National Archives and Records Administration
www.archives.gov

Organization Overview:

The National Archives is a public trust on which our democracy depends. We enable people to inspect for themselves the record of what government has done. We enable officials and agencies to review their actions and help citizens hold them accountable. We ensure continuing access to essential evidence that documents:

• the rights of American citizens
  
• the actions of federal officials
  
• the national experience

Projects:

1. Textual Archives Services Division (Six Students)
The Textual Archives Services Division (NWCT) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides access to the permanently valuable textual (paper) records of the executive and judicial branches of the federal government. These records encompass a very broad span of records from many government agencies, including but not limited to; the U.S. Supreme Court, pre-WWII military service and pension files, New Deal agency records, records relating to Native Americans as well as records from the Departments of State, Justice, and the Executive Office of the President.

NWCT is in need of at least six students with an interest in archival work who can assist with data-gathering tasks required to make descriptions from specific previously published finding aids and other legacy descriptive material for preparation for entry into NARA's online Archival Research Catalog (ARC).

Four of the positions will be located at NARA's state-of-the-art headquarters building in College Park, Maryland, adjacent to the University of Maryland campus, with the remaining two positions at the beautiful, conveniently located NARA site on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

Participant Comments

"Processed government records from 1940s and 1950s, wrote description of documents, got to know things never thought of before. Good experience, don't have complaints. Understanding how much effort needed before a record gets searchable online. Archive is interesting, but probably I'll not work in an archive. Organization is really good, everyone so nice. Supervisor very nice and helpful, taught me a lot of things."


2. Special Media Preservation Lab (One or More Students)
The Special Media Preservation Laboratory (NWTS) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has created several terabytes of image files over the past decade. Over that time period, naming conventions have changed and new file organizations and back-up methods have developed. This fiscal year, our digital asset management system will need to be populated with these images. In preparation, the assistance of one or more students would be helpful in preparing our collection for ingest into the DAMS.

The student(s) will need to be comfortable working with Apple and Windows operating systems, familiar with file directory structures and able to conduct searches for files using OS provided as well as stand alone search applications. The work will be comprised of sorting through file directories, identifying redundant copies and consolidating related images into a predetermined structure.

The position(s) is located at the National Archives state-of-the-art headquarters facility in College Park, Maryland, adjacent to the University of Maryland campus.

Participant Comments

"I worked in NARA's digital preservation lab helping organize and create metadata for digital image files. I really appreciated the warm reception I got from the people at NARA. My supervisors and Tammy Stovall worked to introduce me to many aspects of the organization -- not just the department where I worked.

"I feel I learned a lot about NARA and also what would be required of me if I were to pursue a career in digital preservation. I appreciated the fact that my supervisors engaged me in conversations about what was going on in the lab and valued my opinions on the subject. My actual task (which really only occupied about 50 percent of my time at work) was mundane, but not unenjoyable.

"I feel like I made strong connections with my supervisors at NARA. We already have plans to collaborate on future projects, and I hope that I can look to them for recommendations and future networking. I got excited about what they are doing there, and am most definitely considering a career in digital preservation now.

"Jeff went out of his way to give me a good sense of all the digitizing activities at NARA, and not just the ones going on in the lab where I was working. He showed me many different lab facilities and introduced me to lots of people working in preservation. He was very clear and very reasonable about his expectations of my work, and I felt that my contributions and ideas were welcomed and valued.

"I really appreciated the insight I felt I got into the real world of archives. I loved NARA, and was so excited to be able to put into practice what I have been studying. Of course, it was great to spend time in D.C. with good friends, too!

"I went through finding aids and collection guides and pulled out information related to Michigan. I then created a Word document that contained all the record group titles and wrote descriptions for each group. I liked that they were open to me experiencing the entire organization through tours, discussions, and staff meetings. It confirmed that I am interested in living in the greater Chicago area.

"It made me rethink working for the federal government, in that I experienced the daily routines and activities and saw how every action requires oversight from a million people.

