Student Trainee (Librarian), U.S. Government Accountability Office, (Various Locations)

Posted February 17, 2026

Who: The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. We accomplish our mission by providing objective and reliable information and analysis to the Congress, to federal agencies, and to the public, and recommending improvements, when appropriate, on a wide variety of issues to make government work better.

The Center for Library Science, part of Applied Research and Methods at GAO, is seeking current
graduate students in Library and Information Science programs to apply for a summer internship.

• Job Announcement for Student Trainee (Librarian): https://www.usajobs.gov/job/857133100
• Read information about us: https://www.gao.gov/about/what-gao-does/
• Watch our videos: https://youtu.be/OpyG3PvVfiw

What:

• Full-time paid internship. Other perks include transit benefits and a flexible work schedule.
• Types of work include: specialized research in support of GAO audit work; collection development; taxonomy and metadata management; cataloging and e-resource management; and other special projects.

Where: The position may be based in Washington, DC; Atlanta, Georgia; or Seattle, Washington. Telework is available.

When:

• Summer 2026 (Anticipated start date in May, 400 to 640 hours total).
• Applications due 02/24/2026. This job will close when we have received 100 applications, which may be sooner than the closing date.

Why:

• Interning at GAO provides a great opportunity to work in Federal Government. Make your mark in civil service and work with those who care about improving government.
• Working with the CLS team will allow you to be mentored by top-notch librarians and give you hands-on experience.
• Potential for fulfilling internship, practicum, and capstone requirements. Once accepted, we will be happy to work with you to get credit for your program requirements.
• Potential for a permanent job offer after graduation.

How to Apply:

1. Carefully read GAO’s Student Trainee (Librarian) announcement:
   https://www.usajobs.gov/job/857133100 See “Required Documents” and “How You Will Be
   Evaluated” sections of the announcement to prepare your application.
2. Create an account on USAJobs. All applications must be submitted through USAJobs. For help getting started, go to: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account

Tips:

• For your resume, read “What Should I Include in My Federal Resume?” by USAJobs: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include
• For assistance with USAJobs and information about working for the federal government, go to the USAJobs Help Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to
• For more information about GAO, please go to our Web site: https://www.gao.gov/about/careers