Seiler Library Internship, Spring 2025
Department: Library
Reports To: Associate Curator of Graphic Arts
FLSA: Full-time, non-exempt, temporary
Salary: $20.00 per hour
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts (on site, residential)
Duration: 35 hours per week for 10 weeks (350 hours maximum); February 10, 2025 through April 18, 2025.
Application Deadline: November 17, 2024
Organization Description:
The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) cultivates a deeper understanding of the American past, grounded in its ever-growing collection of printed and manuscript sources. The Society fosters a broad community of inquiry through inclusive programs and generous support of scholarship. A national research library and learned society founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, AAS is located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, children's literature, music, and graphic arts material printed before the twentieth century in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works. AAS was presented with the 2013 National Humanities Medal by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House. The Society is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of the institution.
Website: https://www.americanantiquarian.org/
Internship Description:
The Seiler Internship is an opportunity to explore librarianship by working at a national research library, participating in its daily activities, completing library-based projects, and beginning to develop a network of contacts in the field. This internship is generously sponsored by the Nadia Sophie Seiler Fund.
This internship will provide an overview of possible careers in the library field. While the candidate's interests will help shape the internship, we anticipate the intern will job shadow or work on projects in our graphic arts collections and reader services. The intern will also get to interview other staff and shadow other departments, depending on areas of interest. We also are planning for 1-2 field trips to other special collections libraries in the region. The intern will be required to maintain a journal detailing their experiences.
The Seiler Internship is a residential internship, and the Seiler Intern will live in AAS Scholars’ Housing. This will allow them to participate in Society events and to build relationships with other members of the Society’s community.
Additional information about the history of this internship: https://www.americanantiquarian.org/careers-internships/seiler-library-internship
Internship Compensation:
- Hourly rate: $20.00/hour
- Relocation allowance, to and from Worcester: a maximum of $1,250.
- Any costs associated with trainings and site visits
- Free housing on-site at AAS
Hours: 35 hours/week; Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Housing: A room in AAS Scholars’ Housing, either next door or across a residential street from the library, is included in the internship at no cost. By the start of the internship, the Seiler Intern must be at least 21 years of age.
Internship Qualifications:
Candidates will be interested in exploring librarianship and/or information science but not yet enrolled in a Master of Library and Information Science (or equivalent) graduate studies program.
Candidates must have completed some college coursework AND must be 21 years of age by the date the internship starts due to the residential housing requirement.
The Society invites applications from people who may come to the internship from a diversity of paths, including, but not limited to: a rising senior or recent graduate exploring potential career paths; someone in a graduate studies program other than library and information science; someone in the workforce or re-entering the workforce contemplating a career change.
Work environment:
The Seiler Intern will perform most of their duties in a shared office environment with artificial light and cool, controlled temperatures. Training in library software will be provided. The Seiler Intern will work with historical books and pamphlets, which may result in exposure to dust, mold, and other irritants. Training in handling historical materials will be provided.
Benefits: Not eligible for benefits except accrued sick time as per state law.
To apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume via our online platform. The application deadline is November 17, 2024; application review will begin on November 17, 2024, with decisions by January 6, 2025.
Applications without cover letters will not be considered. In their cover letters, candidates should discuss their interest in librarianship and how this internship specifically will contribute to their career path, and highlight any relevant interests, skills, and knowledge.
While we will ask for 1-2 references from all finalist candidates, you do not need to include them in your application.
There will be two rounds of interviews, preliminary and final. Preliminary interviews will be conducted by phone and final interviews will take place over Zoom.
Equal Opportunity Employment:
As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to equal employment and promotion opportunity regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.
For questions about the internship, please contact careers[at]mwa.org. Please do not submit applications to this address.