Antiquarian Archives Intern, Carpe Librum (Brookline, MA)

Posted September 16, 2026

Description:
Carpe Librum, ABAA, ILAB is a small operation with an office in Washington Square, Brookline (accessible via the “C” train). We specialize in manuscripts, archives, and other rare materials and sell exclusively to university libraries and other research institutions. We seek one or two paid interns to help with several large-scale projects, including organizing the archives of a science fiction writer. There are any number of smaller projects too. The ideal candidate will have a solid grounding in the humanities, and be motivated, detail-oriented, organized, and available to work 10+ hours per week. This is a rigorous, project-based internship that combines archival theory with practical experience in arrangement, description, preservation, and use of primary source materials. This internship is particularly appropriate for a graduate student or recent MLIS gradate interested in archives, special collections, history, literature, and rare books. The position can be tailored to meet the requirements of LIS 512 (Advanced Field Experience).

Note: Our building is not ADA-Compliant. Our offices are on the third floor and there is no elevator.

Position Duties:

Work directly with original documents and other archival materials, including photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, records, ephemera, and artifacts.
Develop or refine the intellectual and physical arrangement of selected archives and collections.
Identify and transcribe key passages encountered in letters and documents.
Develop archival inventories, finding aids, item lists, or collection-level descriptions as appropriate.
Research provenance, historical context, and biographical or institutional information as necessary.
Help to identify appropriate institutional collections where our material might be placed.
Catalogue rare books and describe their condition according to the standards of the field.
Photograph and scan documents and ephemera.
Staff booth displays at antiquarian book fairs.
Pack and ship archival materials.

Qualifications:

Must be currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an MLIS program.
Completion of introductory Organization of Knowledge course (LIS 415 or equivalent) desirable.
Must be conscientious, curious, and capable of working independently.
Background in the humanities, especially social, intellectual, religious, or literary history a plus.
Must be able to read handwriting dating back to the eighteenth century.
Must be able to lift a 30-pound box.
Must have a tolerance for schmutz – some of the materials we work with arrive dusty, moldy, and/or crumbling.
Foreign language skills a plus – French, German, Russian, Spanish, or Italian particularly welcome.
Photography skills a plus.

Hours and Compensation:

Schedule: Flexible; minimum 10 hours per week or 130 hours per semester.
Start date: As soon as possible.
Compensation: $20 per hour; no benefits.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should send a CV including two professional or academic references to Brad Verter at [email protected].