Library Resource Graduate Intern

Museum of Fine Arts•Boston, MA

9d•$0 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The William Morris Hunt Memorial Library, the central research library of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is seeking a graduate-level intern to support data management and description work across non-traditional library holdings, including ephemera, archival holdings, and realia. The intern will apply coursework in information science, data science, or history to projects involving close review of materials and accurate data entry in library databases. Working with the Director of Libraries and Archives and the Senior Cataloging Librarian, the intern will review, arrange, and describe collections to improve access, applying bibliographic and archival standards for description, content, and classification. The internship also provides broader experience in library operations and insight into how an art research library organizes and provides access to its collections. The internship requires onsite work for 15 hours per week, mostly between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The stated internship period is January 22 through May 14, 2027. Interns must attend orientation and specified Museum Pathways & Practices professional development sessions, including required graduate intern sessions. The intern will prepare and deliver a three-minute final synoptic presentation. Compensation is $19.95 per hour, plus a $90 monthly transportation subsidy subject to tax withholdings.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within one year prior to the internship start) from a graduate program in information science, history, or museum studies.
Foundational knowledge of information organization and theory.
Knowledge of content and descriptive standards used in libraries and archives.
Ability to collaborate effectively within a team and work independently.
Excellent organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
Demonstrated written and communication skills, with strong research abilities.
Ability to work onsite 15 hours per week within Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. parameters during the internship period.
Ability to attend the required orientation and professional development sessions.

Responsibilities

Review archival holdings, including the ephemera collection created by art historian and scholar Egbert Haverkamp Begemann, to assess their scope, condition, and descriptive needs.
Create descriptions of multiple archival holdings in accordance with DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) and local practices.
Contribute to data entry for finding aids, ensuring accuracy and consistency across records.
Develop an online service portal, following existing templates, to help researchers find, use, and understand the collections.
Prepare and offer a three-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.