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Volunteer Internship Program
About the Program
The American Folklife Center has available at all times of the year a
limited number of volunteer internships through which individuals may work
with the collections in the Archive of Folk Culture. Although
these internships carry no stipend, many persons have found them useful
in planning a career, or in obtaining the experience necessary to enter
an academic, or other, profession. Interns who are students have often
arranged with their institutions to obtain academic credit.
The goals of the Center's Volunteer Internship Program are as follows:
- To provide educational experience or career training in the fields
of folklore and folklife, ethnomusicology, archival studies, library
science, or related areas
- To provide in-depth exposure to the field of folklife, the collections
of the Archive of Folk Culture, and the processes of collection, preservation,
and presentation
- To organize and structure activities that produce concrete results
to benefit both the intern and the Center
- To build networks with future generations of professionals concerned
with aspects of folklife and ethnomusicology
Interns have the opportunity to participate in a number of activities
of the American Folklife Center: reference, processing, acquisitions, special
projects, and events. Some examples include: compiling finding aids for
specific subject areas in the Archive's collections, organizing and labeling
collections for preservation and storage, and maintaining a wide variety
of subject and collections files. Other projects may include research for
special projects and assisting with public events. Occasionally, interns
are called upon to assist in responding to requests from Congress and the
academic and public sector communities.
Requirements
Interested
applicants should have:
- An ability to commit to the 200-hour minimum
- An interest in the subjects of folklife, ethnomusicology,
or related disciplines
- A willingness to work in a library and/or archive
- Some prior experience within
an archive or library setting is preferred
Full-time and part-time arrangements are possible, although a commitment
of at least two full days a week is preferred.
How to Apply
Please send a resume and cover letter to Ann Hoog, Folklife
Specialist, by email: ahoo at loc dot gov
or fax: (202) 707-2076. Because of security measures at the Library, US
Mail and Federal Express may be delayed. There is no deadline for applications,
but it is recommended that you apply at least two months in advance of
when you wish to intern.
Include in your application a phone number where you can be reached
and an indication of when you would like to schedule your internship.
For
further questions about the internship program please contact Ann Hoog
at the email listed above or call (202) 707-4428.
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