Archives Department Intern, Special Collections

The BPL Archives Internship is an opportunity for graduate students in library, archival science, and public history graduate programs to gain hands-on experience working with BPL’s vast archival collections. Interns will contribute to ongoing collection management and descriptive work and help BPL improve access to materials stewarded by the Archives Team in BPL’s Special Collections Department.

This internship meets the requirements for Simmon University’s SLIS Advanced Field Experience (LIS 512).

The primary goal of the internship is to give interns meaningful experience working with archival collections and exposure to various Special Collections tasks that facilitate access to our collections. Interns may work with a range of formats and collection types, including organizational records, personal and professional papers, architectural plans and records, individual manuscripts, and photographic material. Interns may focus on a single project or a few smaller projects but will gain exposure to varied work of the department through a variety of tasks. Projects will vary based on the interests and skills of each intern, and the current needs and priorities of the Archives Department. Though interns may contribute a piece of a larger or ongoing collection project, each intern will finish the semester with concrete, evidentiary products to demonstrate their contributions. 

Projects and tasks may include, but are not limited to: 

• Surveying, verifying, and inventorying unprocessed collections 
• Helping to prepare collections for access in the reading room 
• Stabilizing and rehousing collections to improve storage conditions 
• Helping to prepare collection materials for digitization 
• Selecting archival materials for outreach and public programing, like the monthly Special Collections samplers and open houses 
• Improving finding aid notes and description to bring finding aids up to compliancy with DACS

Interns will be paired with a BPL archivist who will serve as the primary internship supervisor and advisor. Interns will meet regularly with the intern supervisor to learn new skills, discuss project progress, and address questions and concerns as they arise. Interns will also have the chance to meet with other BPL archivists and Special Collections staff, join team meetings, and help page collections. 

Learning outcomes:

• Learn and apply archival professional standards and best practices for description and access. 
• Gain hands on skills working with archival materials by assisting in the physical review and stabilization of unprocessed archival collections for long-term storage and access. 
• Gain familiarity with commonly used collection management and tracking systems, ArchivesSpace and Aeon, through concrete tasks and shadowing. 
• Gain exposure to archives and special collections administration in a public library environment. 
• Practice communication and public speaking skills through team communication, participation in group meetings, and a final presentation to Special Collections staff on internship projects. 

Hours: Internship should be completed over 10 to 12-week span, with 10-12 hours per week, during the spring semester. Weekly schedule to be determined pending a conversation with the intern supervisor. Available internship hours are Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm only. 

Location: Boston Public Library – Central Library in Copley Square, 700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Interns may also accompany Archives Department staff to our off-site storage facility at the City of Boston Archival Center in West Roxbury.

Compensation: This internship includes a $2,860 stipend provided by the Associates of Boston Public Library.  

Required qualifications:

1. Education – Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university. In-process Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science/Public History (or equivalent), with preference given to students who have completed at least half of their program requirements. Though not required, we are willing to work with active students to obtain academic credit. 
2. Interest in archival processing and description in libraries, museums, historical societies, or other similar cultural heritage institutions. 
3. CORI – Must successfully clear a Criminal Offenders Record Information check with the City of Boston. Required for all staff working in secure spaces with rare materials.

Boston Public Library aims to help diversify the libraries, archives, and museums field by providing guided learning opportunities to individuals from varied economic, ethnic, cultural, social, and educational backgrounds. All individuals are welcome to apply. 

**About the BPL **

Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library is a pioneer of public library service in America. It was the first large free municipal library in the United States, the first public library to lend books, the first to have a branch library, and the first to have a children’s room. As a City of Boston historic cultural institution, Boston Public Library today features a central library and twenty-five neighborhood branches, serving nearly 4 million visitors per year and millions more online. Boston Public Library is a department of the City of Boston, under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu. 

The mission of the Library is focused on four core areas: reading and literacy, spaces and programs, reference and instruction, and special collections and cultural heritage. Our commitment to be ‘Free to All’ is carved into the façade of the Central Library in Copley Square, and we are proud to welcome everyone equally regardless of gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, faith, or economic status. 

Boston Public Library is committed to racial equity and to becoming an anti-racist organization and formed an action plan in 2020 in response to systemic racism, inequity, and injustice prevalent in our society. You can read more about the action plan and the steps BPL is taking to address diversity, equity, and inclusion _here. _

How to Apply:

To apply: Please send a resume/CV and letter or interest (or cover letter) to Lead Archivist Eve Neiger at [email protected] with the subject line “Applying for Archives Department internship.” Please indicate any timelines you have in mind for your internship and/or program expectations if the internship will count towards course credits.