The Special Collections Division of A.K. Smiley Public Library is excited to announce the new and improved museum docent program! Originally founded in 1972 to expand the offerings of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, the program will be revamped to include the forthcoming Museum of Redlands (MOR), creating a unified docent program that will encompass each of the programmatic elements that make up Smiley Library’s Special Collections.
Serving primarily as gallery guides, museum docents help answer questions from visitors, participate in special programming, assist curatorial staff in the care of exhibits, and encourage new recruits to join the team. Those who are interested can also provide guided tours to groups of all ages. In a community where history has been kept at the forefront by many residents, the Special Collections docent program is tailor made for all who enjoy sharing their knowledge of the past.
Docents will engage in a training course that will offer insight into the histories of Redlands and the Civil War, provide an in-depth understanding of the inaugural exhibits at MOR, and share tips on how to work with people in a museum setting. Supplemental training will be provided to tour guides and ongoing training opportunities will be available.
Additional volunteering opportunities include working in the MOR Museum Store, which will be operated by the Redlands Historical Museum Association in support of MOR. If you are interested in joining the team, fill out the interest form online or contact the Heritage Room at (909)798-7632 or heritage@akspl.org. Anyone age 16 and up is welcome to apply.