Summer 2015 Cataloging Internships, American Archive of Public Broadcasting, WGBH, Boston, MA
Posted March 23, 2015
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://www.americanarchiveinventory.org
http://www.americanarchive.org
Project Description:
An unprecedented and historic collection of American public radio and television content – dating back through the 1950s – are being permanently preserved and made available to the public through a collaboration between the Library of Congress and WGBH known 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 has been digitized for long-term preservation in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.
Between now and August 2015, WGBH is responsible for:
- Cataloging digitized content
- Leading efforts to further develop PBCore, a metadata schema for audiovisual materials
- Creating resources and training opportunities for participating organizations
- Building the AAPB 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(s) in library science, computer science, linguistics or related fields to work on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting. 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 AAPB project intern(s) will primarily assist with the cataloging and normalization of records for the 40,000 hours of digitized media. This is an excellent opportunity to learn audiovisual cataloging, the PBCore metadata schema (pbcore.org), and data normalization.
Additionally, the intern will also have the opportunity to contribute to the American Archive blog and participate in the AMIA PBCore Advisory Subcommittee.
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.
- Familiarity with GitHub helpful.
WGBH Internship Requirements:
- WGBH internships are open only to students enrolled in an accredited college or university
- Internships are unpaid.
- 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:
Sadie Roosa, [email protected]