"My supervisor was great, an SI alum. He involved me in conversations, tours, and meetings outside the scope of my work. The organization was great; everyone was very friendly and interested in my opinions and experience."


3. Electronic Records Archives (One Student)
The National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) Modern Records Programs (NWM) staff is responsible for developing government-wide regulations and guidance for federal records management; entering into partnerships to resolve complex, technically advanced records management issues; communicating with NARA's customers in the federal records management arena; and, coordinating the activities of the program.

NWM seeks a student to assist the Life Cycle Management Division and the Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division. These two divisions are very involved in the creation, preservation and access of electronic records in the Federal government and the implementation of NARA's Electronic Records Archives (ERA). Potential student projects include participation in the appraisal of electronic records through an agency visit, review and analysis of electronic records management guidance products under development or in a project related to the transition for preserving and managing electronic records from legacy systems to ERA.

This position is located in the National Archives state-of-the-art headquarters building in College Park, Maryland, adjacent the University of Maryland campus.

Participant Comments

"I met with many people in the Modern Records Department, attended an all-day training on basic electronic records management, and toured the facilities at Archives I in Washington, D.C., and College Park.

"I loved meeting all the people who work at NARA and hearing their perspectives on a variety of archival issues. I didn't like that I didn't have a project, but I had a great week.

"It was a great experience for me to meet so many people and to make contacts for a possible internship this summer. I hope to work at College Park this summer and I see a position at NARA as a future career goal.

"My supervisor was extremely welcoming and willing to share information with me. I appreciated her frankness in discussions and all the time she put into organizing the week for me. It was a lot of fun to be with a big group of people and to be able to go back to the hotel and discuss the day and decompress with people. My week at NARA was extremely informative and confirmed my study of ARM. It was great to meet the archivist of the United States!


4. General Counsel Office (One or Two Students)
The National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) General Counsel (NGC) provides legal advice, conducts legal research and analysis and engages in administrative and Federal court litigation in support of all of NARA's programs and activities. NGC is seeking a student (possibly two) to assist with one or more of the following projects:


1. Ongoing Search & Retrieval Projects
Testing hypothetical complaints and in refining topic development for a legal track Text Retrieval Conference (TREC) on behalf of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This project would involve querying a seven-million document database using Boolean terms. Researching various information retrieval topics that would be useful in finalizing a "white paper" on the subject of search methodologies used in legal contexts to be published by the Sedona Conference (a non-profit research and education institute that focuses on legal and policy issues related to antitrust law, complex litigation, and intellectual property rights) in 2007.


2. In-house Electronic Records Inventorying
Assistance would be welcome in NGC's continuing efforts to inventory various subcollection of presidential records that have been received in legacy electronic formats, for the purpose of ongoing annual sampling and permanent preservation.


3. E-Discovery Legal Research
Assist with tracking of developing case law in the area of e-discovery. A student with basic Westlaw research skills (which can be learned on the job) to function as the equivalent of a law clerk is greatly needed.

The position(s) is located at the National Archives state-of-the-art headquarters facility in College Park, Maryland, adjacent to the University of Maryland campus.


