Program Overview

The Library of Congress Junior Fellows Program (JFP) is a paid, 10-week annual summer internship program that enables undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates to gain career experience by working with analog and digital collections and supporting the services of the world's largest, all-inclusive library.

Working with curators and specialists in various divisions, Junior Fellows explore collections, resources, and initiatives and produce products that position the Library of Congress as a dynamic center for fostering innovation, sparking creativity, and building lifelong connections.

With guidance from mentors, Junior Fellows are exposed to a broad spectrum of library work, including: reference, access, public programming, copyright, preservation, and information technology.

JFP projects increase access to Library of Congress collections and promote awareness of the Library's resources to Congress and people in communities across America. In the past, Junior Fellows have identified and interpreted hundreds of historical, literary, artistic, cinematic and musical gems representing the Library’s rich cultural, creative and intellectual assets.

No previous experience is necessary, but internships are competitive and special skills or knowledge are usually desired. Selections are based on narrative responses to vacancy announcement questions, reference calls, and an interview with a selection official.

The Junior Fellows Program, a signature initiative of the Library of Congress since 1991, is made possible by a gift from the late James Madison Council member Nancy Glanville Jewell through the Glanville Family Foundation, the Knowledge Navigators Trust Fund, and a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Program Focus

The focus of the program is to increase access to Library collections and to promote awareness and appreciation of the Library's services to Congressional members, scholars, students, teachers, and the general public. Junior Fellows encourage the use of collections and services − ensuring that the Library of Congress is known as a living, dynamic center for scholarly work and meaningful connections.

Program participants inventory, catalog, arrange, preserve, and research collections in varied formats, as well as assist in digital and analog library initiatives. Upon completion of their assignments, Junior Fellows work closely with Library curators and specialists to plan and present a display of their most significant discoveries and accomplishments.

Of the People: Widening the Path

In 2021, JFP became a component of the multiyear Of the People: Widening the Path, funded by the Mellon Foundation, to connect more deeply with Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and other underrepresented communities by expanding Library of Congress collections, using technology to enable storytelling, and offering more internship and fellowship opportunities.

Of the People aligns with a larger vision at the Library to connect with all Americans by inviting new generations to participate in creating, preserving, and sharing the nation’s cultural treasures and building on the Library’s commitment to collect and preserve more underrepresented perspectives and experiences.

Under the direction of the 14th Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, and in response to the national conversation about civil rights, the Library continues to re-imagine how it can address the unequal ways in which libraries, archives, and schools preserve and present the American story.

Learn more about the JFP experience by viewing interns’ Display Day portfolios:

• 2024 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Day
• 2023 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Day
• 2022 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Day
• 2021 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Day
• 2020 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Display Day
• 2019 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Webcast
• 2018 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Webcast
• 2017 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Webcast
• 2016 Library of Congress Junior Fellows Webcast

Selection Process

Selection Process: Applications will be forwarded to selecting officials in the Library who will arrange telephone or Zoom interviews with promising applicants. Letters of recommendation are not required for this application. After completion of the selection process, those selected will be provided with detailed information on reporting for their internship.

A complete application package consists of: 1) resume; 2): legible copy of latest college/university transcripts, and 3): responses to vacancy questions. Note: All items must be submitted through USAJOBS during the open application period. Incomplete application packages will not be considered.

Prepare to apply for JFP25 by reading this How to Apply guide.

Selections for all 2025 Junior Fellows are projected to be complete by late March 2025. Notices of selection or non-selection will be sent during the first week of April 2025. If you have questions regarding the USAJOBS vacancy announcement or the status of your application, please contact jobhelp@loc.gov.

Onsite Projects for JFP 2025

Onsite projects for JFP 2026 will be updated in late October 2026. Projects vary from year to year.

Interns will complete the following 17 onsite projects during JFP 2025. All work for these projects will be completed entirely onsite within the Library’s Capitol Hill campus with the exception of projects 11, 12, and 15. All work for projects 11, 12, and 15 will be completed onsite in the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia.

Each intern will be assigned to work on one project as their primary responsibility, alongside other assignments that will introduce them to the range of Library activity. Applicants will be asked to select their top three project choices in the application.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once selected and hired for the internship, every effort will be made to accommodate project selections. Due to the popularity of some areas of interest, preferred project placement cannot be guaranteed. All project areas may not be available at the time applicants are selected and others may be added. Applicants should be sure to indicate three project areas of interest within their applications.

