Call for 2017-2018 SAA Interns

SAA’s appointed groups and sections are now seeking interns! Students and new professionals are encouraged to apply for this unique leadership development experience. SAA internships are an excellent professional service opportunity that supports SAA’s core values and commitment to “providing an open, inclusive, and collaborative environment” for all of our members. All applications are due by Friday, June 16.

SAA’s appointed groups – committees, boards, and working groups – advise the SAA Council on various issues and aspects of the profession. SAA’s sections serve as special-interest groups for a specific aspect of the archives profession. Each of the 16 positions available will provide interns with a unique opportunity to see the inner workings of these groups – and to contribute to important work on behalf of SAA and the profession.

Our interns work directly with the appointed group or section, participating in all meetings as well as assisting with special projects, research, or administrative tasks, when applicable. Interns are responsible for a set of assigned tasks, typically requiring no more than 10 hours of work per month.

Interns will be assigned to an SAA group for a one-year term, from July 29, 2017, through the 2018 Annual Meeting. Group chairs and interns will be asked to complete evaluation forms at the end of the term.

Read on to learn about the SAA groups seeking an intern, including details about the intended project or tasks, and then submit your application here! Deadline: Friday, June 16.

APPOINTED GROUPS

The following appointed groups are seeking an intern for the 2017-2018 term:

The American Archivist Editorial Board
Review back issues of The American Archivist and identify “hidden content” within miscellaneous sections so that all of the content in the journal is accessible.

Committee on Education
Assist with special projects and the committee tasks serving CoE’s four complementary purposes: 1) to assess the profession's educational needs; 2) to prepare and promote standards for archival education programs based in graduate schools; 3) to prepare and promote post-appointment and continuing education and training programs; and 4) to provide advice to the SAA Education Office.

Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) Subcommittee
Carry out a project to collect data on the job market and skills sought by employers, review existing and proposed DAS course offerings, and analyze and report on gaps in order to make recommendations to the subcommittee regarding course development. This work will build on and refine the work initiated by the first intern and will support longitudinal assessment of the curriculum to ensure its relevance to the professional community. 

Committee on Public Policy
Contribute to our deliberations related to SAA's Public Policy Agenda. Most deliberations are via email, though COPP meets in person at the annual meeting and conducts quarterly conference calls. Interns are involved in researching, drafting, and editing position papers and issue briefs. Interns may also undertake special projects as needed. In the past interns have also assisted with organizing sessions at the annual meeting or writing pieces for Archival Outlook.

Dictionary Working Group
Seeking a highly motivated intern to be a full contributing member of the group and transition entries from our initial working environment into our dictionary production system. Strong writing and research skills are a plus as we write new or update existing entries and search for supporting citations.

Publications Board
Assist the Editor and Board with special projects to improve access to books and study new publication options.

Standards Committee
Assist with ongoing maintenance of the Standards Portal, including assisting with research and discussions on more formally designating what a standard is, assessing usage of and updating the current list of external standards, and assisting the committee members in liaising with the technical subcommittees.

SECTIONS

The following Sections are seeking an intern for the 2017-2018 term:

Acquisitions & Appraisal Section
Work in collaboration with and under the guidance of the steering committee to increase and maintain the section’s social media presence and provide support for the section’s official communications. In collaboration with the steering committee, the intern will also conduct interviews, produce short-form content for the section's blog, and participate in other section projects and activities of their interest.

Archival History Section
Assist in the design and establishment of a new WordPress newsletter to report on the activities and scholarship of those who study archives and the history of archives.

Archives Management Section
Gather resources and coordinate the development of a web page for the Archives Management Section.

Archivists & Archives of Color Section
Coordinate the Archiving in Color project, a blog of profiles that celebrate archivists of color. The intern will assist with soliciting, writing, editing, and publishing profiles.

Business Archives Section
Update the Directory of Corporate Archives in the United States and Canada, which elevates awareness among the public and fosters communication within the Business Archives Section community. This includes companies that maintain their historical records themselves, as well as companies that contract with historical consulting firms to maintain their archives collections for them and libraries that contain business records. The intern would also assist members of the Steering Committee with updates to the Business Archives Advocacy toolkit and general promotion of business-archives-related content across social media platforms.

Collection Management Tools Section
Collaborate with the CMT Steering Committee to improve our member engagement and continue to develop our Documentation Portal. The portal has been around for several years and, as repositories continue to adopt new technology and enhance other tools’ implementation, we seek to provide evidence of this work. Together, the intern and the Steering Committee may conduct a membership survey, solicit participation in the Documentation Portal, and work on one or two other projects that address members’ requests or demonstrated needs. Areas of particular interest will also be taken into consideration when determining project participation.

Issues & Advocacy Section
Work on collaborative projects to further the mission of I&A,  including opportunities to assist with the advocacy toolkit, overseeing legislative and general research teams, and coordinating outreach efforts to members, as well as with other groups within SAA. Areas of particular interest or educational focus will also be taken into consideration when determining final projects.

Science, Technology, and Health Care Section
Seeking an energetic and collaborative intern to assist the web liaison in redesign and maintaining the group’s microsite in order to make it more functional and easy to use. Ideal candidates will be familiar with HTML, XML, and/or Drupal, but not required. Duties and responsibilities include developing microsite layout and navigation, maintaining and updating the site on a regular basis, collecting and posting content for STHC’s Unsung Heroes of STEM and Health Sciences page, working with the SAA web-design team to examine and analyze site traffic, and connecting with section membership and sister organizations (AAHM, ALHHS, etc.).

Visual Materials Section
Assist with local arrangements for the 2018 Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., including gathering names of local breakfast and lunch spots and coordinating meet-ups. VM also has an informal midwinter meeting at which we plan for sessions and future activities. The VM intern will have many opportunities to interact with the leadership, help direct future activities, and meet and greet new VM members.

Eligibility

Because SAA internships are intended to be opportunities for professional and leadership development, the intern applicant must be:

• An SAA member and
• A student who is currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD program with an archives component or focus and/or
• A new archives professional with three or fewer years of experience in the profession.

Because SAA is committed to enhancing the diversity of the organization, the profession, and the historical record, individuals who are members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply for an SAA appointed group internship.

To Apply:

To volunteer to serve, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GP6DRTV. Most information requested on the form is required (*) because more complete information submitted results in more effective internship placements. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers that will ensure or prevent an appointment. In text areas, we are interested in highlights.

If you have any questions, please contact us at saahq@archivist.org or by phone at 866-722-7858.

Application Deadline:  Friday, June 16

Note:

1)      SAA interns are not funded to attend the Annual Meeting, and must do so at their own (or their institution’s) expense.  

2)      Interns are considered non-voting adjunct members of the appointed group. They are encouraged to contribute to the work of the group and to be an active participant in group meetings, but they do not have an official vote.

3)      Some appointed groups may hold an additional meeting mid-year to handle other important business. As adjunct members of the group, interns would be funded by SAA to attend such meetings.