Internship at University of Chicago Library

Mary and Samuel Somit Preservation Internship
The University of Chicago Library
Summer 2015

The University of Chicago Library is accepting applications for the
2015 Mary and Samuel Somit Preservation Internship.  The Internship
Program 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.  Established to honor his
parents' legacy, the Internship serves the needs of the Library's
collection, and prepares individuals for the important work of
preserving library resources for research and teaching.

The six-week Internship is intended to provide students with an
opportunity to learn about a comprehensive program for the care of
collections and to apply their skills and knowledge in a research
library setting.  Under the guidance of the Preservation Librarian
and other Library staff, the Intern will learn about Preservation
Department operations and undertake a project based on the needs of
the collection and the priorities of the Library.

The Mary and Samuel Somit Internship provides a $4,000 stipend.
Applicants must commit to six consecutive weeks of full-time work to
occur between June 1 and August 31, 2015.

Internship Project:  For the summer 2015 Internship, the project
will provide an in-depth opportunity to learn about the Preservation
Department's Digitization Unit.  This Unit works in close
collaboration with other Library Units to build digital collections
and provide access to Library collections.  The Digitization Unit is
involved in all tasks necessary for the creation of digital
collections from a wide range of paper-based materials held in the
Library's general and special collections.  Activities include all
aspects of project management-- establishing project specifications,
creating high resolution master files on various types of scanners
in accordance with preservation standards, outputting derivative
files as specified by the web interface requirements, and preparing
submissions to the Library's Digital Repository.

The internship project may include one of the following:

    Investigating, evaluating, and documenting processes to digitize
    books with extensive numeric and tabular data into formats that
    allow users to analyze and manipulate this data.  Example
    resources include publications with census data in which a
    researcher would like to compare historic census data over time.
    This process will include a literature search and exploration of
    existing data services and might include seeking user input and
    testing with vendors.

    Evaluating, describing, and quantifying collection materials
    under consideration for digitization and preparing background
    documentation to define and cost out a potential project for
    conversion and access.  Materials may include rarely held Middle
    East publications materials that have been preserved and are
    accessible only in microformats.  This work might include
    testing with contract vendors and the creation of metadata or
    repurposing of existing metadata.

Projects will involve collaboration with the Preservation
Department's Digitization, Conservation Units, the Digital Library
Development Center, Technical Services, and Subject Bibliographers.

Eligibility and Requirements:  The Internship is open to recent
graduates and currently enrolled students of a conservation program
or library program with a specialization in preservation or
digitization; or students with equivalent experience and
preservation or conservation training.  Experience with the
application of digitization standards for paper-based materials and
a basic understanding of tabular data is desirable.

To apply for the Internship individuals must electronically submit a
letter of application, a resume, and the names and e-mail addresses
of three professional references.  Graduates or currently enrolled
students in a graduate program should also provide a list of
completed preservation and other relevant courses.  To be considered
an applicant, individuals must be eligible to work in the United
States and be able to work six consecutive weeks of full-time work
between June 1 and August 30, 2015.  The University of Chicago is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

The deadline for applications is March 2, 2015.

Submit electronic applications to: somitinternship<-at->lib<.>uchicago<.>edu

For more information please see our Somit Preservation Internship
website

    <URL:http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/about/departments/preservation/somit>

or contact:

    Sherry Byrne
    Preservation Librarian
    University of Chicago Library
    1100 East 57th Street, Room 106
    Chicago IL 60637
    773-702-9313
    sbyr<-at->uchicago<.>edu


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