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New Residency Program Moves Forward

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Heads up, recent grad students!  The National Digital Stewardship Residency program is in the works, and Library of Congress staff members are currently working with other institutions in the Washington, D.C. area to set up this new program, which promises to be a great opportunity for students to gain real world experience with digital preservation activities.

As stated on the program website: “The mission of the National Digital Stewardship Residency is to build a dedicated community of professionals who will advance our nation’s capabilities in managing, preserving, and making accessible the digital record of human achievement. This will enable current and future generations to fully realize the potential of digital resources now and for years to come.”

Applications will be available in the next couple months, but here is some basic information:

  • Open to recent masters degree graduates in library science, information science, information technology, museum studies and related fields, who have a strong interest in digital stewardship
  • The residencies will begin in June, 2013, will last for 9 months, and will take place in the Washington, D.C. area
  • Institutions to host residents outside of the Library of Congress are currently being identified
  • The program will give students an opportunity to apply their skills in a real world setting, by working on projects and engaging in seminars and other educational experiences

See previous blog posts for the program announcement , and information about the curriculum panel.  See the program website for the most current information, which will be updated with new information when available.

Kris Nelson, Program Specialist for the Library of Congress, and one of the project’s coordinators, recently answered some questions about this project:

Susan:  What should interested students be thinking about in advance of application?

Kris:  We anticipate that selection will be competitive and so, we will be looking for students with strong skills, an energetic work ethic, and passion for the field.  Those interested in applying should give some serious thought to the question, ‘Why digital stewardship?’

Susan: Will there be opportunities for both individual and collaborative work during the residency?

Kris: Yes, residents will each be assigned a specific project that will require working independently.  However, we want the experience to be highly collaborative as well and will be encouraging group seminars, interactive learning, and collaborative projects.

Susan: How would you describe the advantages for a student’s future career?

Kris: A graduate that participates in the NDSR program will have the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge with a hands-on project at a prestigious Washington, D.C. institution.   Real-world experience like this is an invaluable asset in today’s workplace.

Susan: Anything else you would like to tell us about this residency program?

Kris: The program is in its infancy and will grow with experience.  The first group of residents will have the unique opportunity to help develop the NDSR program in its formative years.

Watch this space for the application announcement later on!

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