5. Office of Presidential Libraries (One to Three Students)
The Office of Presidential Libraries (PL) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) seeks one to three students to assist with the following projects:
• PL is developing a 20-30 minute PowerPoint presentation for use when giving informative presentations about the mission and programs of the Presidential Library system to other organizations and members of the public. The student will collect images and write text that describes the components of the system as well as researching and writing an overview of the archival, museum, public, and educational programming available at Presidential Libraries. The student will gain insight into the history and management of NARA's complex system of Presidential Libraries, and he or she will learn about and communicate the various initiatives of the Office of Presidential Libraries in the areas of public awareness, public programming, as well as preservation and access to Presidential Records. This project will require Internet research and internal communication with NARA professionals both in the Washington, D.C., area as well as within each of the Presidential Libraries.
• The Office of Presidential Libraries is creating a booklet, or passport, for sale at Presidential Library gift shops and at the Archives gift ship in Washington, D.C. The booklet will contain information about each Library as well as general information about NARA and will provide a space to document for a member of the public each visit to a new Presidential Library. Each Presidential Library will offer a stamp with which the visitor may mark their passport. The student will collect information and images and create draft text for use in the passport. The student will also coordinate this activity with appropriate staff members across the Presidential Library system. This project will require Internet research and internal communication with NARA professionals both in the Washington DC area as well as within each of the Presidential Libraries.
• NL is involved in an on-going partnership with a calendar company to produce an annual calendar related to the American presidency. The purpose of the calendar is to inform the public about American history and the holdings of the National Archives in a unique way. The student will research information related to a theme or themes related to the Presidency that will be addressed in the 2009 calendar. The student will also communicate with various Presidential Libraries across the system to collect images that may be used, and he or she may draft text for certain months of the calendar. This project will require Internet and textual research and internal communication with NARA professionals both in the Washington DC area as well as within each of the Presidential Libraries.
• The Office of Presidential Libraries is seeking to create an informational pamphlet that provides educators with an overview of the tremendous educational resources and programs that exist at the Presidential Libraries. The pamphlet will include information highlighting specific resources such as teacher development opportunities, tours, and decision making activities. The student will decide on a concept for the informational piece and use Adobe Photoshop to weave text and images together to create a handout. The student will collect images and other relevant information from various sources including the Internet, reports, and Presidential Library professionals both in the central office and the individual Presidential Libraries.
• The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently updated its policy on content rules and requirements for NARA public Web sites, which impacts each of the twelve Presidential Libraries' web sites. The student will create a checklist of requirements based on the policy, analyze each of the sites for technical and content compliance, and then provide a report for each of the sites based on the findings. This project will require Internet research and communication with NARA professionals in the central office as well as within each of the Presidential Libraries. The student will gain insight into the complexities of policy implementation and NARA's system of Presidential Libraries as well as gain a better understanding of the materials available online through these sites.
The position(s) is located at the National Archives state-of-the-art headquarters facility in College Park, Maryland, adjacent to the University of Maryland campus.

Participant Comments

"I worked on a few public relations materials for the office of presidential libraries. I created a PowerPoint of the system that they can use when the central office presents for outside groups. I worked on a few calendar themes for the 2009 calendar and outlined some ideas for a passport book (for those visiting the presidential libraries).

"There were a lot of good extra activities planned for us. Security was a little too stringent (we needed someone to chaperone us everywhere, since we didn't have a temporary badge). But I can understand the rationale for this; it just made it difficult sometimes.

"I learned a lot about the presidential libraries and NARA in general that will be helpful to know as a government documents librarian. It didn't really affect my career plans, although they mentioned that I might want to apply for a position next spring with their system.

"Everyone was very friendly and helpful, which made the internship enjoyable. They were especially good at planning interesting activities for us."


6. Information Security Oversight Office (One Student)
The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) oversees the security classification programs in both Government and industry and reports annually to the President on their status. In connection with ISOO's goals of maintaining effective liaison with agency counterparts, developing and disseminating security education materials for Government and industry, and promoting and enhancing concepts that facilitates the sharing of information in the fulfillment of mission-critical functions related to national security, ISOO is requesting a student to assist with the development and implementation of a Knowledge Management collaboration tool and the review and possibly the re-design of the ISOO Web site.

By providing assistance with this Knowledge Management tool, a "Community of Practice," the student will learn more about the Classification Management program being used within the Executive Branch agencies and the sharing and exchange of information in a collaborative-type information technology environment. The student will aid the program lead to identify and capture best practices being used within the Executive Branch, increase security education and awareness, and provide organization and structure to E-mail traffic and questions that arise from the implementation of Executive Order 12958, as amended, "Classified National Security Information." By providing this assistance, the student will also have the unique opportunity to learn more about the complex nature of the policies and procedures used to classify and subsequently declassify national security information.

The student will also provide assistance in reviewing and ensuring the accuracy of the ISOO Web sites. This will lead to a greater understanding of HTML coding, Web design, Web site management, and subsequently working to ensure the integrity of information provided to the public.