1. Literary Programming at the Library of Congress (Onsite)
2. Sharing the Work of Conservation at the Library (Onsite)
3. Late Cold War Era Open-Source Intelligence Russian Cataloging (Onsite)
4. From Stacks to Metaverse: Documenting Digital Odysseys (Onsite)
5. Ascending from Valley Depths: Enriching Access to Chinese Gazetteers (Onsite)
6. Marie Tharp, Mapmaking Pioneer- Diving into Unprocessed Collection Material (Onsite)
7. Online Inventory of Hispanic Reading Room Pamphlet Collections (Onsite)
8. A Nation Changed: Preserving the 9/11 Newspaper Collection (Onsite)
9. Elizabeth Brown Pryor Internship, Manuscript Reading Room (Onsite)
10. Mary Wolfskill Internship, Manuscript Reading Room (Onsite)
11. Office of War Information Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA)
12. Universal Music Group Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA)
13. Mapping the Collections-Title Collection Map Project (Onsite)
14. Examining and Contextualizing the ‘Indian Ocean World’ Collections (Onsite)
15. Video Preservation from Shelf to Video Lab and Beyond (Onsite – Culpeper, VA)
16. Providing Access to American History and Culture (Onsite)
17. Cataloging the Deinard Collection (Onsite)

Onsite Project Descriptions

The Junior Fellows Program for 2025 is offering 17 Onsite Projects:

1. Literary Programming at the Library of Congress (Onsite) - Literary Initiatives

   Project Description: The Library of Congress Literary Initiatives team develops literary programming including the National Book Festival and year-round literary events, and administers literary ambassadorships such as the U.S. Poet Laureate, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. The Junior Fellow will work onsite with the literary event planning team to increase visibility, accessibility and opportunities to share a diverse range of established and new literary voices – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander authors -- while receiving valuable training in arts administration. They will assist with editing author bios, proofreading website content, and other tasks to prepare information for the public, alongside researching, collecting and organizing participant information and assets. The Junior Fellow will have opportunities to contribute to the blog, upload website updates, and contribute to LibGuides. Their work will promote awareness of the Library’s resources and services to the public, primarily through literary events.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong editing and other journalism skills; ability to set and meet deadlines; effective communication in writing; advanced proficiency in use of computer software; excellent research skills; creative and organizational flexibility, spreadsheet and database management; knowledge of contemporary literature, current trends and conversations within literary world, organization and administration of events, particularly in the art and culture fields.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Basic reading level of Spanish; LibGuides, WordPress, Teams, Sharepoint; interest or experience in working with diverse literary voices.

2. Sharing the Work of Conservation at the Library (Onsite) - General Collections Conservation Section

   Project Description: The Library of Congress’ Conservation Division cares for the treasures of the Library and has existed since the 1970s. We have begun to add information about conservation treatments which have been performed on Library collections items to their catalog records, but have worked retrospectively on earlier treatments. The Junior Fellow will go through the Division’s paper records, identify the item treated, and update its catalog record. This work allows other institutions and patrons to understand our collections and the work we have performed; it also provides better discoverability of our collections by allowing patrons to better predict the condition of items they may be interested in using at the Library. This project provides an invaluable opportunity for the Junior Fellow to gain a deep understanding of the conservation field over time while allowing them to learn about the various conservation treatments used at the Library over time.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational skills. Ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input. Basic proficiency in Excel. Ability to devise searches for databases and library catalogs to find and verify information. Intellectual curiosity about the library cataloging field and conservation fields.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using library cataloging tools; experience with MARC records and Microsoft Access; advanced Excel skills.

3. Late Cold War Era Open-Source Intelligence Russian Cataloging (Onsite) - Russia Section

   Project Description: This project allows a Junior Fellow to process the Russia Section’s NASIC collection of late Soviet and early Russian Federation scientific and technical books. These books represent a time capsule of Russian publishing that spans the years surrounding the fall of the USSR. As tools of the American intelligence community, these materials contain translated summaries, notes, and marginalia reflecting late Cold War international relations. Working with Librarians, the Junior Fellow will create initial bibliographic records and perform descriptive cataloging. By increasing the accuracy and completeness of bibliographic records, the Junior Fellow will aid in increasing discoverability and availability of less-known items to researchers, scholars, and the general public. While gaining valuable hands-on experience in cataloging and library work, the Junior Fellow will have an opportunity to conduct research on a topic of their choice, such as late Soviet publishing, Soviet technical advancements, and/or the use of open-source materials in international studies and intelligence.

