Institutional Archives Intern (Library) internship

 The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a multi-mission science operations center for NASA’s flagship observatories. Our world-class astronomical research center is based on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. (Click here to learn more about STScI). This position can support hybrid work. Candidates must reside in our local market. (MD, DE, VA, PA, DC & WV).

Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is looking for an archives intern to assist archives staff with capturing, curating, and preserving assets of enduring value that highlight the milestones and achievements of the institute and its flagship missions. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience assessing, deduplicating, processing, describing, and enriching both digital and analog materials.

Please check with your local university to confirm this experience will qualify as work for credit. Hours are flexible 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Mon-Fri. The successful candidate will be expected to work 6-12 hours per week depending on availability and/or university credit requirements, with an on-site presence at least one day per week. The duration of the internship is one academic year, from Sept 2024 through May 2025.

Duties & Responsibilities

With assistance from the Institutional Archive staff, you will:

1. Assist with data entry and clean up for existing records in the collections management system (CMS)
   1. Enter affiliations for co-authors and contributors
   2. Enter Table of Contents
   3. Ensure all creator entries have alternate creator(s) and affiliation authorities listed within the CMS
2. Assist in de-duplication of electronic-only and analog records
3. Assist in metadata creation for unprocessed records
4. Assist in processing of analog records for storage at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) facility
   1. Create collection inventories documenting item descriptions and management history
   2. Organize and rehouse materials of various formats
5. Assist with curation of revolving exhibits
6. Contribute to Institutional Archive communications (newsletters, Archive Slack channel)
7. Assist with migrating digital collection to a new collection management system
   1. Develop user guides and/or training materials for general users
   2. Test access to digital items and user navigation experience
8. Conduct web crawls to capture online content

Supervision

Works independently under the general direction of archive staff, including Processing Archivist, Digital Archivist, and the Deputy Branch Manager after initial training (~2-4 weeks), with regularly scheduled check-ins throughout the duration of the internship.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in archives.
• Candidates enrolled in an accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s program in archives or similar, such as museum studies, will be given preference.
• Recent graduates (past ~12 months) may also apply.
• Please note previous experience working in an archive is not required – this is an entry level opportunity to give prospective or current students, or recent graduates, an opportunity to gain experience working in a scientific archive.
• Ability to follow through on a documented process or workflow with multiple steps or phases.
• Ability to make decisions and recognize when it is necessary to defer to other staff.

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