The Library of Congress seeks early-career librarians to bring their intellectual engagement, technological savvy, and theoretical understanding of library and information science concepts to bear on practical challenges via the Librarians-in-Residence program. The program is managed by Talent Recruitment and Outreach/Internship and Fellowship Programs Section, Human Capital Directorate.
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. The program is open to students who earned or will complete their master’s degree in library/information science from an American Library Association-accredited program between December 1, 2023, and June 14, 2025. The program selectees will be expected to report to work on June 16, 2025. A complete application package will consist of: Your federal style resume. Your responses to a vacancy questionnaire, including a mandatory Candidate Statement of interest. A legible copy of your latest college/university transcripts. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official Transcripts will be required if selected for the position. Transcripts must be issued by the college or university, and must include your name, the name of the institution, and the courses and course dates. Screenshots, Word or other text documents, and stand-alone course lists are not acceptable. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification. Names and contact information of three references: 1) the dean or director of your library/information science program, 2) a professor in your library/information science program OR a supervisor in your current job, and 3) a reference of your own choosing. References may be contacted by telephone or email and asked about the candidate’s qualifications. Finalists may be required to submit a writing sample on a topic related to library and information science.
Responsibilities. About the Librarians-in-Residence program: The Librarians-in-Residence program offers early-career librarians the opportunity to develop their expertise and contribute to building, stewarding, or sharing the national collection. During the six-month appointment, the Librarians-in-Residence will gain meaningful experience in at least one of the following core work areas: acquisitions and collection development; archives and special collections; cataloging and metadata; collection preservation; community engagement; digital services; reference and instruction; and systems and standards. The placements for the 2025 program are: Archives and Special Collections: Researcher and Collections Services/General and International Collections Directorate/African and Middle Eastern Division Cataloguing and Metadata: Discovery and Preservation Services/Acquisition and Bibliographic Access/U.S. Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Division/Science, Technology & Medicine Section Collection Preservation: Discovery and Preservation Services/Preservation Directorate/Preservation Services Division Community Engagement: Researcher and Collections Services/Special Collections Directorate/Rare Book and Special Collections Division Digital Services: Discovery and Preservation Services/Digital Services Directorate/Digital Collections Management Services Division/Digital Content Processing Section Digital Services: Researcher and Collections Services/General and International Collections Directorate/Serial and Government Publications Division/Digital Collections Services Section Digital Services: Researcher and Collections Services/Special Collections Directorate/Manuscript Division/Preparation Section Reference and Instruction: Law Library of Congress/Global Legal Research Division/Public Services Division For more details on these placements, please visit: https://www.loc.gov/item/internships/librarian-in-residence/. Knowledge Development: Applies knowledge of standard library methods, techniques, concepts, and principles of one or more specialty areas of librarianship to independently perform assignments in acquisitions and collection development; archives and special collections; cataloging and metadata; collection preservation; digital services; and reference and instruction. Develops knowledge of the types of materials within the Library’s collections, including how they are collected, acquired, cataloged, preserved, and shared, and the procedures governing their use. Develops and maintains personal contacts and cooperative work relationships with librarians and others throughout the Library with colleagues in other residency programs, and with subject matter experts in the field of librarianship and information science to provide or exchange information. Presents information to groups and persons with similar understanding of the subject. Attends workshops, conferences, seminars, or meetings in librarianship and other relevant fields for professional development. Practical Skill Application: Utilizes standard methods, techniques, concepts, and principles to complete assignments related to one or more specialty areas of librarianship. Catalogs various materials in an automated cataloging environment where the bibliographic characteristics of the material are relatively easy to determine, and cataloging decisions are made within established standards. Searches entries in automated and manual catalogs. Assigns headings to catalog entries. Provides reference and/or research services where needs are relatively easy to determine from client interviews or written requests, and the bibliographic source materials are readily accessible. Orients users and explains procedures and regulations governing use and handling of the collection’s materials. Monitors the condition of collection material to ensure adherence to established standards and specifications and brings deteriorating items and those with special needs to the attention of division management. The position description number for this position is 450408. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.