Internship in South Asian or Southeast Asian Studies Librarianship
Gain a basic understanding of South Asian or Southeast Asian librarianship as an intern with the U-M Library’s International Studies team. This internship program is designed for candidates who wish to explore a library career in South Asian or Southeast Asian Studies.
About the program
During the program, you’ll participate in a combination of one-on-one training with metadata specialists and subject librarians, self-directed study time with real-world examples, and actual cataloging projects.
Hours: 40 hours per week for 8 weeks, from May to July 2023 (exact dates negotiable).
Pay rate: $20/hour
We may also provide up to $3000 toward housing or travel expenses.
What you’ll learn
Learn about:
- South Asian or Southeast Asian Studies librarianship
- Processing workflows for international library materials
- The basics of cataloging with a special emphasis on non-Western language cataloging
- The use of Romanization tables for non-Latin script materials
- How publication practices differ across countries and impact library practices
We’ll also provide a comprehensive view of how a large academic library works. There will be opportunities to interact and collaborate with various library departments and individual specialists, such as the Special Collections Research Center and its curators, library information technology professionals, subject librarians, and general cataloging specialists.
Eligibility and required qualifications
Undergraduate (junior standing or higher) and graduate students are eligible to apply for this program. Attendance at the University of Michigan is not required.
Applicants are expected to have:
- Excellent working knowledge of at least one South Asian or Southeast Asian language (for example: Tagalog, Javanese, Indonesian, Thai, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Sinhalese, and others)
- Ability to learn library specific software
- Ability to perform detailed work
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work well with others
How to apply
A cover letter and resume are required for consideration and should be submitted as a single document. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the internship and outline experience that directly relates to this program.
Application deadline
Submit your cover letter and resume — or direct any questions — to Barbara Alvarez at barbalva@umich.edu by February 17, 2023.
Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.