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Library Internship Program

This guide introduces the internship program at AUB Libraries
Internship Program at the University Libraries internship Icon 1996776
Archives and Special Collections Department

Here are listed tasks that can be undertaken by interns in the Library Internship Program at the Archives and Special Collections Department. Please note that interns can select one of the listed modules for a semester long internship.

Orientation

As an introduction, the intern will have an orientation tour with the Head of the Department and will pass by staff members to have an overview of the work done at the Department and the policies and procedures of the Archives Department. A mentor is assigned to the intern who will be responsible for guiding the latter and following up on his/her work.

The Head of the Department assigns a project to the intern and a work plan is prepared by the Head of the Department, mentor, in coordination with intern to match his/her capabilities and interests.

ARCHIVAL MATERIALS PROCESSING, CLASSIFICATION, AND CATALOGING

The mentor will explain thoroughly the archiving and cataloging policies and procedures and will be responsible for following up on the work of the intern.
The intern will be assigned a collection to process, under close supervision, and will help to create a bibliographic record and a finding aid for the collection.
At first close supervision is undertaken, then bi-weekly meetings with the Head of the Department are set to overcome any challenges, problems, or difficulties, and to assess the work of the intern, and apply any necessary modifications to the work plan, when necessary.

Learning Outcome

By the end of the internship, the intern will attain the following:

  • Learn the best practices, guidelines, and standards for handling and processing primary sources.
  • Identify documents that need repair and conservation.
  • House the archival material properly in acid free enclosures.
  • Learn the cataloging rules for describing primary sources and procedure and have an idea about preparing a finding aid.

CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION


The mentor will explain thoroughly the policies and procedures of conservation and preservation and will be responsible to follow up on the work of the intern. The internship will entail observation of the work done at the Conservation lab, at a later stage the intern will be taught how to prepare simple enclosures and do some paper restoration.

Bi-weekly meetings with the Head of the Department are set to overcome any challenges and assess the work of the intern and apply any necessary modifications to the work plan if necessary.

Learning outcomes:

  • Basic knowledge of different conservation and preservation policies and standards.
  • Recognize the Conservation section’s workflow, and the procedures covering items receipt and dispatch.
  • Knowledge of basic physical assessment techniques.
  • Knowledge of different tools, equipment, and materials used in restoration.
  • Knowledge of basic book binding and sewing techniques.
  • Knowledge and application of basic paper mending techniques.
  • Successful manufacture of simple archival enclosures.