Summer Internship, Music Library

Position Overview

The Wilson Music Library offers on site summer internships for individuals interested in music librarianship, with a particular focus on academic library environments. The internship provides a structured introduction to music library operations and services, paired with a culminating project that allows interns to apply and demonstrate the skills they develop over the course of the program. Interns gain practical, hands-on experience working directly with music materials, library systems, and public services.

The music library primarily serves faculty and students of the Blair School of Music, including precollege students, while also supporting members of the broader university community with interests in music. Library staff work collaboratively as a close-knit team, jointly planning and delivering services and making collection development decisions. This team-based environment offers interns valuable insight into professional collaboration and decision making within an academic music library.

Objectives

1. Develop Competence in Music-Specific Reference & Research

• Learn to assist patrons with music research questions (scores, recordings, scholarly sources).
• Gain familiarity with key music research tools (e.g., Grove Music Online, RILM, WorldCat, thematic catalogs).
• Understand differences among editions, versions, arrangements, and formats in music materials.

2. Acquire Skills in Music Collection Management

• Learn criteria for selecting and evaluating scores, sound recordings, and digital resources.
• Participate in collection assessment or small-scale weeding projects.
• Assist in evaluating user demand and curricular alignment of materials.

3. Practice Technical Services in a Music Context

• Learn basics of cataloging scores, recordings, and music monographs.
• Understand MARC fields and metadata elements specific to music (e.g., uniform titles).
• Process new materials: labeling, stamping, prepping scores and parts.

4. Develop Public Services Experience

• Staff the service desk under supervision.
• Learn circulation policies and equipment checkout (e.g., listening equipment, instruments, accessories).
• Observe and practice reference interviews, including online reference.

5. Gain Exposure to Digital Projects & Technology in Music Libraries

• Work with digital audio software, digitization workflows, or streaming platforms (depending on library capabilities).
• Assist with metadata cleanup for digital collections.
• Contribute to small-scale digital exhibits or LibGuides. 

6. Build Professional Awareness & Reflective Practice

• Attend staff meetings and observe decision-making processes in specialized libraries.
• Conduct informational interviews with music librarians in different functional areas.
• Complete a final project demonstrating new skills (e.g.,  processing a small section of a special collection (Phil Schaap collection), contribute to the curation and execution of an exhibit (Mike Longo)

Qualifications

• Background in music
• Attention to detail