Image Researcher

Image Researcher - Dictionary of Agricultural Hand Tools Project

Location: The reading room at The MERL, and volunteering from home where appropriate

Why we want you 

An opportunity has arisen for a volunteer to assist in creating a final version of the Agricultural Hand tools Dictionary so it can be published.

Chris Green, an independent researcher who has been a MERL Fellow, has been working on a ‘Historical Dictionary of Agricultural Hand tools.’ 

Details of images Chris intends to use have become lost, and some of the page numbers in the draft are out of sync. 

What you will be doing 

  • sorting out page number changes in the draft, or if necessary highlighting which ones can be sorted out and which are problematic
  • sourcing illustrations
  • adding in references for illustrations that come from books in the MERL Library

This role will suit you if you are

  • Able to work independently
  • Interested in rural history
  • Enthusiastic, proactive and curious

What you will gain in return  

  • This project will help you discover more about agricultural hand tools
  • Develop skills around book editing
  • Gain some new skills for your CV

Who does the role report to?
Dr Ollie Douglas, Curator of MERL collections

How much time will it take up? 

We suggest you attend the reading room in person on a Monday afternoon 1-4pm when we can offer supervision.

If you are not available on Mondays, we would do our best to accommodate you on an alternative day.

We estimate that this may take approximately six weeks, with the possibility of extension if necessary.

To apply

If you are able to use a computer or mobile device, please complete your volunteer registration form on our volunteering platform by 9am on Wednesday 5 February 2025.

If you are using a mobile or tablet, once you click ‘Fill in an Application’, look out for the suggestion ‘It looks like you are on a mobile device. For a better experience on smart phones, go to Mobile Application Form’ and click on the link it suggests.

*Please ensure you tick ‘Image Researcher’ in your ‘Interests’ section under My profile, when registering*

When you are happy with your application, please don’t forget to click SUBMIT – otherwise we will never receive your form! 

We often find that more volunteers apply for the role than we have vacancies.
We expect to receive a lot of interest for this position.
You are welcome to attach your CV if you wish, but please include key relevant information when answering the application form questions, as this may be used if we need to shortlist from a larger group of applicants. 

A hard copy application form is available for those who are not confident in using computers or have limited digital access. Please email VolunteeringHQ@reading.ac.uk and we can send you a Word application form which can be completed digitally, or printed and handed in.

Existing volunteers/ already registered your application - If you are already registered to volunteer with Museums Partnership Reading, please log in to the volunteering platform, click on My Profile, select the ‘Interests’ section, and ensure you tick the box next to ‘‘Image Researcher’ on our volunteering platform by 9am on Wednesday 5 February 2025.

Matching to the role

If you are shortlisted for this role, we will be in touch directly soon after the closing date.