Internships and Fellowships

Internships

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries offers internship opportunities to graduate students, library professionals, and undergraduate students interested in exploring a career in library and information science. Intern assignments may include a project or a structured practical experience. The Libraries selects interns based on its needs and on the specific education, training, skills, and interest of the applicant. SIL does not award college credit, but many U.S. colleges and universities will recognize academic work performed while interning. Contact your academic advisor for instructions on how to receive credit. With the exception of the Professional Development Internship, stipends are generally not offered by the Libraries, but funded internships may be available through the Smithsonian's Center for Museum Studies and the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Grants.

Internships can be applied for year round through the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System.  A list of all currently available internships and descriptions of specific projects in the Libraries can be found in the menu on the left under "All Internships". At this time, applications have closed for all summer opportunities. Please check back later for fall projects.

Fellowships

The Dibner Library Resident Scholar Program and Baird Society Resident Scholar Program provide support for scholarly research in the Special Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries in Washington, DC and New York, NY, in an extensive range of subject areas. The Margaret Henry Dabney Penick Resident Scholar Program supports longer-term research projects for scholars of early American history.