THEY DO Archivists and curators search for, acquire, catalog, exhibit, store and maintain art, artifacts, and other items of lasting value. These items are used for research, exhibit, educational or publication purposes, often in the context of museums. They may also plan and coordinate educational and outreach programs, conduct research on aspects of their collections, and work with the boards of their institutions to develop plans and policies.
Curators perform somewhat different, though related, tasks.
In small institutions, the positions of archivist and curator may overlap, with all duties being performed by the same person. In larger institutions there is more specialization. In these institutions, curators and archivists may specialize in a particular field. In the past few years, the recording of information about collections has become highly computerized. Computers are increasingly being used to store, maintain, and disseminate archival records.