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Archives Aide/Intern, Everglades National Park, Homestead FL

Posted March 30, 2014

South Florida Collections Management Center

Archives Internship Opportunities

(Limited number of paid internships; Park housing costs covered for unpaid interns)

Title: Archives Aide/Intern

Supervisor:  Bonnie Ciolino, Archivist

Program: Everglades National Park, South Florida Collections Management Center, Archives

Available Dates: June-September, 2014 (dates flexible)        

Commitment: 400 hours, or 32-40 hours per week

Activities and Tasks: Interns actively facilitate management of the South Florida National Park Service units’ archival collections to provide increased access and ensure preservation of resources.

Work/Site Location

Are you looking for an exciting internship opportunity that will provide you with the skills and experience you need to help you enter into the archival profession? The South Florida Collections Management Center, located in Everglades National Park, is seeking interns and volunteers to work with the center’s archives and museum collections. The center manages resource management collections generated by the five South Florida National Parks, namely Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, De Soto National Memorial, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Everglades National Park. The SFCMC has more than 3.6 million archival records dating from 1897-2013 in its holdings, including textual records, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, film, magnetic media, and digital records.

Interns and volunteers carry out projects and duties that have a direct impact on the management of the South Florida parks’ museum and archives collections. They are required to assist the SFCMC’s archivist in hands-on activities and receive training in handling and housing collection materials. Working with primary text documents such as photographs, maps, audiovisual materials and textual records is an interesting, busy and rewarding experience. Tasks include but are not limited to collections cataloging, including archives processing, arrangement and description; preliminary survey of incoming archival collections; assisting with preparing collections for loans; assisting with research requests; targeting collections for microfilming and review deliverables; and preservation and holdings maintenance.

Interns and volunteers will need to provide their own transportation to the work site in Everglades National Park, since no public transportation options are available.

 

Opportunities Include:

  • Arrangement and description of archival collections
  • Preservation housing of documents and photographs
  • Reference services
  • Archival surrogate creation/collection access
  • Preventive conservation
  • Collection inventory
  • Assist with preparing collections for loans

What are the Benefits?

SFCMC volunteers and interns enjoy a number of benefits including:

  • Working with NPS collections and records to provide greater access
  • Park housing available for non-local students
  • Limited number of paid internships (400 hours)
  • Working within Everglades National Park
  • Volunteer hours may be applied to student internship credits (adhering to university criteria)
  • Coordinating with other volunteers and park staff
  • Increased sense of worth and accomplishment
  • Working on a variety of archives tasks, including arrangement, holdings maintenance, and reference services

Qualities and Qualifications:

  • Interest in the National Park Service and its resources
  • Master’s degree level education in archival science, library science or other related field, with completed coursework in archival theory (degree may be in process or completed)
  • Experience using a variety of computer software
  • Excellent attention to detail and follows directions well
  • Ability to lift 40+ pounds (records cartons) during the course of everyday work
  • Flexibility and desire to work on a variety of projects to achieve organizational goals
  • Ability to present oral and written information in a clear and concise manner
  • Maturity and ability to work independently or with archives staff and fellow volunteers
  • Required to pass the National Park Service’s background investigation process
  • Valid driver’s license is required

How to apply:

Submit resume and transcript (unofficial accepted) with the phone numbers and/or email addresses of at least two (2) personal or professional references. Direct resume or questions to the attention of Bonnie Ciolino, Archivist, by the following methods:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 305-242-7804

Mail:    Everglades National Park

South Florida Collections Management Center

Attn: Bonnie Ciolino

40001 S. R. 9336

Homestead, FL 33034

Opportunities for Current Students