Apply for a High School Summer Internship at the Library of Congress!

Do you have a teen looking for a unique summer internship? Is your high school student interested in libraries, museums and research? If so, they may be the right fit for our program. The 2023 high school summer internship through the Informal Learning Office is designed for individuals interested in working with primary sources and with young audiences. Students will learn about the Library and help the Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement develop and create content to support the new participatory learning space for youth and families in the Library of Congress. Applications will be accepted through April 28. Visit the Library’s website for details.

In the Learning Center that the Library is developing, visiting kids and their families will not only discover primary sources, but will learn how their peers and adults alike use Library collections to feed their curiosity, inspire creativity, and become changemakers. This summer, teens will help identify sources that they are curious and passionate about to be included in the center. Their voices may be shared with visitors for years to come.

This year’s program will be offered in a hybrid format with students able to attend virtually and/or in-person. We encourage students from around the country to apply. Every participant will join us for online sessions and those in the region will be able to visit the Library for hands-on experiences once a week. Last summer, our seven-intern cohort joined us from Florida, New York, Indiana, Virginia, New Hampshire, and Maryland. Their projects included National Book Festival initiatives such as hosting a teen meet-up, blog writing, and moderating on stage at the festival.

Ava Luo, an intern in summer 2022, shared, “Books have meant the world to me, ever since I was a kid, and interning with the Library of Congress was something I could have never even imagined. This internship gave me so many amazing opportunities. I learned a lot from inspiring mentors, got to work on the coolest projects, met some of my favorite authors, and made some amazing friends along the way. It’s an experience I’ll always hold close to my heart.”

In addition to conducting research in the Library’s collections, this year’s interns will meet professionals from across the Library. The Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement is committed to helping our high school participants learn more about the exciting people and jobs that support the Library’s mission. Lauren Gracie, another summer 2022 intern noted, “The staff was welcoming and it was wonderful to be in an environment that focuses on my learning as much as what I could give to the program. I did not know much about the Library before I started, and it was so interesting to learn about all of the jobs that are performed there and the many functions of the Library that I never would have expected. From reference librarians that work to answer so many different kinds of questions to event planners and all of their impressive spreadsheets, there are so many people that make up the Library that I never knew were there.”

If your high school student enjoys collaborating, and is interested in researching and contributing content for a new participatory learning space for youth and families, please consider taking a look our summer internship posting, found here. This short-term, unpaid opportunity will run from June 26 – July 20, 2023, with one short virtual check-in on July 5th or 6th during the week of July 4th. Students must be available Monday-Thursday from 10 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 – 3:30 PM EST on each day for virtual training, workshops, and peer working groups. This opportunity is open to current high school students with an interest in working with peers; interest in or experience working with children; interest in writing, exhibition development, and research. In-person interns must be available to come into the Library once a week during the intensive.

We hope to see your applications before April 28th!