American Antiquarian Society – AHPCS Cataloging Internship (Fall, 2024), (Worcester, MA)

Posted July 12, 2024

Department: Library

Reports To: Associate Curator of Graphic Arts

FLSA: Part-time/temporary, non-exempt

Salary: $18.00 per hour

Location: Worcester, MA

Duration:  Flexible schedule of 14 hours per week for 10 weeks; starting on or around September 9, 2024

Deadline to apply: Rolling basis; but no later than August 23, 2024

With support from the American Historical Print Collectors Society (AHPCS), the American Antiquarian Society seeks a 10-week intern who will create descriptive metadata for nineteenth-century American lithographs and engravings to increase access to visual material.  Primary responsibilities include descriptive cataloging, assigning call numbers, creating digital surrogates using a flatbed scanner, and shelving. 

The ideal candidate will be motivated, detail oriented, able to follow complex instructions, and possess strong organizational skills.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in an ALA accredited library graduate program.

Organization Descriptions: The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) is a national research library of American history and culture before 1900 which has been sharing American stories for more than two hundred years. Founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, the American Antiquarian Society is both a learned society and a major independent research library located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, children’s literature, music, and graphic arts material printed through 1876 in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works related to all aspects of American history and culture before the twentieth century.

Website: https://www.americanantiquarian.org/

The American Historical Print Collectors Society (AHPCS) is a non-profit corporation that encourages the collection, preservation, study, and exhibition of prints depicting or reflecting North American history and culture, made either in America or elsewhere. Founded in 1975, AHPCS has nearly 400 members including individual collectors, print dealers, curators, scholars, as well as educational and other institutions. The organization encourages and supports research and development of publications helpful to the appreciation and conservation of these prints and cooperates with historical societies, museums, libraries, and other institutions and organizations with similar interests.

Website: https://ahpcs.org/

Duties/Responsibilities

·         Upgrade brief records for visual material using Library of Congress and Getty Thesaurus terminology. Original record creation may be required.

·         Working with the Associate Curator of Graphic Arts, applicants will learn to identify different printmaking methods and describe visual content.

·         Create digital surrogates of size-appropriate prints using flatbed scanner and linking those surrogates to completed catalog records.

·         Write a short post for the AAS and AHPCS blogs about a print or about the experience of working with visual materials. 

Required Skills/Abilities

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
2. Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
3. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
4. Proficient with Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, YouTube, and/or related software.

Education/Experience

5. Must be currently enrolled in an ALA accredited library graduate program.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, and sitting.
• Occasional periods of climbing or balancing, pulling/pushing items/hand trucks, lifting/carrying items weighing up to approximately thirty pounds, and reaching with arms and hands.
• The use of hands for basic grasping/manipulation, fine manipulation, occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, and keyboarding.
• Physical duties are subject to change.
• May be exposed to dust, mold, and/or other organic material. Hazards are considered minor and controllable.

Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to equal employment and promotion opportunity regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. A successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

How To Apply

Please submit a résumé and cover letter through our online platform here. For questions on this position, please contact careers[at]mwa.org. Please do not submit applications to this address.