Library volunteers

With more than 140,000 titles, the Van Abbemuseum has one of the biggest art-history libraries in the South Netherlands. The library also manages a unique collection of art books, special archives and sub-collections and is known for the good access it offers to its catalogues and archives. It welcomes researchers from the Netherlands and abroad as well. 

The library is looking for a number of volunteers to fill the following two roles with immediate effect:

1. Public support volunteer
2. Digitisation support volunteer

Public support volunteer

Are you passionate about art history, research and books? Are you precise, helpful and a team player? If your answer to both these questions is ‘yes’, this is the role for you!

• About the role: you will help researchers and visitors who want to expand their knowledge. Researchers with specific questions book in advance; you will assist them downstairs in the reading room. If visitors want to read a magazine or expand their knowledge via a current exhibition, you will direct them to the entrance of the old building;
• Team: you will work in a team with two other colleagues initially and be joined by a third in the near future;
• Availability: the successful candidate will be available between 11.00 and 17.00, at least one day a week, from Tuesday to Friday inclusive;
• Procedure: the first year will give us an opportunity to get to know each other. If we are happy at the end of this year, it will be possible to extend our arrangement with you twice (for four years each time).

Digitisation support volunteer

Do you have a passion for art and are you interested in archives? Are you systematic, precise and do you have an eye for connections? If your answer to both these questions is ‘yes’, this is the role for you!

• About the role: the Van Abbemuseum is working hard to open up its archives. Digitisation is playing a key role in this process. When digitising a big collection archive, you will help prepare the artwork files. Your duties will include removing duplicate documents and organising files uniformly, etc.;
• Team: you will work in a team consisting of you and two other colleagues (they are responsible for coordinating the digitisation project);
• Availability: the successful candidate will be available between 09.00 and 17.00, at least one day a week, from Monday to Friday inclusive;
• Duration of volunteer role: we expect the digitisation project to last one year, until spring 2024. This volunteer role will end when the digitisation process has been completed.

A combination of these two volunteer roles is possible too.

What we can offer you

You will work in a dynamic environment, a meeting place for art and culture lovers. We can also offer you:

• a unique look behind the scenes at a big, international art institution;
• a museum card that gives you free entry to 450 museums in the Netherlands;
• a travel allowance;
• publications by the Van Abbemuseum;
• participation in knowledge expansion sessions and training courses organised for volunteers;
• the opportunity to attend work drink events and receive an end-of-year gift;
• free entry to events, openings, lectures and artist talks at the Van Abbemuseum.

Respond

If you are interested in either or both of the roles above, please apply by e-mailing your CV and a short motivation letter to bibliotheek@vanabbemuseum.nl, for the attention of Steven ten Thije, Head of Collections and Head of the Library. You may also contact Steven ten Thije with any questions you have about the library or the roles above.