American Archive Project Internship, WGBH Media Library & Archives, Boston MA
Posted November 22, 2013
WGBH is public service media for New England–on TV, radio, the Web, and out in the community. We’re the single largest producer of PBS prime time and online programming, and a major source of programs heard on public radio from coast to coast. We’re a pioneer in educational multimedia and in media access technologies for people with hearing or vision loss.
Department Description:
The WGBH Media Library & Archives manages all physical and digital media and paper records, including materials that need to be retained for production, legal, fiscal, historical or administrative purposes, for the WGBH Educational Foundation. The WGBH Archives currently house more than 750,000 items including video, audio and film master materials, many containing active as well as historical and archival materials. The MLA also manages all aspects of film research: cataloging, tracking, and organizing the stock and originally shot footage and images that go into our productions. The MLA negotiates and administers discount stock footage deals with major footage archives, and licenses WGBH stock footage to outside clients. Our web sites provide glimpses into the work and projects of the WGBH Media Library & Archives:
http://americanarchiveinventory.org
Project Description:
An unprecedented and historic collection of American public radio and television content – dating back through the 1950s – will be permanently preserved and made available to the public through a collaboration between the Library of Congress and WGBH Boston as the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.
In 2007, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) initiated an inventory of public media content from contributing stations, resulting in 2.5 million records representing complete programs, raw footage, unedited interviews, recorded speeches, and live music sessions. Now, 40,000 hours of that content is being digitized and is slated for transfer and long-term preservation through a collaboration between the Library of Congress and WGBH, with funding support from CPB.
Over the next two years, WGBH will be responsible for:
- Growing the collection and enhancing metadata
- Re-engaging the PBCore community in its further development as a standard for media materials, and encouraging its use by public media stations
- Creating resources and training opportunities for participating organizations
- Building the American Archive website
- Developing strategy and identifying opportunities for long-term sustainability
- Project promotion and outreach
Internship Description:
The WGBH Media Library & Archives has an opportunity for a graduate student in library science, computer science, linguistics or related fields to work in a film and media archive. Come and help us preserve the history of public television and radio! Help us make it accessible to the American public and for future generations!
The American Archive project intern will work with the Project Manager on the American Archive project funded by the Corporation For Public Broadcasting. The goal of the project is a comprehensive archive of radio and television programming, ensuring its collection, management and preservation. Interns will assist with the editing, enhancement, and normalization of records for the digitized media. This is an excellent opportunity to learn moving image cataloging, the PBCore metadata schema (pbcore.org), and data normalization.
The intern will have the opportunity to work on other MLA projects as priority dictates.
Skills Preferred:
Basic computer skills, familiarity with Macintosh computers.
Attention to detail and precise work extremely important.
Internet savvy, with good web and library search skills.
Previous coursework in cataloging helpful.
Knowledge of XML helpful.
Familiarity with digital libraries and library practices also helpful.
WGBH Internship Requirements:
1. WGBH internships are open only to students enrolled in an accredited college or university
2. Internships are unpaid.
3. Interns are expected to commit 8-10 hours/week. Daily scheduling is flexible during normal business hours.
Applicants interested in the Internship should send a resume and a statement of interest by email to:
Casey Davis: [email protected]