Digital Collections Operations Intern (17 Weeks)

OverviewFor more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.At our world-class research centers–including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture–expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, programs, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world.The New York Public Library seeks two motivated emerging professionals for a 17-week paid internship with the Digital Collections Operations (DCO) department during the Spring term (January – May). DCO manages the end-to-end digital collections lifecycle for NYPL’s research collections, from digitization and reformatting through metadata, rights, digital asset management, preservation, and access. This internship offers a unique opportunity to understand how the specialized functions that preserve and provide access to digital collections connect across a major research library. Rotating across core DCO teams for 2 to 3 weeks at a time, interns will gain multi-disciplinary exposure to modern digital library workflows, specialized tools, physical collection handling, and digital asset management across multiple NYPL locations. Interns will also gain exposure to operational leadership and coordination, learning how work across these specialized functions is prioritized, connected, and managed across the end-to-end digital collections lifecycle.ResponsibilitiesThe intern will gain exposure to and hands-on experience with the following areas of work across week or multi-week-long rotations within various DCO teams:Digitization & Reformatting: Gain exposure to DCO’s different approaches to digitization and reformatting across its two production labs and vendor services. Participate in project-cycle deep dives, practice material handling, camera setups, and lighting concepts using test materials. Assist with physical inspection, preparation, and reformatting of audio, video, and film formats, and learn vendor digitization workflows and coordinationDigital Preservation & Born-Digital Services: Assist with forensic imaging and reformatting of physical born-digital media (floppy disks, optical media, mass storage drives); assist with preservation packages into Preservica; assist with quality control and troubleshooting on legacy digital collection assetsMetadata Services Unit (MSU): Learn how MSU reuses existing archival description and catalog records to create item-level metadata; gain hands-on practice with metadata remediation through a mini-project in a specific collection area (e.g., historical maps or performing arts photos); assist with control by researching URIs (Library of Congress, VIAF, Wikidata) and identifying name variants across library systemsPermissions: Learn the public order request lifecycle by monitoring permissions intake and routing orders; assist with collection divisions to confirm physical item availability before digitization; gain exposure to administrative setups in ClickUp, preliminary financial invoicing in Freshbooks, and public documentation auditsRights Clearance: Participate in rights reviews for digitized items from NYPL Collections; assist with appropriate copyright statutes or other intellectual property designation in NYPL systems, such as the Metadata Management System; participate in rights holder researchDigital Asset Management & Repository Systems (DAMS): Shadow Digital Asset Management staff to observe repository operations, asset ingest workflows, and system go-live protocols; gain high-level exposure to DAMS access permissions and digital preservation infrastructureProject Management & Operations Coordination & Leadership: Gain exposure to how DCO leadership coordinates priorities, capacity, dependencies, and decision-making across operational areas. Support operational documentation and process mapping; assist with project tracking, follow-up coordination, and leadership meeting materials; support change management and system rollout logistics by synthesizing user feedback and drafting adoption resourcesRequired Education, Experience & SkillsRequired Education & CertificationsCurrently enrolled in, or recently graduated from a Master’s program in Library and Information Science (MLIS), Archival Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities, or a related fieldRequired ExperienceDemonstrated interest in digital preservation, audiovisual archiving, commercial/studio photography, metadata, or library technology operationsBasic familiarity with physical handling of archival, library, or museum collectionsFamiliarity with project management tools Required SkillsStrong organizational skills and keen attention to detailEffective written and verbal communication skills with an ability to work collaboratively across diverse, specialized teamsCuriosity and demonstrated interest in digital collections, preservation, archives, libraries, museums, or related fieldsAbility to adapt to different teams, projects, and work environments throughout a rotational internshipEagerness to learn new tools, technologies, professional practices, and ways of working.Ability to follow established workflows and procedures, document work accurately, and ask questions or escalate issues when appropriateManagerial/Supervisory ResponsibilitiesN/APreferred QualificationsNoneMore...Core ValuesAll team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:Be Helpful to patrons and colleaguesBe Resourceful in solving problems Be Curious in all aspects of your workBe Welcoming and InclusiveWork EnvironmentWork is performed across multiple NYPL facilities, primarily splitting time between the Library Services Center (Long Island City, NY), the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (New York, NY), and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York, NY)Laboratory, studio, and standard office environmentsPossible exposure to dust, mold, and historic preservation chemicalsPhysical DutiesLifting and/or moving items up to 30 lbs. required (moving collection boxes, media carriers, and studio equipment)Handling fragile, historical physical materials with appropriate care and dexterityMay require travel within NYC between library locationsPre-Placement Physical Required?NoUnion/Non Union Non-UnionFLSA StatusNon-ExemptScheduleUp to 14 hours per weekDuration: 17 Weeks / Spring Term (January – May)This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.