In large museums, the Education Specialist may produce special shows, films, and slide shows about the collections. A museum publications department is much like a book or magazine publisher. The biggest difference is that the writers and artists will primarily be museum staffers. The publications staff edits, designs, and oversees the publication of scholarly catalogs, annual reports, museum guidebooks, the members' newsletter, brochures about educational programs, and direct mail pieces for the development office. The public relations department is responsible for getting free outside publicity for the museum.
Large museums produce their own museum-inspired products, such as books, scarves, and jewelry.
Smaller museums, which may have no resources to produce replicas and other gifts, can make use of the Museum Store Association to stock their shops. This non-profit association arranges for items produced in large museums to be retailed by other institutions. Much of the staff may be volunteers, but professionals, especially in management positions, are sorely needed. The conservation department is the domain of the highly trained specialists who preserve and restore works of art. Restoration includes repairing and reconstructing ceramics and sculpture, cleaning paintings, repairing torn textiles, cleaning works on paper.