Internship — South Florida Collections Management Center (Homestead, FL)

Posted by Christopher Landbeck on

Title: Archives Intern
Supervisor:  Megan Atkinson, Archivist
Program: Everglades National Park, South Florida Collections Management Center, Archives
Available Dates: January 12-March 20, 2015  Commitment: 40 hours per week
Closes: November 12, 2014

Activities and Tasks: Interns actively facilitate management of the South Florida National Park Service
units’ archival collections to provide increased access and ensure preservation of resources.

Are you looking for an exciting internship opportunity that will provide you with the skills and experience you need to help you enter into the archival profession? The South Florida Collections Management Center, located in Everglades National Park, is seeking interns to work with the center’s archives and museum collections. The center manages resource management collections generated by the five South Florida National Parks, namely Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, De Soto National Memorial, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Everglades National Park. The SFCMC has more than 3.6 million archival records dating from 1897-2013 in its holdings, including textual records, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, film, magnetic media, and digital records.

Interns carry out projects and duties that have a direct impact on the management of the South Florida parks’ museum and archives collections.  Interns are required to assist the SFCMC’s archivist in hands-on activities and receive training in handling and housing collection materials.  Tasks include but are not limited to: collections cataloging, including archives processing, arrangement, and description; preliminary surveying of incoming archival collections; preventative conservation; assisting with preparing collections for loans; assisting with research requests; targeting collections for microfilming and review deliverables; and preservation and holdings maintenance.

What are the Benefits?

  • Working with NPS collections and records to provide greater access
  • Stipends
  • Park housing available for a fee for non-local students
  • Working at Everglades National Park and learning about park programs, studies, history, and management of resources
  • Internship hours may be applied to student internship credits (adhering to university criteria)
  • Coordinating with other volunteers, interns, and park staff
  • Working on a variety of archives tasks, including arrangement, holdings maintenance, and reference services

Interns will need to provide their own transportation to the work site in Everglades National Park, since no public transportation options are available.

Qualities and Qualifications

  • Interest in the National Park Service and its resources
  • Master’s degree level education in archival science, library science or other related field, with completed coursework in archival theory (degree may be in process or completed)
  • Experience using a variety of computer software
  • Excellent attention to detail and follows directions well
  • Ability to lift 40+ pounds (records cartons) during the course of everyday work
  • Flexibility and desire to work on a variety of projects to achieve organizational goals
  • Ability to present oral and written information in a clear and concise manner
  • Maturity and ability to work independently or with archives staff and fellow volunteers
  • Required to pass the National Park Service’s background investigation process
  • Valid driver’s license is required

How to apply

Submit resume and transcript (unofficial accepted) with the phone numbers and/or email addresses of at least two personal or professional references. Direct resume or questions to the attention of Megan Atkinson, Archivist, by the following methods:

Email

megan_atkinson@nps.gov

Telephone

305-242-7812

Mail

Everglades National Park
South Florida Collections Management Center
Attn: Megan Atkinson
40001 S. R. 9336
Homestead, FL 33034

The National Park Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be made solely on the basis of merit, fitness, and qualifications without regard to race, sex, color, creed, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, non-disqualifying handicap conditions, or any other non-merit factors.