The Thomas J. Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is now accepting applications for the next group of interns to participate in our Professional Training in Practical Librarianship internships. This is a two-semester, one-day-per-week unpaid internship that can often be used to satisfy internship course requirements.
The training will take place in the context of hands-on work whenever possible, but also through meetings and demonstrations with staff members. Interns can: work hands-on with technical services workflows; copy catalog monographs and/or auction catalogs in Sierra; gain experience on the desk working opposite a trained reference librarian; learn how to perform basic book conservation procedures (making enclosures, plastic covers, etc.); carry out basic acquisitions functions such as placing orders, selecting and receiving; learn the basics of creating metadata in CONTENTdm and working with our cutting edge scanners on digitization projects; help with record loads and data transformation; become familiar with serials workflows; and participate with various circulation activities such as paging, shelf-reading, and searching for missing books.
The newly-reconfigured internship program, now in its third year, will offer interns an opportunity to select and focus on particular tracks from the beginning, in addition to the hands-on experience we offer in all areas of the library. These tracks will involve working with a professional librarian as a mentor for two semesters, working on projects and building skills. More information about possible tracks can be found here:
The commitment is for one day per week for Fall 2016 and Spring 2017, following the academic calendar, for a total of 120 hours per semester. To apply, email john.lindaman@metmuseum.org with a cover letter and resume, with “internship application” as the subject line. Write briefly about your goals, previous library and library school experience, which three tracks would interest you, and why. We can’t guarantee we can offer everyone their first choice of track, so please give some thought to which three would be most useful to you in terms of what areas of librarianship you would like to move into, or learn more about.
A successful participant in this program will be a self-motivated, hard-working individual, who can work well as part of a team. You will have a significant opportunity to shape the direction of your internship and the depth of your involvement in particular aspects of library work; your initiative is key in identifying your own goals for the internship, so we can help you achieve them.
Please apply by June 1st; interviews will take place in June and applicants will be notified by July 1st.
