The NYCLU is a statewide organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights for all New Yorkers. Archival interns will assist the Archives & Records Coordinator in the processing of records boxes from the NYCLU’s offsite storage facility.
Summary of Position:
Last spring, the NYCLU initiated an archives and records management program, the initial phase of which involves processing a backlog of material housed in offsite storage. Material of historic value will be transferred to a university archive, where NYCLU records will be open to researchers for the first time in its 60 year history.
We are looking for interns to help with this monumental phase of the project. Interns will gain hands on experience weeding, arranging, appraising, cataloging and general processing of archival material. Additionally, since the program is still in its infancy, interns will be able to experience the challenges and accomplishments of helping to create an archives program from the ground up. The internship is unpaid, but may be taken for course credit.
Position Responsibilities:
• Assists the Archives & Records Coordinator in weeding and arranging archival material.
• Catalogs records boxes and inputs folder level metadata into a FileMaker Pro database.
• Assigns disposition instructions and dates to records boxes by referring to the NYCLU Records Retention Schedule.
• Performs some basic preservation practices to certain materials.
• Helps with appraisal of records for possible digitization.
• Contributes at least one entry to all-staff “Archives Update” postings, designed to pique staff interest and keep the organization updated as to the progress of the project.
• Approximately 10%-20% of interns’ time will be spent on other tasks and side projects such as digitization, creation of indices and reference guides, and item level cataloging of publications and ephemera.
Qualifications:
• Must be currently enrolled in an MLS/MLIS program, or other graduate program in an archives related field.
• Must be able to commit to at least 100 total hours or average 1 day per week, 10:30-5:30, (Monday-Friday) for about 14 weeks.
• Successful applicants should have an interest in archives and records management centers in non-traditional library settings.
• Some knowledge of legal documents is a plus.
• Able to commute to the NYCLU’s main office in lower Manhattan or occasionally a records storage facility in Brooklyn if necessary, and be able to lift heavy records boxes.
Applicants should email their cover letter and resume to jobs@nyclu.org with “Archival Internship” in the subject heading. Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled.
The NYCLU is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
