Alaska State Library (Alaska State Museum)

In 2007, the Alaska State Museums established an internship program at local museums and cultural centers where graduate students nationwide are recruited and placed in remote institutions across Alaska to complete their museum studies requirement. Since 2007, 42 interns have completed residency programs in Alaska museums and cultural centers, with some returning after graduation to take permanent jobs in Alaskan institutions. After the Alaska State Museums moved into a new building, staff saw the move as an opportunity for mentorship. During the moving process, the Alaska State Museums established the "EXO" project (short for external operatives), bringing 31 museum professionals from 12 institutions and cultural centers to help move the museum's entire collection, while learning the proper way to maintain, conserve and preserve artifacts. The "EXO" project afforded museum professionals training opportunities otherwise unavailable in Alaska and the chance to network with Alaska State Museums staff, while gaining hands-on collection management experience.