Rare Collections Summer Intern - College

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student with a diverse background, looking for a career in libraries, archives, and museums? If so, the State Library of Pennsylvania, Rare Collections Library encourages you to apply for this exciting internship. The Rare Collections Library has been housed in a state-of-the-art preservation facility since 2006. These collections include some of the Commonwealth's oldest, rarest, most fragile materials, such as the Pennsylvania Assembly Collection, the Pennsylvania Imprints Collection, rare pamphlet volumes, and the Rare Newspapers Collection.

This internship gives you the opportunity to assist in the organization, preservation, and promotion of State Library collections. You will be focused primarily on a project organizing and describing a library history manuscript collection such as the records of the Pennsylvania Library Association or the State Library of Pennsylvania. Join us to gain the skills necessary to make your careers aspirations a reality!

This internship gives you a chance to develop a working knowledge of the basic history, theory, and best practices relating to materials found in special collections research libraries, including but not limited to printed books, manuscripts, archival material, and ephemera, prints, maps, and other graphic works. In this role, you will be assisting with archival arrangement, description, and preservation. This involves surveying, inventorying, and arranging materials; assisting with intellectual control of a manuscript collection(s) by creating DACS finding aids and catalog records; assisting with physical preservation of collections by rehousing materials in acid-free materials; as well as advising on materials needing conservation or preservation reformatting. To allow for additional experiences, you may be assigned tasks in the following areas:

• Assessing library materials for potential transfer to rare collections based upon established criteria
• Evaluating and fulfilling patron requests in-person or by email, phone, or mail
• Paging materials
• Assisting with maintaining the security of the collections through user monitoring and instructing users in the proper handling and use of materials
• Providing photocopies and/or scans of materials at patron request following relevant copyright guidelines, while preserving original items from damage
• Assisting with tours and programming
• Performing other duties as required or assigned by the Rare Collections Librarian or Bureau Director to assist in the efficient operation of the library

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Internship, Summer 2026
• Flexible schedule 10 to 20 hours per week for 10 weeks between May and August 2026 between the hours of 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Internship Requirements:

• Currently enrolled full time (carrying 12 or more credits), Undergraduate student enrolled in any major, OR Graduate student (full or part-time) enrolled in a library science, archives, history, or museum program.
• Spring of 2026 graduates may also be considered for this program.
• Must be in good academic standing (as defined by a GPA of 2.0 or higher).

Additional Requirements:

• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.