2023 Summer Library and Archives Intern Position

Museum Overview

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. We are passionate about transforming lives through experiences that encourage the discovery of new ideas, expanded dreams and inspired actions. As an intern at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, you will be empowered to think creatively, ask questions, and make suggestions to help move the institution forward. Diversity Internship Program Crystal Bridges is committed to a diverse workforce and to providing training for the next generation of non-profit professionals. Recognizing the desire and responsibility to support and develop greater diversity in the professions related to museums and the visual arts Crystal Bridges will assertively recruit interns from underrepresented demographics to support our organizations and industries diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives. Students representing ethnically underrepresented groups in the museum industry are encouraged to apply. This is a paid internship.

Position Summary

The Library & Archives intern assists the Library & Archives team, who work in collaboration with curatorial, art management, and the learning and engagement departments to facilitate research, scholarship, education, and exhibition support. This internship provides a unique opportunity to build experience in a museum library and archives setting. The library and archives department acquires materials to support and interpret the art collection at Crystal Bridges Museum. Contributions will revolve around key strategies of preservation, access, and interpretation.

The ideal candidate is passionate about art history, archival studies, and librarianship.

Applicants should be willing to problem solve, take initiative, acquire knowledge, promote access, and collaborate effectively. Areas of Support: The Library & Archives Intern will actively participate and perform duties in some of the following functional areas:

• Library Cataloging
• Assist the librarian in cataloging duties as needed. Catalog new books for the collection by creating records within the integrated library system.
• Archival Processing
• Assist the archivist in processing duties for unprocessed collections as needed. Process physical materials to assess and define provenance, preservation, appraisal, and retention.
• Assist in the creation of digital records for the archival database.
• Meeting attendance
• Attend project meetings to collaborate with various departments related to exhibition support, public programming, and daily operations and development
• Public programming
• Assist with gallery talks, blog posts, and programs that support art education and volunteer services

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary provide paid internships. Undergraduate Interns $13 an hour; Graduate Interns $14 an hour Minimum Qualifications

Library Information Studies or Library Science student preferred; can include (but is not limited to) majors/minors such as Archival Studies, Art History Studies, English, Cultural Anthropology, History, and Sociology.

Excellent communication skills

Dependable and punctual

Interns can work up to 40 hours per week; a mutually agreeable schedule will be determined in conversation with the hiring manager.

Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is required, and familiarity with library and Web-based search tools is strongly preferred.

A background check is required.

Must maintain confidentiality of all non-public Museum information.

Possible course credit can be negotiated with the University departmental supervisor. Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for this internship. The application deadline is April 15th, for the summer semester internship.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: In the work environment described herein, position requires work at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time and excellent eye/hand coordination. Position also may require lifting of heavy boxes from time to time during archival processing and book boxing.

Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, and in museum spaces. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate. Work may take place in galleries undergoing construction and painting. If the interns personal equipment is used, the Museum accepts no liability for any damage caused to said equipment while being used for Museum purposes, nor loss or corruption of electronic files on device.

Crystal Bridges internship program currently requires that the internship be a prearranged and structured learning experience scheduled within a specific time-frame and pre-approved by the leadership of the Museum. The experience must be relevant to the interns academic and/or professional goals and involve work, research, or other activities which are of value and beneficial to the mission of the Museum. An internship is performed under the direct supervision of Crystal Bridges staff. As a Crystal Bridges intern, you will not only expand your academic knowledge and improve your skills, but also apply both your knowledge and skills in practical ways. Crystal Bridges is assertively recruiting interns from underrepresented demographics to support our organizations and industries diversity and inclusion strategic initiatives. Crystal Bridges is happy to work with the selected candidate to provide an experience meeting the requirements for academic credit through their school.