.).
• Upon completing the training course and passing the testing session, the candidate is qualified as a volunteer guide and begins the three-month trial period.

Peer Review: The periodic evaluation of guides is an integral part of maintaining high standards. The purpose of evaluation is to provide feedback and create opportunities for individual improvement.

• Guides are re-evaluated every three years.
• The peer review committee consists of two teams of reviewers, each composed of a coordinator and one active guide, who serve on a rotating basis.
• A standard evaluation sheet will be used as a basis for peer review.
• A tour and discussion session will take place with the guide under review. This feedback helps to assure adherence to standards and provides opportunities for improvement where necessary.
• The evaluation sheet and peer review committee report will be submitted to the Coordinator of Volunteers.
• If the tour is not up to par, a re-evaluation may be made one month later. If there is a continuing problem, this will be referred to the Coordinator of Volunteers. Curators may be invited to join the team of reviewers. Peer review fosters interaction, the exchange of ideas, and mutual inspiration among volunteers. It is to be conducted in an atmosphere of confidentiality and sensitivity.

Guidelines: To maintain high standards of service as volunteer guides in the Israel Museum, the following guidelines are submitted:

• Guides must be available for a minimum of two tour assignments per week and are responsible for fulfilling their assigned tours.
• The scheduling chairperson must be notified of all projected absences or changes of days.
• Tour reports should be handed in when requested.
• A guide who cannot fulfill an assigned tour must find a replacement and inform the Volunteer Office of the change.
• Unexcused absence from two assigned tours in a six-month period automatically places the guide on probation. The length of the probation period will be decided by the guides' program committee. Those who leave the country for an extended stay must advise the Coordinator.
• A guide who has not guided in a three-month period shall be considered inactive. An inactive guide must request from the Coordinator to be returned to active status, at which time the Coordinator may appoint members of the Education Committee to help and observe the returning guide.
• Guides are required to attend all ongoing education sessions and all monthly guide meetings. Guides must set aside all Tuesday mornings for Museum-related activities.

Categories of Tours:

• The highlights tour offers an overview of the Museum according to the needs of the public.
• The specialized tour elaborates on the Museum's Archaeological Treasures, on Jewish Ceremonial Art and Ethnography, or on the Arts collections. The Shrine of the Book tour views the Dead Sea Scroll exhibits.
• Temporary exhibitions and/or special exhibit tour: When new temporary exhibitions are of sufficient interest to the public, these exhibitions are afforded a special tour. Additional training is provided when temporary exhibitions are to be guided.
• Special tours: Tours for VIPs and special groups are frequently requested by the Museum. A guide is contacted individually for these tours, some of which take place in the evening hours.

Extracurricular Education: Guides are encouraged to attend courses at The Hebrew University, Ben Zvi Institute, or other recognized institutions. The Center for Jewish Art and other specialist societies often run seminars during the year. Usually, special arrangements can be made for attending these programs. All volunteers are encouraged to attend public gallery talks and lectures given by the Museum's curators and outside experts brought to the Museum for this purpose.

2. The Information Desk Program
The Information Desk of the Israel Museum began with a few volunteers in one position in 1974. Today two positions, a lower information desk at the main entrance pavilion and an upper information desk at the entrance of the main building, operate during all Museum opening hours. On Saturday only the lower information desk is open.

Requirements: Fluent Hebrew and English is a prerequisite. Other languages are welcome. Familiarity with the Israel Museum is an advantage. Information desk volunteers must commit to serve a minimum of one year.

Training Program: The desk volunteer will receive thorough on-the-job training. Attendance at continuing education sessions (hishtalmut) is highly recommended. A Walkabout is given once a month to acquaint desk volunteers with new exhibitions, special exhibits, and new acquisitions.

Guidelines: Information desk volunteers must be available for at least one two-and-a-half-hour shift per week. The shifts begin at 9:45 a.m. daily and end at the closing of the Museum.

• If unable to serve as scheduled, information desk volunteers are responsible for finding a replacement from the information desk volunteer list and notifying the desk coordinator accordingly.

Duties: Information desk volunteers:

• are responsible for welcoming and orientating the visitor.
• distribute Museum brochures, detailed Museum maps in Hebrew and English, and schematic maps in 23 languages.
• are responsible for membership registration and renewal. This service is offered at both the upper and lower information desk.
• record visitors' remarks in the Information Desk Diary.

The information desk volunteer is responsible for creating a good first impression and setting the tone for a successful and enjoyable visit to the Museum.

3. The Shop Program
Shop volunteers assist in the work of the permanent staff of Israel Museum Products, Ltd. IMP, Ltd. owns the Museum gift shops, whose express purpose is to engage in the sale and promotion of artistic and cultural products in conjunction with the Museum. The corporation acquires goods, services, and expertise from the Museum and uses its store space and storage facilities in a full business relationship. The shops are situated in the main building of the Museum, in the entrance pavilion, and in the Shrine of the Book. They sell books, paper products, original items, reproductions, and adaptations of the Museum's treasures.

Requirements: Spoken fluency in Hebrew and English is essential. Knowledge of other languages is an advantage. Familiarity with the Israel Museum is necessary. Shop volunteers must commit themselves to serving a minimum of one year.

Training Program: The shop volunteer will receive thorough on-the-job training. Attendance at continuing education sessions (hishtalmut) is highly recommended. A Walkabout is given once a month to acquaint shop volunteers with new exhibitions, special exhibits, and new acquisitions.

Guidelines: Shop volunteers must be available for at least one shift per week, each shift lasting three-and-a-half-hours during Museum opening hours.

Shop volunteers render a very important service to the Museum. The demands are high but the satisfaction of a job well done and a contented visitor are compensation for the effort.

4. Departmental Program
One-third of the entire volunteer body serve in fifteen different departments of the Museum. The expertise of these volunteers attracts them to these departments; many departmental volunteers are professionals in their fields.

• The departmental volunteers serve in every department of the Museum, working primarily with the Museum staff, and wherever extra hands are needed. Their assignments range from researching, cataloging, and mounting exhibitions or computerizing archives, to polishing silver.
• Departmental volunteers are directly responsible to staff members and to their committee chairperson. They are trained on the job by the staff members with whom they are working. Time commitment will be determined by the assignment.
• While the assignments performed by the departmental volunteers vary, requirements and privileges are the same as for all volunteers.
• All departmental volunteers are encouraged to participate in the regular hishtalmut and Volunteer Organization events.