Open Forum

Our facility interviews all prospective docent and intern applicants. If they are accepted into the program we run a simple criminal background check, similar to the one used for new employees. Hope this helps!

Mike, 

All prospective Docents must complete an interview at our museum as well. If they feel like a good fit, we then use a database called Checkr to complete our background checks. Within this database are various packages, so staff will typically have to complete a more thorough one, but our volunteers will be sent the Volunteer Package. 

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Briseyda Pulido
Volunteer Manager/Adult Group Scheduler
Cartersville GA
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We use AmericanChecked Inc. for all of our volunteers. We are a state run entity, but our docents and interns are managed through our private non-profit. We have a simple application form that includes spaces for job history and references. That is filled out along with an "Authorization for Background Check" page. We send this information off to AmericanChecked Inc. and they send us the results back within a few days. 

I’ve found that mixing a standard background check with a quick look at someone’s online presence can fill in gaps without slowing things down. A tool like socialprofiler.com can give you a light, fast snapshot of interests or possible red flags, which helps before bringing someone into closer contact with visitors. It pairs pretty well with the usual references and in-person interviews.

Agree with Vivian here. The majority of museum thefts are an "inside job" committed by staff, volunteers, or researchers who have access to the collections (in galleries or storage). For the security of your collection, we advise clients to conduct thorough background checks.

Because some of our volunteers interact with children, all of our volunteer applicants undergo a criminal background check, which includes a sexual offender registry check.

Great points here. About 90% of museum thefts involve employees or volunteers, so background checks matter a lot. That said, insurance is another piece that often gets overlooked-employee dishonesty/theft coverage is essential for museums, especially given the assets you're protecting. There are carriers that offer higher limits for museums because of that elevated risk.