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Library Staff

DOJ Libraries Internships

Overview

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Libraries is pleased to announce four internships for the Fall 2024 semester. DOJ Libraries will provide students in library, information science, history, museum studies, archival, and related disciplines the opportunity to work with expert librarians to gain hands-on skills and experience needed for today’s government information services.

DOJ Libraries supports the agency by providing expert legal and general reference and research, along with acquisitions, cataloging, and digitization services. DOJ librarians play key leadership roles in meeting information needs of the DOJ, on the cutting edge of changes and trends in legal practice and emerging information technologies.

Internship application packages for the Fall 2024 semester are due no later than Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Internship Descriptions

You will work under the guidance of and assist expert librarians on one of the following internships. In your application materials, please specify which internship(s) you are interested in.

The Electronic Collections Internship

Location: DOJ Libraries, 4CON Library, 150 M St NE, Washington DC 20002
Mode: on-site, in-person, 8 to 16 hours per week, days TBA

Projects may include:

  • Assisting in applying consistent branding across the DOJ Libraries electronic collections
  • Integrating electronic resources into library LibGuides and the library’s discovery service
  • Updating and developing comprehensive instructions for remote and offline access to electronic resources
  • Tracking usage statistics and creating a library-wide newsletter for monthly distribution

The Electronic Services Internship

Location: DOJ Libraries, 4CON Library, 150 M St NE, Washington DC 20002
Mode: on-site, in-person, 8 to 16 hours per week, days TBA

NOTE: applicants for this internship must have experience with HTML and CSS or knowledge of web development and best practices.

Projects may include:

  • Assisting in the update of the DOJ Libraries discovery service
  • Updating the DOJ Libraries web policies and procedures
  • Developing the DOJ Libraries SharePoint site (prior experience required)
  • Assisting in the development of online training modules

The DOJ History Internship

Location: DOJ Libraries Main Justice Library, 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20530
Mode: on-site, in-person, 8 to 16 hours per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

NOTE: On occasion, Intern will conduct primary source research at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 830 Adelphi Road, College Park MD 20740.

Projects may include:

  • Assisting historians with book projects and special studies
  • Creating historical content for web and social media
  • Conducting primary source research at NARA (College Park, MD)
  • Assisting in development of historical training modules and tours
  • Supporting other historical program functions and commemorative activities

The Supreme Court Records and Briefs (SCRB) Internship

Location: DOJ Libraries Main Justice Library, 950 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20530
Mode: on-site, in-person, 8 to 16 hours per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Primary Project: The intern will work with the DOJ Libraries’ bound collection of Supreme Court Records and Briefs (SCRB), 1880 to present.  The project includes:

  • Developing an inventory of the SCRB to create a database that allows DOJ employees to locate specific case materials
  • Assessing different database management systems (DBMS) to determine the best system to complete the project
  • Inputting SCRB metadata into the chosen DBMS and developing queries to best serve collections access needs

Additional opportunities may include:

  • Assisting DOJ librarians in answering reference questions from DOJ employees
  • Gaining experience working at a library reference desk, both in-person and virtually
  • Learning about managing a large collection of legal resources and government documents
  • Other available projects that align with the intern’s interests and skills

Who Can Apply?

DOJ Libraries Internships are open to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals who are students and who are enrolled on at least a half-time basis in a qualifying graduate degree program in library sciences or a related discipline in an accredited college or university.

Academic Credit

While these internships are unpaid, you may be eligible to receive academic credit through your institution for your participation. Credits are determined by and awarded through your college or university, and it is your responsibility to discuss in advance and make arrangements with your school to receive credit. We will assist interns when and where possible with receiving academic credit for this internship.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a DOJ Libraries Internship, students must:

  • Have a grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0-point scale) or higher;
  • Maintain such grade point average throughout the duration of the internship;
  • Successfully complete a background investigation;
  • Be able to work 8 to 16 hours per week, on-site in Washington, D.C.

How to Apply

To apply, please email your cover letter, current résumé, and unofficial graduate transcripts to Library.Interns@usdoj.gov.

NOTE: Your cover letter should include the following information:

  • Which internship(s) you are interested in
  • An explanation of your interest in an internship with DOJ Libraries
  • A description of how the internship will help your career plans
  • Knowledge, skills, and experiences you have that make you a good candidate for a DOJ Libraries Internship

Internship application packages are due no later than Wednesday, May 15, 2024, for consideration for the Fall 2024 semester.

The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination based on color, race, religion, national origin, politics, marital status, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, status as a parent, membership or nonmembership in an employee organization, or personal favoritism. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Updated April 8, 2024