Museum of Television and Radio www.mtr.org/ Organization Overview: This unique Museum collects programming—radio shows, television programs, and commercial advertisements in both media—and makes that programming available to the general public. Projects: Andrea Gietzen worked in the Library Services Division. She assisted the Director of Library Services in updating the accession database and helped troubleshoot the library's computers.

Thea Morton and Sara Wedell worked in the Research Services Department. They assisted in the department's ongoing work to create a reference archive by selecting, clipping and xeroxing daily newspapers and periodicals. They also helped ian reference capacity, answering complex queries that come in to the Research Services Department from Museum patrons, documentary filmmakers, directors and producers, television networks, fact-checkers and the general public. What Students Had to Say: “The people at the Museum of Television and Radio were really open and welcoming.” “It was an interesting place to work. If I wanted to...I could have spent my lunch hours watching TV.”  “My organization was interesting and my supervisor was eager to share her experiences and her expertise.” “It was interesting and helpful to observe information services rendered outside of the typical library setting.” “It was rewarding to contribute to MTR because it is a non-profit whose mission I fully support. Working at MTR also has the wonderful perk of getting to watch TV shows from their archives for free.” Click to see what past ASB students did at MTR in 2005.

1) Library Services Department
DESCRIPTION:  At the request of the department staff, interns watch television videotapes, listen to radio tapes, and use microfilm and reference sources to research facts about cataloged and uncataloged programs.  They fill in any missing information about series titles, episode titles, broadcast history, producer, director, cast and other production credits and the nuances of program content.  Interns also assist with indexing and some light clerical work.

QUALIFICATIONS: Intern must have strong writing and analytical skills.  Typing, clerical skills and knowledge of Macintosh preferred.

2) Research Service Department

DESCRIPTION: The Research Services Department (which is part of the Library Services Department) is responsible for creating and maintaining a wide-ranging archive of information on all aspects of television, radio, advertising and communications.  An intern will assist in the organization of the extensive amount of information received daily and may be assigned to special projects as well.

The internship entails helping to create a reference archive by selecting, clipping and xeroxing daily newspapers and periodicals. The intern will also work as a researcher, answering complex queries that come in to the Research Services Department from Museum patrons, documentary filmmakers, directors and producers, television networks, fact-checkers and the general public.

QUALIFICATIONS:  A broad interest in television and communications and an interest in research methods. The intern should be very organized and be able to work on several projects at once. Knowledge of Microfiche and clerical work is required.

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