Internship Program
Learn about the internship or practicum program with Criss Library's Archives & Special Collections.
Criss Library’s Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is responsible for collecting, preserving, and making available unique archival collections and rare books to the university community and public. ASC welcomes students who are interested in gaining experience in a broad range of archival skills under the direction of the Hagel and Technical Services Archivist, Digital Initiatives Archivist, and the Outreach Archivist.
Eligibility
Internships and practicums are open to undergraduate and graduate students from UNO and other institutions. These are not paid positions. Students must be enrolled in a library science, history, or discipline-adjacent program. We prefer students to complete the internship for credit, but we will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Internships must be at least 40 hours.
ASC offers internships and similar opportunities to high school students on a limited basis. To ask if ASC can accommodate such a request, email the school or organization's name, reason for interest, and the student’s year in school and scheduling needs to the address on this page.
Submit an Application
Your application is not complete until you submit the following documentation:
- Program Requirements, if taking the internship/practicum for credit: Provide a copy of any internship requirements from your academic department. These may include a learning plan template and expected objectives and outcomes. Linking to requirements in your cover letter is also acceptable.
- Cover Letter: Explain your interest in our department (About us) and the area(s) of focus you selected in the application. See How to write a cover letter.
- Résumé: Include your year/progression in school and coursework relevant to libraries, archives, and history. See How to write a resume.
- Optional writing sample: relevant course assignment, blog, newsletter, or presentation.
Application Dates
| Total Hours | Application Deadline for Summer Cycle | Application Deadline for Fall Cycle | Application deadline for Spring Cycle |
| 40-60 Hours | May 1 | August 1 | December 15 |
| 65+ Hours | April 15 | July 15 | December 1 |
For academic programs operating on the quarter or trimester system, please contact ASC for dates.
Start dates are negotiable and dependent on the student and supervisor.
Application Acceptance
Applicants who submit a complete application will be notified by ASC with a decision. Prior to a decision, ASC faculty may contact applicants to discuss application materials and ask follow-up questions. Applicants are welcome to contact ASC to ask about their application status.
Internship Elements
Learning Plan: After acceptance, but prior to the internship’s start, the supervisor and the intern will complete a learning plan from the intern’s academic program, or one provided by ASC.
Orientation: This includes tours, policy and procedure review, and required readings.
Primary project(s): Applicants will select one area of focus in Digital Collections, Outreach, or Processing. Examples of work and skills gained through each area of focus are listed below and are representative, though not exhaustive, of the tasks a student can expect. The archivist supervising a student’s primary project(s) will also oversee all internship elements.
Secondary project(s): The availability of these projects depends on repository needs, staff capacity, and internship length. Internships over 60 hours may include one such project; internships over 100 hours may include more. These projects are arranged at the primary supervisor's discretion after consultation with the student.
Informational interviews: Students will arrange interviews (and prepare questions) with faculty and staff across Criss Library departments to learn about areas within the profession that differ from their primary project focus. The number of interviews corresponds to the internship length.
End-of-internship or practicum talk: Students will present virtually on projects and skills learned to ASC faculty/staff. This talk should be 15-20 minutes followed by Q&A.
Exit talk: Students will sit down on or near their last day for a talk with their primary supervisor to assess their internship experience. If desired, the supervisor can also advise the student on appropriate language to use to describe their internship projects (for resumes, portfolios, etc.)
Areas of Focus
Digital Collections projects supervisor: Digital Initiatives Archivist
*Digital Collections is not available as an area of focus in spring or summer 2025
- Editing (Photoshop and Bridge) digital objects
- Embedding metadata (Bridge and Acrobat) in digital objects
- Collection care and maintenance related to digital projects
- JSTOR metadata entry and collection ingest
- Limited opportunity for digitization of analog material
Outreach projects supervisor: Claire Du Laney, Outreach Archivist
*In-person preferred / limited remote availability
- Physical exhibits
- Instruction
- Social media programming
- Collections promotion and engagement
Processing projects supervisor: Lori Schwartz, Hagel and Technical Services Archivist
*In-person only
- Arrangement of a series or collection of paper-based materials
- Description of a series or collection in ArchivesSpace using descriptive standards
- Description of artifacts in ArchivesSpace and housing / preservation
- Inventory and minimal arrangement and/or description of a collection
Background Check and Housing
All non-UNO and on-site interns and practicum students offered a position will undergo a university background check and complete additional documentation as required by Human Resources.
Please be aware that Criss Library does not offer housing or relocation funds for students.
Accommodations
ASC welcomes discussions about accommodations that may be necessary for a successful intern or practicum experience. ASC asks students to disclose this need with your supervisor when creating a learning plan (see above), at which point the student and supervisor will talk through internship elements to see what accommodations may be viable and helpful.
University of Nebraska at Omaha Non-Discrimination Statement
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity.