This is a guest post by Diana Gibbs, program manager for the AHHA internship program.
The Library of Congress welcomes applications now through Monday, April 22, 2024 for the 2024 session of the Archives, History and Heritage Advanced (AHHA) Internship Program. Doors are open to candidates located throughout the United States: AHHA includes options for onsite and remote projects.
Get to Know AHHA
AHHA interns generate new paths of learning and discovery in the world’s largest library. This part-time, paid internship provides opportunities to analyze, organize, and interpret collections or programs that help share an inclusive story of the American experience.
As part of the Of the People: Widening the Path initiative, the AHHA program focuses on Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous, and communities of color historically underrepresented in the United States and in the Library’s collections.
During the program, AHHA interns accumulate valuable portfolios of career-accelerating items and transferrable experiences. Intern publications and reflection videos adorn the AHHA loc.gov page, where alumni point to their official Library of Congress contributions while applying for academic programs and jobs. Visit the page to see AHHA interns in action and draw inspiration from their project findings.
Peer-driven collaboration is a hallmark of AHHA, as well. Interns participate in Project Portfolio Pods to gather feedback and consider different perspectives from fellow cohort members. And, the acclaimed Professional Development Series welcomes interns to its career and educational sessions. In these participatory and informational courses, interns hone workplace skills, build professional networks, and absorb lifelong Library of Congress knowledge.
Project Preview
AHHA projects heighten visibility and promote accessibility for Library resources that more fully represent the rich cultural and creative heritage of the United States. Peruse the sampling of AHHA 2024 project objectives below and imagine yourself immersed in:
- Analyzing the Library’s Comic Book Collection’s contents to determine if materials from Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous creators are adequately represented.
- Curating and remixing the Library’s digital collections to create an interactive experience that engrosses users in the narrative worlds of Zora Neal Hurston.
- Collaborating with Library staff to identify materials and K-12 classroom strategies that use digitized Library resources to support culturally relevant pedagogy.