Reader Services Intern, Boston Athenaeum (Boston, MA)
Posted May 1, 2026
Job Description
The Boston Athenaeum is seeking three new interns for our Reader Services Department. We seek personable and reliable candidates who will play an important role in supporting the daily functions of Reference and Circulation. Reporting to the Head of Reader Services or Senior Reference Librarian, interns act as a primary point of welcome at the front desk to members and the public.
Ideal candidates will be organized, hard-working, and proactive about public service. These positions will definitely start by mid August, but possibly sooner.
Hours: About 15 hours per week, divided between two days. Possible days include Fridays and Saturdays, 9 am – 5 pm, Mondays through Thursdays, 12 pm – 8 pm, with occasional changes to the schedule and seasonal revisions depending upon course schedules.
Compensation: $17.15per hour; paid sick time; free membership concurrent with employment.
Responsibilities
● Provide coverage of the circulation and reference desks.
● Provide stack maintenance by shelving and shifting books.
● Offer basic reference services.
● Offer library orientation tours to members.
● Create readers’ advisory materials.
● Assist in interlibrary loan requests.
● Perform all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements
● Submit to and pass a background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment verifications and Registry of Motor Vehicles (if applicable).
● Must be currently enrolled in an ALA accredited library science graduate program.
● Must be comfortable speaking in public, on the phone and communicating via email.
● Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office preferred
● Position requires sitting at a desk for prolonged periods and engaging in repetitive movements of the hands, wrists and fingers.
● Position also requires the ability to handle and lift packages weighing as much as 30 pounds and the ability to push book carts between internal office locations.
● Completion of reference course preferred.
● Commitment to fostering a workplace culture of teamwork and inclusion.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, see the website here: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=0c2172f4-dddf-44f5-9300-133cc1de3cd2&ccId=19000101_000001&type=JS&lang=en_US
The Boston Athenæum is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals of diverse
backgrounds to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value a diverse and inclusive work
environment. The Boston Athenæum is also committed to providing access, equal opportunity,and
reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment. To request a reasonable
accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Generalist, Nora Conley, at 617-720-7630
or [email protected].
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM
Founded in 1807, the Boston Athenæum is located at 10½ Beacon Street on Beacon Hill. A
distinguished membership library and cultural institution with a long history at the center of
intellectual life in Boston, the Athenæum hosts events year round and supports a dynamic
exhibition program. It is welcoming to all, a place that nurtures a sense of wonder and delight in
sharing the joy of physical books, maps, prints, and other works of art, and a place that fosters
community and civil discourse as members and visitors connect and converse.
The Athenæum’s collections are housed within a National Historic Landmark that is widely
regarded as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. The reading rooms—including the
barrel-vaulted fifth floor—have served as a haven and inspiration to countless writers and
researchers. The library maintains over 600,000 volumes with strengths in history, biography,
and literature, as well as fine and decorative arts. Notable holdings include primary materials on
the American Civil War; the largest portion of President George Washington’s library; a first
edition of Audubon’s The Birds of America; a 1799 set of Goya’s Los caprichos; one of the most
extensive collections of contemporary artists’ books in the United States; and numerous
artworks, including portraits of notable Americans such as Hannah Adams, John Marshall, and
Alexander Hamilton, and by artists such as Gilbert Stuart, John Singer Sargent, Allan Rohan
Crite, and Polly Thayer Starr. Membership is open to all, and visitors are warmly welcomed.