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An Interview with Antoine McDonald, Public Services Intern

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Today’s interview is with Antoine McDonald, a summer intern working in the Public Services Division of the Law Library of Congress.

Antoine McDonald standing in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress.
Photo by Donna Sokol

Describe your background.

I was born and raised in Rochester, New York where I graduated high school in 2010. I then attended The Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College or University (HBCU), where I received a Bachelors of Science in Mass Communications. During my time on Lincoln’s campus, I was a public relations intern for the university, news anchor for Lion Media News, member of the Forensic Society debate team and treasurer and member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated BETA chapter. I currently attend North Carolina Central University’s School of Library and Information Sciences and work as a graduate assistant. Upon graduation in 2016 with a Master’s in Law Librarianship, I plan to attend law school and pursue a career that encompasses law and library science.

How would you describe your job to other people?

If I had to describe my job, I would sum it up as challenging and rewarding. I say that because upon entering this position there were many concepts that were new to me, but as a library and information science student, I naturally worked hard to research any unfamiliar topics in order to obtain the information needed to successfully complete my assignments. That hard work and dedication always pays off the moment you can accurately apply what you’ve learned.

Why did you want to work at the Law Library of Congress?

Since I will be graduating soon, I strongly felt that interning at the Law Library of Congress would provide me a platform to demonstrate what I’ve learned thus far as a student and enable me to develop as an aspiring law librarian.

What is the most interesting fact you’ve learned about the Law Library?

One of the most interesting things that I’ve learned during this experience was the process involved in acquiring new materials for the library’s collection, as well as some unusual ways in which the Law Library has been able to make use of its collection of legal resources. Kurt Carroll, chief of the Collection Services Division at the Law Library, shared one of his more memorable experiences that stuck with me, which was the time his division helped the government of Haiti reproduce digital copies of portions of its legal collection that had been lost when the 2010 earthquake in Haiti destroyed its national library.

What’s something most of your co-workers do not know about you?

I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Burgos, Spain for two months during my junior year of undergraduate school, which has been one of my most memorable and impactful experiences in my life thus far. Although our dorms and classes were located in Burgos where we spent much of our time, we also visited places like Madrid, Bilbao, and the Guggenheim Museum and even witnessed a bull fight in a classical arena.

Comments (3)

  1. WOW!! Wonderful!!. Antoine you are such the young man. Your dad would be very very proud of you, as we ALL are. keep up the fantastic job you are doing and always remember we are with you every step of the way. You have already come thus far….Love, your fam.

  2. Antoine you have grown into such fine young man. I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. May God continue to bless you as you soar higher and higher.

  3. Such an authentic and powerful speaker you are. I am so proud of you and everything that you continue to achieve. Keep striving and never let anyone tell you less. I also agree with your Grandmom as well; you’re Dad would be very proud of you. We love you. I love you. Keep up the good work!

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