Job Description
The Rakow Research Library is the world’s foremost library on the art and history of glass and glassmaking, covering subject areas from archeology to zoology and everything glass in between. The Special Collections & Archives department holds nearly 200 unique collections from glass manufacturers, studios, renowned glass artists and scholars, as well as design drawings and works of art on paper.
Crafted to meet the professional skills desired by the intern, this internship will provide career-relevant, hands-on experience with special collections and archival materials.
Training and Development:
- Gain knowledge about the library’s collections and archives.
- Build a network of working professionals in the library and archival fields.
- Through practice, enhance analytic, observation, and organizational skills.
- Learn about archival theory and the best practices in the professional field.
- Professional orientation and skills development appropriate for a graduate student or recent graduate from a Library and Information Science program with an archival concentration.
- The intern will submit a self-reflection piece upon completion of the internship, addressing his/her work experiences during the program. The essay format will be flexible, to be chosen by the intern.
Responsibilities
The intern will work through all phases of processing an archival collection, beginning with accessioning, preserving, researching, arrangement and description, and culminating in the creation of an online finding aid in ArchivesSpace archival management software.
Additionally, the intern will participate in special collections/archives activities, including reference, and education and outreach, to gain a comprehensive overview of the operation of a special collections and archives department. The intern will put into practice techniques learned in courses, analyze archival issues as they come up in a real world setting, and observe principles of good practice. Throughout, the intern will be introduced to current archival theory, and best practices and standards in the profession.