Digital Collections Operations Intern (17 Weeks)

Nypl · Queens, New York · onsite 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. Responsibilities: 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 coordination. Digital 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 assets. Metadata 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 systems. Permissions: 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 audits. Rights 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 research. Digital 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 infrastructure. Project 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 resources. Required Education & Certifications: Currently 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 field. Required Experience: Demonstrated interest in digital preservation, audiovisual archiving, commercial/studio photography, metadata, or library technology operations. Basic familiarity with physical handling of archival, library, or museum collections. Familiarity with project management tools. Required Skills: Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail. Effective written and