2025 Library and Archives Intern: Fall

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Job Description:

Position Title: 2025 Library and Archives Intern - Fall

Division: Learning and Engagement

Department: Library and Archives

Reports to: Director of Library and Archives

Position Summary:

The Library & Special Collections Intern assists the library team, who work in collaboration with the museum’s Learning & Engagement and Curatorial divisions to facilitate research, interpretation, education, and public programs.

This internship provides a unique opportunity to build a library and special collections experience in a museum setting. The library acquires rare books and reference materials that support and interpret the museum’s art collection and strategic initiatives. Contributions will revolve around key strategies of preservation, access, and interpretation.

The ideal candidate is passionate about libraries, rare books, art history, American history, and/or education and public programs. Applicants should be willing to solve problems, take initiative, acquire knowledge, promote access, and collaborate effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Library & Special Collections Intern will actively participate and perform duties in some of the following functional areas:

Library Circulation

• Under staff supervision, catalog books for the main and rare books collections by creating records within the library’s Alma-Primo integrated system.
• Assist staff, scholars, and museum guests with collection use and resources.
• Participate in library inventory, reshelving, and conservation projects.
  
  

Rare Books

• Conduct research on rare books to determine provenance and value.
  
  

Meeting Attendance

• Attend meetings to collaborate with multiple museum departments on project and program planning.
  
  

Public Programming

• Assist with educational and public programs, exhibitions, and communications related to Library & Archives collections.
  
  

Qualifications:

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

Timeline:

Anticipated Start Date: August 25th

Anticipated End Date: November 15th

Schedule:

• Hours: Undergraduate students (bachelor’s Level): Up to 20 hours a week; Graduate Students (master’s level): Up to 25 hours a week
• Weekly schedule to be arranged with direct supervisor
• To qualify for bachelor’s or master’s hours, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.
  
  

Compenastion:

• Undergraduate Interns: $13.00 an hour
• Graduate (master’s level) Interns: $14.00 an hour
• To qualify for bachelor’s or master’s compensation, you must be enrolled in an accredited program or have graduated from an accredited program within the last three years. Students will be required to submit a current schedule or official transcript.
  
  

Required Documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
  
  

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 below, position requires work at a desk, utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for filing, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a height of at least three feet for file and materials storage as appropriate for the demands of the office. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the museum work environment is usually low to moderate.
  
  

If the intern’s 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 devices.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.