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The intern program operates through Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum Education Department. Internships are available
within a variety of departments in both the library and museum. The
internships benefit students by providing professional experience
and an overview of the museum and library fields. Interns have the
opportunity to gain useful skills and the chance to build a strong
professional network. References gained through work as an intern
can be helpful in securing future employment and admission to
further programs of study. The deadline to apply for the fall
semester is July 1.
Eligibility
The internship program is open to qualified college students,
recent graduates or graduate students. Interns from all majors and
interests are encouraged to apply.
Remuneration
The internships are unpaid. However, certain grant-funded
projects may include stipends for interns.
Academic credit
Interns are encouraged to seek academic credit for their
internship and will assist in any way to help the intern receive it.
Students should contact their adviser or department chair to inquire
about the school's requirements.
Duration
Internships usually take place throughout the typical academic
spring, summer or fall semester.
Deadlines
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Spring, January-May: Nov. 1
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Summer, May-August: April 1
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Fall, September-December: July 1
Note: Some internships fall outside the scope of the typical
academic calendar and are considered special projects. These are not
subject to the deadlines listed above and may be for a shorter or
longer duration than one academic semester.
Uniforms
All interns will be required to wear uniforms, consisting of the
official Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum shirt,
which is provided, and khaki trousers or skirt of knee length or
below.
Intern programs
Although internship opportunities are not always available,
interns are welcome to apply for positions within the following
departments.
Conservation -- Working under the direction of the Abraham
Lincoln Presidential Library Conservation Department staff, the
intern would assist with a variety of conservation treatments on
historical book and paper materials. The intern may also learn how
to collect and interpret environmental data, assist in the
preparation and mounting of items for exhibit, assist in answering
preservation information inquiries, and assist in preservation
workshops and events. The scope of specific projects will be based
on the intern's skill level, interests, academic requirements and
the needs of the library's Conservation Department. Students and
recent graduates from conservation training and bookbinding programs
are encouraged to apply. Related subject areas include library
science, with interest or specialization in preservation; museum
studies, with emphasis on collection care; and fine arts, with
interest in book and paper arts.
Education -- Working under the director of education, an
intern will assist professional staff in the creation of educational
programs, outreach and community collaborations. Students might
assist in developing educational resource kits, lesson plans,
workshops or special events. In addition, interns assist staff in
the interpretation of Mrs. Lincoln's Attic, the museum's hands-on
children's area. Students and recent graduates in history, museum
studies or education are encouraged to apply.
Exhibits -- Working under the direction of the Exhibits
Division, an intern would assist in the development of temporary
exhibitions, including research, graphic design, fabrication and
installation. Students in museum studies, art, architecture and
design are encouraged to apply.
Facilities Services -- The Facilities Services Section
provides support services for the entire library and museum complex.
Interns interested in parks and recreation would benefit from
assisting in the buildings and grounds maintenance, especially in
preparations for a new park for visitors. This internship would
provide hands-on opportunity to assist management and building
grounds staff in putting together an operational and maintenance
plan for the park. Duties would also include working closely with
rentals and assisting in setting up and tearing down for all special
events.
Front Entry and Guest Services -- An intern in the Front
Entry-Guest Services Division would serve as a primary contact for
guests visiting the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
and the newly opened Union Station Visitors Center and Park. Interns
would assist in meeting and greeting guests, responding to questions
and concerns, assisting with wheelchairs, and providing coat check.
This intern position would also sell and receive museum admission
tickets and learn and understand the procedures and policy of
operating box office sales.
Information Technologies -- As part of the Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum is only one of five facilities the IT Division supports. An
IT intern would assist primarily with desktop and end user support.
Duties would include the configuration, installation and
troubleshooting of Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating systems,
Microsoft Office software products, desktop computers and
peripherals, printers and scanners, BlackBerrys, cell phones, and
radios, as well as IT inventory reconciliation and preparation of
equipment for surplus.
Library Services -- Interns in the Library Services Division
will gain an understanding of what it is like to work in a special
research library where the focus of the collections is on Illinois
history, biography, genealogy and geography. The division includes
the Printed and Published Collection, with books, pamphlets, maps;
the Microfilming Lab; the Conservation Lab; Acquisitions and
Cataloging Sections. Interns may provide direct public service to
library patrons and assist in the use of the online card catalog,
assist and instruct users in accessing the various online databases
that are available in the Steve Neal Reading Room, retrieve books
and materials from the closed stack area, conduct shelf maintenance
tasks, and prepare bibliographies on various topics. The support
departments of the division will introduce the intern to
behind-the-scenes tasks, including becoming familiar with resources
used to order books for the library collection and the accompanying
fiscal operations, assisting in preparing books for cataloging, and
assisting in cataloging and processing books and materials into the
collection, using the OCLC and Horizon databases.
Lincoln Collection
Working under the supervision of the Lincoln curator and the
Lincoln Collection staff, an intern may assist in a variety of
duties depending on the current needs of the department, including
assisting in processing new materials, creating and updating finding
aids or bibliographic materials and databases, assessing and
implementing computer applications for data management, photocopying
or scanning materials, transcribing select documents and performing
relevant research, assisting in the preservation of collection
materials, and assisting with special projects assigned to the
department. This internship is appropriate for college students,
graduate students and recent graduates with an interest in history,
social sciences or the humanities. Library science or information
science students are encouraged to apply. Interns must have already
successfully completed at least one year of college course work.
