State Archives Internship - Des Moines
State Archive Internship - State Historical Society of Iowa - Des Moines Location
Internship Purpose and Goals
- Reformat State of Iowa records retention schedules for ingest into an electronic records management system or;
- Digitize assorted issues of the Iowa Journal of History and Politics from the State Historical Society of Iowa collection or;
- Inventory books, periodicals and serials not yet cataloged in the collections or;
- Prepare and place cataloged books and archived collections holdings on the shelves or;
- Support collection holding shelf audits.
- To make a significant contribution to the increased preservation of and accessibility to collections at the State Historical Society.
Time Commitment
- Duration: Fall
- Frequency: Minimum of 20 hours per week, unpaid, up to 200 total hours.
- Hours must be completed Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Duties and Essential Activities
- Follow existing procedures related to processes, equipment, hardware and software.
- Accurately transcribe and record all critical metadata information about each item.
- Perform quality control including double checking work and revising existing records.
Physical and Mental Requirements
- Pursuing a degree in history, political science, or related field of study in social science or the humanities.
- Have an interest in archival or library work.
- Strong research skills are expected.
- Must conduct oneself in a mature/professional manner and be able to work accurately and efficiently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to lift 40 lbs., climb ladders and use step ladders.
- Experience with computer operating systems, hardware and software.
Training
- The selected intern will be trained to use the archives database and any other programs required for completing tasks.
- The intern will also be trained in the proper methods for naming digital files and/or inventorying historical collections.
Department/Supervisor
- The internship will be completed for the Archives and Library Bureau which is responsible for management, preservation and access to State Historical Society of Iowa collections.
- The internship will be supervised by the State Archivist and Library & Archives bureau staff.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants for positions in this class must be currently enrolled students in a degree program at an accredited educational institution, as determined by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services – Human Resources Enterprise.