Internships

This project will focus on inventory and cataloging objects for the Library of Virginia’s discrete artifact collection. Reporting to the Visual Studies Collection Registrar, the Artifact Collection Cataloging Intern will receive basic training in inventorying and identifying a wide range of three-dimensional objects, cataloging to professional standards, coordinating object photography, and rehousing objects. This project will also require archival research in the Library’s collection to determine provenance for each object in the artifact collection. 

This unpaid position will run approximately from February to April. The intern will work on average for 12 hours per week at our location in downtown Richmond. The student must be available to work on Mondays.  

The student may use this internship for academic credit, and the supervisor is willing to flex the schedule if the student needs to meet certain hourly requirements. 

Upon completion of this internship, the student will be able to:  

• Research the history of a specific object or its attribution to a specific accession. 

• Utilize accepted industry standards to inventory and catalog objects and assign locations. 

• Accession and catalog collections of three-dimensional objects. 

• Re-house objects. 

Towards the end of their semester, the intern will write an UncommonWealth blog post highlighting their work.

• Applications are open now through Sunday, November 1. Students will receive a confirmation email when the Internship Coordinator reviews their application.  

• Virtual interviews will occur during the week of November 16. The Library of Virginia anticipates sending an offer letter the week of November 30. 

• The internship begins in early February.  

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and currently enrolled in an accredited college or university. They must be an upperclassman or graduate student pursuing a degree in Archives, Museum Studies, Art History, or Public History. 

• This position is ideal for someone considering a career working with special collections or museum collections. Previous museum training and/or internship experience is preferred but not required.  

• An intern will thrive in this position if they possess strong time-management skills and are well-organized, methodical, and able to work independently and as part of a team.  

• The ideal candidate has: 

• Knowledge of accepted standards and practices for storage and handling of objects. 

• Familiarity with collection management database systems; knowledge of nomenclature for museum cataloging.  

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Alignment with Career Goals: Many of our internships prepare students for careers in libraries, archives, museums, education, and history.  

• Commitment to Our Vision: The Library of Virginia will inspire learning, ignite imagination, create possibilities, encourage understanding, and engage Virginia's past to empower its future. We're seeking students who share – or are eager to explore – this vision.  

• Relevant Courses of Study and Experience: We will review your transcript and resume for evidence of interest, preparation, or skills relevant to the position. 

• Engagement and Initiative: Applicants who demonstrate curiosity, self‑motivation, or a willingness to learn often stand out, regardless of prior experience. 

• Availability and Logistics: We may also consider scheduling compatibility, project timelines, and the internship’s specific needs during the selection process. 

Interested students should email the following information as PDFs to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov : 

1. A 1–2-page resume 

2. A cover letter detailing how this position supports your career goals and academic interests, including your availability for the semester and whether you intend to use this internship for academic credit 

3. A 1–2-page writing sample, such as an excerpt of a research paper or essay 

4. An unofficial academic transcript 

5. 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors. You may include these as part of your application email or have the supervisors send their letters directly to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if requested, reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources at marjorie.mcgregor@dhrm.virginia.gov. 

The Library of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To be successful in this position, in addition to the qualifications listed, you will need to value working for an agency that fosters a diverse, open, inclusive, team-oriented work environment. All qualified applicants are afforded equal opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability (except where physical requirements are a bona fide occupational qualification). 

Special Requirements: The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration.

Prior to 1950, the local coroner investigated any death without medical attendance or those of a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner. The surviving records have considerable research value given the individual and collective information gathered as part of the inquest. In addition, the materials also record notable information regarding both free and enslaved people, further enhancing their research potential. 

Reporting to the Local Records Program Manager, this intern will process (if necessary), index, and describe local records coroners’ inquisitions in preparation for digital reformatting and accessibility through the Library of Virginia’s Digital Discovery portal. 

This paid position will run approximately from February through April. Generously funded by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives, the intern will work on average for 20 hours per week at our location in downtown Richmond and earn $20/hour. The student may use this internship for academic credit. 

Upon completion of this internship, the student will be able to:  

• Demonstrate knowledge of proper handling of archival materials and basic preservation skills. 

• Understand and apply best practices for proper identification and arrangement of moderately complex local government records. 

• Apply a basic knowledge of national standards for archival arrangement and culturally competent description to enhance user access. 

• Create written content to promote visibility and use of coroners’ records for a range of audiences through a blog post. 