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For Lincoln Collection interns, preference will be given to students who have successfully completed
a course in historical or archival sources and methods or who are
otherwise generally familiar with basic historical reference works
and finding aids available in most college or research libraries. In
addition, the following skills will be considered: good writing
skills; basic computer skills, such as word processing and
familiarity with database or digital image programs; an appreciation
for the fragility and uniqueness of historical materials; and
ability to tolerate dust and mold associated with some Lincoln
Collection materials. For assisting with preservation projects,
interns must have manual dexterity, must follow detailed
instructions and perform work in an accurate and careful manner, and
must be comfortable with the idea of handling sharp tools and
specialized laboratory equipment and learn how to use them safely. Manuscripts -- Working under the supervision of the
Manuscripts Department staff, an intern may assist in a variety of
duties depending on the current needs of the department, including
creating and updating finding aids or bibliographic materials,
translating documents, transcribing selected documents for exhibits
or articles and performing relevant research, processing
collections, and assisting with special projects assigned to the
department. This internship is appropriate for college students,
graduate students and recent graduates with an interest in history,
social sciences or the humanities. Library science or information
science students with an interest in archives or manuscripts are
encouraged to apply. Interns must have already successfully
completed at least one year of college course work.
Preference will
be given to history or library information science majors, followed
by majors in other social sciences or the humanities. Preference
will also be given to students who have successfully completed a
course in historical or archival sources and methods or who are
otherwise generally familiar with basic historical reference works
and finding aids available in most college or research libraries. In
addition, the following skills will be considered: good writing
skills; basic computer skills, such as word processing and
familiarity with database or digital image programs; an appreciation
for the fragility and uniqueness of historical materials; and
ability to tolerate dust and mold associated with some collection
materials.
Research -- Interns in the Research Department would assist
staff in research for upcoming exhibitions to be featured in the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum or for special
projects periodically assigned to the Research Department. Interns
will typically participate in identifying, locating, examining and
transcribing from such historical source materials as microfilmed
newspapers, period imprints, manuscripts, government and legal
records, maps, and visual images. Duties may also include creating
or updating bibliographic materials, collection guides or databases,
or assisting oral historians in transcriptions and other duties.
Particular assignments may require research in nearby historical
repositories beyond the presidential library and museum, such as the
Illinois State Archives or the Sangamon Valley Collection at
Springfield's public library, the Lincoln Library.
Preference will
be given to history majors, followed by other social science or
humanities students. Preference will also be given to students who
have successfully completed a course in historical or archival
sources and methods or who are otherwise generally familiar with
basic historical reference works and finding aids available in most
college or research libraries. In addition, the following skills
will be considered: good writing skills; basic computer skills, such
as word processing and familiarity with database or digital image
programs; an appreciation for the fragility and uniqueness of
historical materials; and ability to tolerate dust and mold
associated with some collection materials.
Shows -- The Shows Division oversees the two theaters in the
museum as well as first-person interpretive characters who perform
in other exhibit areas throughout the museum. An intern would work
closely with the attractions coordinator, learning about the inner
workings of day-to-day operation of the shows unit and assisting
with ushering in the museum's two theaters. In addition, depending
upon the needs of the division, opportunities for interns could
include playing a character in the Cabinet Room exhibit or
portraying a strolling character in the park, playing a musical
instrument or singing in the plaza or park, researching and
assisting in the creation of a character that could be performed in
museum programs, and storytelling. Students with musical skills or
theater backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Facilities Rental -- An intern would assist Facilities Rental
staff with day-to-day office responsibilities, including answering
phones, providing rental information to potential clients and
sending out rental information via fax or mail. The intern would
also assist in tracking rental leads, providing brochures to
potential clients, assisting in signage requests, providing tours of
rental venues, assisting in setup for rental events and coordinating
mailings.
Volunteer Services -- An intern in the Volunteer Services
Department would assist professional staff in a variety of
functions, including recruiting, training and scheduling volunteers;
assisting volunteers on special projects and with special events;
facilitating large mailings and the production of a regular
departmental newsletter; creating and organizing training sessions
and materials; and performing basic office tasks, clerical duties
and record keeping.
Special projects -- Special projects are often grant-funded
internships, which may include a stipend. These internships are
frequently available on short notice and thus are not governed by
the deadlines above. Applications for these positions are accepted
on an as-needed basis. No special projects are currently available.
Application procedure
Please submit:
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Completed and signed
intern application form, also signed by adviser
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Resume
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Two letters of
recommendation
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College transcript
(photocopy acceptable)
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Letter of interest
stating:
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Specific information
on dates available to work, number of hours per week, number and
days available to work
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If doing this for
university credit, supply school requirements and adviser's name
and contact information.
Mail or e-mail to Carol Manning, Adult Education Coordinator,
ALPLM, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62701;
Carol.Manning@illinois.gov.
An application is available online at
http://www.alplm.org.
[Abraham Lincoln Presidential
Library and Museum news release] |
