Internship at University of Chicago Library

The Mary and Samuel Somit Preservation Internship
The University of Chicago Library

The University of Chicago Library is accepting applications for the
2013 Mary and Samuel Somit Preservation internship. This internship,
established in 2006, has been made possible through the generosity
of Dr. Albert Somit (AB '41, PhD '47), University of Chicago alumnus
and past president of Southern Illinois University. Dr. Somit has
established the internship to honor his parents' legacy, serve the
needs of the Library's collection, and prepare individuals for
important work to preserve and protect library materials and other
scholarly works so that they are available for research and teaching
in the future.

Internship Project, Summer 2013:

The internship is intended to provide firsthand experience and a
broader understanding of the care and treatment of library and
archives materials in an academic library. Under the direction of
the Preservation Librarian, the intern will learn about the
organization and operations of a comprehensive preservation program
and preservation issues and challenges within the context of a large
research library. For the Summer 2013 internship, the intern will
work with staff from the Preservation Department to complete a
disaster preparedness and recovery plan for the paper-based and
media collections. This plan will be the major outcome of the
internship. The plan should include the following:

    Review the most current and relevant literature on the topic and
    selection of a model or tool that might be used in the creation
    of a plan;

    Create and update a communication tree for first response for
    each Library building;

    Document important first steps to assist in the event of
    disaster when library materials are affected, ranging from a
    minor incident to a major event. This information will be
    available on the Library's website and included as an appendix
    in the Library's newly updated Emergency Manual;

    Develop a specialized training workshop for each Library
    building to familiarize staff with the contents of the disaster
    plan and their role in minimizing damage in the case of a
    disaster.

Eligibility and Requirements:  Graduates and currently enrolled
students of a recognized library or conservation program; or
students (graduate or undergraduate) with equivalent experience and
training in preservation or book conservation. Applicants must be
familiar with preservation principles, conservation treatments, and
digitization activities and possess the ability to work
collaboratively and independently to accomplish project goals.
Coursework in Preservation that includes an introduction to disaster
planning and preparedness in libraries is preferred. Familiarity
with Windows, word-processing and spreadsheet software is important.

Applicants must commit to six consecutive weeks of full-time work to
occur between June 15 - August 30, 2013

The 2013 internship provides a $4,000 stipend

 The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal
 Opportunity Employer.

Students who are interested in the internship should submit a letter
of application expressing their interest in this opportunity as well
as a resume and the names and e-mail addresses of three references.
Applications received by March 1, 2013 will be given first
consideration.

Please send to:

    Sherry Byrne
    Preservation Librarian
    University of Chicago Library
    1100 E. 57th Street
    Chicago, IL 60637
    sbyr<-at->uchicago<.>edu


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