The Coroner’s Inquisitions intern will write an UncommonWealth blog post summarizing their experience. They may also have opportunities to create a MARC/EAD record and present their work to the Friends of the Virginia State Archives and other external partners.

• Applications are open now through Sunday, November 1. Students will receive a confirmation email when the Internship Coordinator reviews their application.  

• Virtual interviews will occur during the week of November 16. The Library of Virginia anticipates sending an offer letter the week of November 30. 

• The internship begins in early February.  

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and currently enrolled at an accredited college or university. 

• The position is ideal for an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in archival work. 

• The ideal candidate possesses a basic understanding of standard archival conservation guidelines. 

• A foundational knowledge of legal processes and Virginia state and local history is helpful for working with our collections, too. 

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Alignment with Career Goals: Many of our internships prepare students for careers in libraries, archives, museums, education, and history. Even if your career goals or areas of study don’t directly align with your desired internship, we encourage you to explain how this unique opportunity supports your broader academic or professional development. 

• Commitment to Our Vision: The Library of Virginia will inspire learning, ignite imagination, create possibilities, encourage understanding, and engage Virginia's past to empower its future. We're seeking students who share – or are eager to explore – this vision.  

• Relevant Courses of Study and Experience: We will review your transcript and resume for evidence of interest, preparation, or skills relevant to the position. 

• Engagement and Initiative: Applicants who demonstrate curiosity, self‑motivation, or a willingness to learn often stand out, regardless of prior experience. 

• Availability and Logistics: We may also consider scheduling compatibility, project timelines, and the internship’s specific needs during the selection process. 

Interested students should email the following information as PDFs to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov : 

1. A 1–2-page resume 

2. A cover letter detailing how this position supports your career goals and academic interests, including your availability for the semester and whether you intend to use this internship for academic credit 

3. A 1–2-page writing sample, such as an excerpt of a research paper or essay 

4. An unofficial academic transcript 

5. 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors. You may include these as part of your application email or have the supervisors send their letters directly to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if requested, reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources at marjorie.mcgregor@dhrm.virginia.gov. 

The Library of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To be successful in this position, in addition to the qualifications listed, you will need to value working for an agency that fosters a diverse, open, inclusive, team-oriented work environment. All qualified applicants are afforded equal opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability (except where physical requirements are a bona fide occupational qualification). 

Special Requirements: The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. 

Private Papers archivists are responsible for all non-governmental records and federal records, including Bible records, business records, cemetery records, church records, genealogical notes and charts, organizational records, and personal papers.    

Reporting to the Senior Manuscripts Acquisition & Digital Archivist, the Private Papers intern will learn about archival and digital standards, theory, and practice as they assist in processing and cataloging with our team of archivists. The student may also expand on previously cataloged collections to make them more accessible. 

This unpaid position will run approximately from February to April. The intern will work on average for 10-12 hours per week at our location in downtown Richmond. 

The student may use this internship for academic credit, and the supervisor is willing to flex the schedule if the student needs to meet certain hourly requirements. 

Upon completion of this internship, the student will be able to:  

• Describe and process a collection of private papers, creating materials that researchers can use. 

• Research creators of a collection’s primary sources. 

• Organize information according to the Library of Congress and the Society of American Archivists’ Standards. 

Towards the end of their semester, the intern will write an UncommonWealth blog post highlighting their work.

• Applications are open now through Sunday, November 1. Students will receive a confirmation email when the Internship Coordinator reviews their application.  

• Virtual interviews will occur during the week of November 16. The Library of Virginia anticipates sending an offer letter the week of November 30. 

• The internship begins in early February.  

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and currently enrolled at an accredited college or university. The student must be an upperclassman or graduate student with a background in research and writing. 

• The ideal candidate is well-organized, methodical, and able to work independently and as part of a team. They also possess strong time-management skills and attention to detail. 

• A foundational knowledge of Virginia and US history is helpful for working with our collections.  

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Alignment with Career Goals: Many of our internships prepare students for careers in libraries, archives, museums, education, and history. Even if your career goals or areas of study don’t directly align with your desired internship, we encourage you to explain how this unique opportunity supports your broader academic or professional development. 

• Commitment to Our Vision: The Library of Virginia will inspire learning, ignite imagination, create possibilities, encourage understanding, and engage Virginia's past to empower its future. We're seeking students who share – or are eager to explore – this vision.  

• Relevant Courses of Study and Experience: We will review your transcript and resume for evidence of interest, preparation, or skills relevant to the position. 

