Curatorial Department: Library Intern
This internship is dedicated to creating a small, specialized research library that will support the immediate needs of curatorial staff and visiting researchers at the Museum of Arts and Design. At the core of any museum is its exhibition program. In order to curate the most successful exhibitions a great deal of research is needed. MAD is in need of a library to support this research, as well as its position as the preeminent craft museum in the US. The intention of this library is to provide essential resources that reflect new and growing scholarly literature on craft history and theory, including books, periodicals, online resources, and important exhibition catalogs, focusing on craft and contemporary art.
- Evaluating the current library’s holdings, identifying key missing texts, and deaccessioning material not pertinent to a craft research library
- After evaluating the current library holdings, the intern will create a proposal for a cataloging system, relevant to a small museum library, such as LibraryThing or another program to be identified
- The intern will complete the project by adding the new books and resources to the library and cataloging in full
- Other archiving related responsibilities may include: helping to maintain the artist and exhibition files
An internship supporting the creation of a small, specialized research library with an emphasis on new studies and other contemporary resources in craft history and theory is a unique and rare opportunity for students of library science and/or the history of craft, decorative arts, or design. The internship will provide hands-on experience in the field of bibliographic research, library cataloging, and project management essential to careers in library science, exhibition curating, and collections management.
Qualifications
The Library Intern should be a graduate student obtaining a master’s degree in library science (preferably library science with a focus on art museum libraries), the history of craft, the decorative arts and/or design, archival studies, or a related field. Knowledge of art from the post war period to the present is required. The intern must be able to receive academic credit as a matriculated graduate student for this internship, and must be available 2-3 days per week. (S)he must be a self-motivated critical thinker able to work independently, as well as maintain high levels of organization.
To apply for this internship please send (1) a cover letter outlining your interests and relevant qualifications for this position, (2) a resume, and (3) 2-3 references to Samantha De Tillio at samantha.detillio@madmuseum.org with “Library Intern” in the subject line. Please also outline your academic needs for obtaining credit, for instance number of hours fulfilled, etc., as well as your availability (days of the week, number of days per week).
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.