INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Library Digitization Undergraduate Intern

CompanyMuseum of Fine Arts
LocationBoston
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJuly 14, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The intern will manage the full lifecycle of a digitization project, focusing on rare ephemera related to BIPOC and underrepresented artists. Responsibilities include identifying materials, scanning, metadata management, and assisting with general library circulation tasks.
Internship Type
temporary hourly
Company Size
980
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
15 hours
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About The Company
The MFA is open. Open to new ideas that broaden our perspectives. Open to every visitor, from the curious to the lifelong learner. Open to new possibilities discovered through art. Showcasing ancient artistry and modern masterpieces, local legends and global visionaries, our renowned collection of nearly 500,000 works tells the story of the human experience—a story that holds unique meaning for everyone. We welcome diverse perspectives, both within the artwork and among our visitors. Where many worldviews meet, new ways of seeing, thinking, and understanding emerge. The conversations we inspire bring people together—revealing connections, exploring differences, and creating a community where all belong.
About the Role

The William Morris Hunt Memorial Library is the central research library of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with a wide-ranging collection of over 250,000 items. The Library's primary mission is to fulfill museum staff research needs for acquisitions, provenance, exhibitions, object records, and more by strategically managing and providing access to the collection.. While the Library’s primary audience is the museum staff, it also extends its service and access to the general public, scholarly community, and museum colleagues seeking art research resources.

The Library is seeking an advanced undergraduate intern to work on digitizing rare library materials as part of the Library’s larger goal to create more open, digital, and equitable access to the Library’s collection. This intern will report to the Library Associate, Resource Sharing and Information Discovery. As their primary project, the intern will work to identify, process, prepare, scan, and upload rare and unique ephemera related to BIPOC and underrepresented artists and art mediums. As secondary projects, the intern will also explore enhancing access to the collection through digitizing institutional publications and creating signage for the physical collections.

The internship will provide experience in the full lifecycle of a digitization project. The intern will create a theme for their digitization project, identify materials that also fit the broader criteria of the project, and execute the project including metadata management and scanning. This naturally includes opportunities to interact with broader art and museum library practices. Furthermore, the intern will have the opportunity to engage with critical thinking about the place of digital and digitization projects in the wider conversations currently happening in the (art) library and digital communities. 

The ideal candidates must be able to work onsite 15 hours per week with shifts of a minimum of 4 hours, between 8:30am-4pm Monday-Thursday September 11, through December 11, and attend the undergraduate Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 18, Sept 25, Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, and Dec 4. 

The intern will be paid at a rate of $16.80 per hour and will receive a $90 per month transportation subsidy which is subject to tax withholdings.

As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution and fostering the next generation of museum staff, the MFA actively encourages students from all backgrounds to apply to the program.

Essential Functions:

  • Work with the Library Associate to complete a digitization project from identification of materials to uploading scans to ensure substantial experience in the lifecycle of a digital project.
  • Research and identify a cohort of pre-1930 materials connected to BIPOC and underrepresented artists and art mediums using the guidelines of the overarching digital project.
  • Utilize a variety of platforms and software to follow complete each step of the digital project in accordance with standard library policies including an integrated library system (FOLIO) and scanning equipment (Bookeye & Opus FreeFlow).
  • Survey materials for issues related to their physical condition to determine preservation needs before scanning; learn about common preservation issues that occur while scanning.
  • Prepare and offer a 3–5-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.

Secondary Functions:

  • Maintain digitization project documentation and instructions.
  • Participate in expanding access to the collections through updating signage and making institutional publications available.
  • Assist in regular circulation tasks alongside staff members including monitoring book return locations and checking books in.

Qualifications:

  • Enrolled in an undergraduate program, concurrent with internship period, as a junior or senior.
  • Demonstrated interest in pursuing museum, library, or digital humanities career.
  • Strong curiosity in promoting underrepresented artists.
  • Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and analytic thinking.
  • Strong communication skills while working in a collaborative team and independently. 
  • Proven ability to follow standardized practices in the field; familiarity with basic library resource organization is preferred.
  • Physical abilities to handle heavy loads of books such as lifting up to 20 lbs. and pushing/pulling full carts. This also includes the ability to reach, bend, and climb on ladders.
  • Ability to work onsite 15 hours per week, with shifts of a minimum of 4 hours, between 8:30am-4pm Monday-Thursday September 11, through December 11, and attend the undergraduate Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course from 12:30-2:30pm on the following Fridays: Sept 18, Sept 25, Oct 2, Oct 9, Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6, Nov 13, Nov 20, and Dec 4.
  • Ability to attend orientation on Fri, Jan 23, 2026, 10am to 3:30pm.

How to Apply

DO NOT INCLUDE any document (e.g., transcripts, writing samples, or even recommendations), that is not specifically requested within this description. DO NOT INCLUDE your photo in your resume or cover letter. Explicitly follow these instructions as printed. 

  1. Combine your cover letter and resume into a single document, (Word or PDF). The cover letter must includeall of the following:
    1. the title of the internship for which you are applying (one internship per application)
    2. how the named internship fits into your academic and/or career goals
    3. why your specific skills/experience/interests qualify you for the internship.
    4. any periods when you are not available for an interview. 
    5. your contact information including e-mail and daytime phone 
  2. Save your document file as (LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_POSITIONTITLE_Fall2026)
  3. Upload the single document as your resume via the employment portal Internships | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ASAP before August 15, 2026. 
  4. Candidates may apply for no more than two internships per season and must submit a separate cover letter/resume document for each position. 
  5. **Direct any/all questions to: intern@mfa.org before submitting your application. 
**Applications not aligning with these guidelines may be deemed ineligible.   
Key Skills
DigitizationMetadata ManagementScanningPreservationResearchOrganizational SkillsAttention To DetailAnalytic ThinkingCommunication SkillsCollaborationLibrary Resource OrganizationPhysical Handling Of Materials
Categories
Art & DesignEducationScience & ResearchCreative & MediaAdministrative
Benefits
Transportation Subsidy