Internships

Transforming The Future of Libraries and Archives:
A Summer Internship Opportunity

Founded in 1823, the Library of Virginia (LVA) is the most comprehensive resource in the world for the study of Virginia history, culture, and government. Through funding provided by the Library of Virginia Foundation, we are pleased to offer several paid internship opportunities this summer to undergraduate college students from diverse backgrounds who are currently underrepresented in the library, archives, and public history fields. Student interns will gain valuable experience working alongside LVA staff on current projects while gaining insight into what happens behind the scenes to preserve and organize collections and to make them accessible to the public in exciting new ways. Interns will also have a chance to hone their research, writing, and presentation skills while working collaboratively as part of a professional team. They will have a chance to hear from Library staff and guest speakers about the myriad of career options that cultural heritage institutions offer and to develop professional experience that may help them as they continue on their educational journey.

Each intern will work 20 hours per week ($25 hourly rate) for a 10-week period, beginning June 1, 2026, and ending on August 7, 2026.

Internships available this summer:

• Dictionary of Virginia Biography Internship: The Dictionary of Virginia Biography (DVB) is a digital biographical reference work covering all centuries, regions, and categories of Virginia's history and culture. Based on research in often underused primary sources, this dynamic project is rewriting Virginia history one life at a time, and many of the entries offer the first reliable biography about these subjects. Mentored by a DVB editor, the intern will conduct research in the Library of Virginia archives on a person related to the American Revolution and write a roughly 1,000-word DVB entry under their own byline.
  
• Special Collections/Maps Internship: The Library of Virginia’s map collection documents four hundred plus years of development, growth, progress and settlement in the commonwealth of Virginia.  Interns will transfer maps arranged by county and city from the Library of Virginia's legacy map card catalog to our current online catalog and to ShelfLife. The intern may research and write about a particular map for a blog entry for The UncommonWealth or create a story map through ArcGIS or Knight Lab StoryMap JS.
  
• VA250 Exhibitions and Programs Internship: The exhibition Envisioning Revolution will open on June 13, 2026. This position will provide a student the opportunity to work on the final stages of an exhibition, including installation. They will engage with community through creating a tour script and providing tours, assisting in programs throughout the summer, and will have the opportunity to interpret the exhibition through additional programming and smaller pop-up exhibits.
  
• Virginia Untold Internship: Virginia Untold is a digital project that facilitates access to records documenting the lived experiences of enslaved & free Black & multiracial people in LVA's collections. The intern will analyze original source material including both physical and digital records to assign appropriate file names, create indexes of names and other metadata, and in some cases perform light conservation on physical items. The intern might also craft social media posts and brainstorm and write blog content related to Virginia Untold records.
  

Application Instructions

To apply for a Transforming the Future of Libraries and Archives (TFLA) Summer Internship, please send a resume and one-page letter outlining your interest in the opportunity, along with information about your background, relevant skills and/or experience, and academic standing to education@lva.virginia.gov. Applications must be received no later than May 15, 2026, to be considered. This is a multiple internship recruitment. Please identify all internship positions that are of interest to you.

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.