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     801 K Street, NW
     at Mount Vernon Square
     Washington, DC 20001
     202.383.1850
     info@HistoryDC.org

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Get Involved

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities with the Research Library and Collections Department

The library welcomes volunteers with an interest in Washington history to assist in library activities and programs. In addition, a formal internship program is available for interested students. Descriptions are listed below:

Reading Room Reference Assistant Volunteer
Project Description

In order to better understand the mission, goals, and day-to-day functioning of the Historical Society, all volunteers are required to begin their volunteer experience in the library reading room. Volunteer applicants who have significant prior professional experience in the cataloging or processing of archival collections are the only exception.

The Historical Society of Washington is the city’s only private institution devoted exclusively to the documentation, study, and interpretation of the history of Washington, DC. It is the Society’s primary mission to foster an interest in and study of all aspects of the city’s history.

The Reading Room Reference Assistant will help library staff to provide patron access to the Society’s library, manuscripts and collections. The Assistant will be expected to work in all aspects of Reading Room operations, including patron reference assistance, answering telephone, email, and letter inquiries, and various administrative tasks consistent with the operation of the Historical Society.

Special Collections Processor
Project Description

Interns are trained in professional archival practice, including accessioning, arrangement, and description. Processing projects are assigned on the basis of time commitment. Collection finding aids produced by interns are sent to the Library of Congress National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections for cataloging.
Time Commitment

For college credit: 50 working hours per hour of college credit

Volunteers: Minimum of one 6-8 hour workday per week
Requirements

Good research and writing skills; familiarity with computer word processing

Collections Management Processor
Project Description

Interns and volunteers are trained and gain experience in professional collections management practice, including accessioning, inventorying, and cataloging items in the Society's object collections. Collections management projects are assigned on the basis of time commitment.
Time Commitment

For college credit: 50 working hours per hour of college credit

Volunteers: Minimum of one 6-8 hours per week
Requirements

Previous object handling experience required; experience with collections databases desired.

Library Reference Assistant
Project Description

Interns are trained and gain experience in all aspects of library reference service, including patron registration, telephone reference, and conducting research for correspondence.
Time Commitment

For college credit: 50 working hours per hour of college credit

Volunteers: Minimum of one 6-8 hour workday per week
Requirements

Good interpersonal communication skills; excellent research and writing skills

For more information on internship/volunteer opportunitiesin the library, please contact the Library, by phone 202.383.1850, fax 202.383.1872 or email library@historydc.org. Resumes and cover letters may be mailed to The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Attn: Library Director, 801 K street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001.