Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities

Host organisation: Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society

Project title: Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society library access development project

Project description

The project aims to develop a searchable catalogue database for the library of c500 books, based on the comprehensive Excel Accession Register and, secondly, to evaluate options and develop a costed plan for the production of a digitised and searchable index for the Journal as the basis for future fundraising.

This project follows on from the recommendations of the Emma Chambers’ SGSAH internship 2025-6, Draft Policy for the Strategic Development of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Library and Archive Collections, which identified as an objective
‘a systematic cataloguing project – ideally with a digital database accessible to staff, members and researchers’ (2.3.5) , echoed in the subsequent Recommendations to Council (August 2026), which confirmed cataloguing and indexing as a priority to make the Society’s Library and Journal articles searchable and, thus, much more widely accessible.

Outputs

  1. A sustainable, searchable catalogue library database that can be continued and maintained by the Society.
  2. Costed options for the scanning and digitisation of the pre-2005 Newsletters/ Journals with a view to the future creation of a searchable index. The second outcome would be the basis of a future fundraising.

In person/remote/hybrid

Hybrid.

Most of the work would be undertaken in Queen's Cross working closely with the Library itself, and its experienced volunteer librarian, Elizabeth Cameron, but some aspects of the work which is computer- based could be undertaken from home or elsewhere.

Benefits to the researcher

  • Research and evaluate options for creating a searchable Library catalogue from the Excel Accessions Register.
  • Develop an indexing framework for digitised material, including use of AI.
  • Work with the Society’s professional staff and experienced volunteers, including the volunteer Librarian, to define indexing categories and terminology and support decision-making.
  • Research options and costs of for the scanning and subsequent indexing of the pre 2005 Journals.
  • Develop business planning skills by analysing the requirements, costs and projected timescale needed to scan and index the pre-2005 Journals.
  • Gain insight into the economics and operation of an established, respected independent heritage charity.
  • Provide guidelines for the maintenance and operation of the programmes.
  • Have the satisfaction of having developed your own skills and experience while making a significant contribution to a major project of lasting value to the Society and all those interested in Glasgow’s cultural heritage and the cultural flowering that took place in the city during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Key relationships

The Society has 1 full-time and 3 part-time professional members of staff with all of whom the intern will have contact, but especially their mentor and the Director. Two trustees, Dr Evelyn Silber and Peter Trowles, experienced heritage professionals and art historians, will also act to provide some oversight and advice. Elizabeth Cameron, the Society's volunteer librarian for 10 years and a former professional librarian will be a vital and regular contact.

The Church is open to the public Monday, Wednesday and Friday with occasional events so there will be some public contact.

Subject areas

This opportunity would be relevant to the following subject areas:

Museum and Gallery Studies; Heritage Management; Art History; Library Studies; Information and Knowledge Management; Cultural History; Textual Editing and Bibliography.

Person specification

A1. Knowledge Base
  • Essential: Research methods – Practical application; Information Seeking; Information literacy and management.
  • Desirable: Subject knowledge.
A2. Cognitive Abilities
  • Essential: Analysing; Synthesising; Evaluating; Problem Solving.
  • Desirable: Critical thinking.
A3. Creativity
  • Desirable: Inquiring minds; Intellectual insight; Innovation.
B1. Personal qualities
  • Essential: Enthusiasm; Perseverance; Self-confidence; Responsibility.
  • Desirable: Integrity; Self-reflection.
B2. Self management
  • Essential: Preparation and prioritisation; Commitment to research; Time management.
  • Desirable: Responsiveness to change. 
B3. Professional & career development
  • Desirable: Responsiveness to opportunities.
C1. Professional conduct
  • Desirable: Respect and confidentiality; Appropriate practice.
C2. Research management
  • Essential: Project planning and delivery.
C3. Finance, funding & resources

  • Desirable: Infrastructure and resources.

D1. Working with others
  • Essential: Collegiality; Collaboration.
  • Desirable: Team working; Influence and leadership.
D2. Communication & dissemination
  • Desirable: Communication media.
D3. Engagement & impact
  • Desirable: Teaching; Public Engagement. 

First published: 28 September 2026

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