Job Description

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for Graduate students enrolled in MLIS or related programs. The internship will begin on January 18th and end on April 26th, 2027. Participants must be available two weekdays days per week for a 10 to 5 workday. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.

For more information, including information on eligibility requirements, please visit our internships page.

The Whitney seeks a Research Resources: Library and Archives intern for the Spring 2027 semester.

Expected Projects & Assignments

• Create original and copy cataloging in MARC for library materials
• Create preservation housings for Library Special Collections materials
• Assist with providing in-person and remote reference services for Library and Archives
• Assist with the circulation of library materials
• Assist with supervising the reading room and on-site researchers
• Assist with reference inquiries from staff and external researchers

Skills & Qualifications

• Ideal candidate is a current student or recent graduate who has completed at least one semester in a Library and Information Science program, or related graduate program
• Experience with library cataloging (MARC, RDA, LCSH, LC classification) and/or preservation a plus
• Interest in modern and contemporary American art and museum work
• Ability to work independently with attention to detail
• Experience with conducting research using an ILS
• Ability to lift cartons (up to 30lbs) is helpful
• Graduate students enrolled in MLIS or related programs are eligible.
• While a demonstrated interest in art and art history is preferred, students in all majors are encouraged to apply
• Previous museum experience is not required

Provided Training

• General art library and archives policies and procedures
• Use of our OPAC, WhitneyCat, and Koha ILS
• Use of our ArchivesSpace finding aids database
• Library cataloging and MARC/RDA metadata creation
• Basics of hands-on preservation rehousing for a variety of library materials
• Reference and user services skills

Outcomes

• First-hand experience in multiple areas related to the operations of library and archives in a museum setting
• An understanding of how the Whitney’s research collections support unique areas of inquiry
• The opportunity to work with both Whitney staff researchers and visiting scholars
• Increased knowledge of metadata, reference, and circulation of library and archives resources

Compensation

Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000.

Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.