• Engagement and Initiative: Applicants who demonstrate curiosity, self‑motivation, or a willingness to learn often stand out, regardless of prior experience. 

• Availability and Logistics: We may also consider scheduling compatibility, project timelines, and the internship’s specific needs during the selection process.

Interested students should email the following information as PDFs to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov : 

1. A 1–2-page resume 

2. A cover letter detailing how this position supports your career goals and academic interests, including your availability for the semester and whether you intend to use this internship for academic credit 

3. A 1–2-page writing sample, such as an excerpt of a research paper or essay 

4. An unofficial academic transcript 

5. 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors. You may include these as part of your application email or have the supervisors send their letters directly to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if requested, reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources at marjorie.mcgregor@dhrm.virginia.gov. 

The Library of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To be successful in this position, in addition to the qualifications listed, you will need to value working for an agency that fosters a diverse, open, inclusive, team-oriented work environment. All qualified applicants are afforded equal opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability (except where physical requirements are a bona fide occupational qualification). 

Special Requirements: The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration.

The Library of Virginia’s map collection documents four hundred plus years of development, growth, progress and settlement in the commonwealth of Virginia. Reporting to the Senior Map Archivist, the Maps intern will work with historic maps and transfer the legacy map card catalog to the Library’s online catalog. The intern will also overlay digitized maps onto real-world locations for inclusion in the Library's digital preservation platform, Rosetta. 

This unpaid position will run approximately from February to April. The intern will work on average for 10 hours per week at our location in downtown Richmond. The student may use this internship for academic credit, and the supervisor is willing to flex the schedule if the student needs to meet certain hourly requirements. 

Upon completion of this internship, the student will be able to:  

• Demonstrate the ability to georeference historical maps which will be made available to the public through the Library of Virginia catalog (Rosetta).  

• Create descriptive information (also called metadata) in the library's cataloging system (Alma). 

Towards the end of their semester, the intern will write an UncommonWealth blog post highlighting their work or create a story map through ArcGIS or Knight Lab StoryMap JS.

• Applications are open now through Sunday, November 1. Students will receive a confirmation email when the Internship Coordinator reviews their application.  

• Virtual interviews will occur during the week of November 16. The Library of Virginia anticipates sending an offer letter the week of November 30. 

• The internship begins in early February.

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and enrolled at an accredited college or university.  

• The position is ideal for an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in public history, cataloging, and/or cartography.  

• The ideal candidate possesses strong time-management skills, the ability to work independently, and an interest in learning new technologies.  

• A foundational knowledge of Virginia and US history is helpful for working with our collections.  

Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Alignment with Career Goals: Many of our internships prepare students for careers in libraries, archives, museums, education, and history. Even if your career goals or areas of study don’t directly align with your desired internship, we encourage you to explain how this unique opportunity supports your broader academic or professional development. 

• Commitment to Our Vision: The Library of Virginia will inspire learning, ignite imagination, create possibilities, encourage understanding, and engage Virginia's past to empower its future. We're seeking students who share – or are eager to explore – this vision.  

• Relevant Courses of Study and Experience: We will review your transcript and resume for evidence of interest, preparation, or skills relevant to the position. 

• Engagement and Initiative: Applicants who demonstrate curiosity, self‑motivation, or a willingness to learn often stand out, regardless of prior experience. 

• Availability and Logistics: We may also consider scheduling compatibility, project timelines, and the internship’s specific needs during the selection process. For example, this student will not work on Mondays. 

Interested students should email the following information as PDFs to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov : 

1. A 1–2-page resume 

2. A cover letter detailing how this position supports your career goals and academic interests, including your availability for the semester and whether you intend to use this internship for academic credit 

3. A 1–2-page writing sample, such as an excerpt of a research paper or essay 

4. An unofficial academic transcript 

5. 2 letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors. You may include these as part of your application email or have the supervisors send their letters directly to rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if requested, reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If you require accommodations, please contact the Office of Human Resources at marjorie.mcgregor@dhrm.virginia.gov. 

The Library of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of the Commonwealth of Virginia. To be successful in this position, in addition to the qualifications listed, you will need to value working for an agency that fosters a diverse, open, inclusive, team-oriented work environment. All qualified applicants are afforded equal opportunities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability (except where physical requirements are a bona fide occupational qualification). 

Special Requirements: The selected candidate must successfully pass a criminal background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration.