Do you know a teen who is interested in history, primary sources, reading, libraries or museums? Are they looking for a fun and engaging summer internship? Let them know that the Library is currently accepting applications for the 2024 high school summer internship, hosted by the Informal Learning Office. This is an engaging way for older teens to learn more about the work of the Library of Congress while helping the Center for Learning, Literacy and Engagement develop materials for kids, teens and families. The internship is available to current high school students, or Class of 2024 graduates, aged 16 or older at the start of the internship. To learn more about applying for the internship, visit the Library’s Internship and Fellowship website.
As in previous years, this year’s internship will be offered in a hybrid format where students attend the program virtually for most of the internship, with on-site days available for those students local to the Library of Congress’ Washington, D.C. campus. Students from around the country are encouraged to apply for the internship. Past interns for this program have participated from California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Utah, New Hampshire, New York, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
This year’s internship will focus on developing materials highlighting the David M. Rubinstein Treasures Gallery opening in 2024, which may be used with visitors. Alongside working on the internship research project, the teens will meet professionals from across the Library as they learn how to research using the Library of Congress’s collection while also learning more about the institution’s programs, mission, goals and how to research using the Library’s collections. Past interns have noted that “learning to research using the Library’s resources and learning about the different moving parts of a library were two of the key takeaways” from their internship and helped them “in future research projects as well as [in] considering [their] future career path.”
Summer High School teen interns have gone on to act as reporters during the National Book festival, have had their work featured on the Minerva’s Kaleidoscope blog, have research materials on display in the Library’s Young Readers Center and Programs Lab and have also acted as teen moderators at the National Book Festival.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about research, visitor engagement, collaboration, and informal learning in museum and library settings, please consider applying for this year’s high school summer internship. Information about the application process can be found here. This short-term, unpaid internship opportunity runs from June 24, 2024 to July 18, 2024. Interns meet virtually Mondays through Thursdays from 10 AM to 3:30 PM EST. In-person hybrid participants must be available to come to the Library once a week during this internship. Applicants must be current high school students or class of 2024 graduates aged 16 or older at the time of the internship.
Applications are open now and are due by Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.