   Knowledge and skills required: Reading knowledge of Russian language.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience in cataloging any type of library material.

4. From Stacks to Metaverse: Documenting Digital Odysseys (Onsite) - Digitization Planning and Analysis Section

   Project Description: For over two decades, The Library has been investing resources to digitize its collections and make them available online. The newly-formed Collections Digitization Division (CDD) and its Digitization Planning and Analysis Section are taking primary responsibility for the implementation of a formal digitization strategy. The Digitization Planning and Analysis Section seeks a Junior Fellow to act as an embedded journalist and provocateur in the operations of CDD. The Junior Fellow will write short story vignettes based on their observations and interactions with imaging, support services, and curatorial staff. The successful candidate will be diplomatic, imaginative, and curious, and will exhibit strength in creative writing, media relations, investigative journalism, and public relations in a non-centralized communications ecosystem. Stories will serve to create transparency, enthusiasm, and amplification of CDD projects. Stories will be distributed via existing Library communications channels and will help cultivate and captivate audiences heretofore unaware of Library digitization projects.

   Knowledge and skills required: Excellent creative writing skills and demonstrated experience in investigative journalism.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Broad familiarity with current and emerging social media platforms and alternative publishing platforms and paradigms. Public relations savvy. Diverse interest in research methodologies in both Humanities and Sciences.

5. Ascending from Valley Depths: Enriching Access to Chinese Gazetteers (Onsite) - China Section

   Project Description: The Library of Congress holds one of the world’s foremost collections of old and rare Chinese books. Among other treasures, the Chinese collection features the most comprehensive range of local gazetteers curated outside of China. Much of this collection, however, has only skeletal bibliographic description, limiting discoverability. Under the mentorship of China Section librarians, the Junior Fellow will work firsthand with 19th century Chinese gazetteers, enriching their catalog records by adding in compilers, correct titles, subject headings, and other data important for Chinese rare book cataloging. Additionally, the Junior Fellow will gain insights about historic Chinese book formats and preservation techniques. The Junior Fellow’s efforts will contribute to discussions of best practices of cataloging older Chinese books, furthering ongoing initiatives with the Chinese Legacy Collection Pilot and World Digital library. The project will culminate in outreach (via a blog post, for example) that advances understanding of the Library’s Chinese gazetteers and their preservation.

   Knowledge and skills required: Reading knowledge of Chinese and Classical Chinese, with proficiency in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese scripts. Ability to devise searches in internet search engines, databases, and library catalogs to find and verify information. Intellectual curiosity about Chinese gazetteers and book history.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using an Integrated Library System (ILS) or with cataloging is desired. Reading knowledge of Japanese, Korean and/or other languages/scripts from the region.

6. Marie Tharp, Mapmaking Pioneer: Diving in to Unprocessed Collection Material (Onsite) - Geography and Map Division

   Project Description: One of the largest collections ever acquired by the Geography and Map Division is the work of Marie Tharp, a pioneering cartographer who first mapped the ocean floor. Women in cartography are severely underrepresented in both the field as a whole and in the Library’s map collections, making this material especially valuable to researchers. Due to the size of the collection, some material currently inaccessible to researchers requires further processing. The Junior Fellow will gain experience working with cartograpic collections and create a working inventory of assigned unprocessed Tharp collections including items found in the G&M vault and other areas of the stacks, noting item bibliographic information. The Junior Fellow will also create condition reports for material in need of preservation and write a blog post. Staff will use this information to create records and update discovery tools to make the full collection more accessible to researchers, which will also promote awareness of Library resources.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational skills. Proficiency with computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Teams. Ability to work cooperatively with others and follow work plans; ability to follow guidelines for handling fragile materials.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Familiarity with cartography or geography. Experience creating inventories or finding aids in a library setting.

7. Online Inventory of Hispanic Reading Room Pamphlet Collections (Onsite) - Hispanic Reading Room

   Project Description: The Hispanic Reading Room’s pamphlet collection covers centuries of the social and political histories of Latin America, Iberia, and Caribbean. Made up of ephemeral materials, the collection offers users a unique opportunity for study in fields such as Humanities, Latinx or Hispanic Studies, and Political Science. Under the mentorship of two librarians, the Junior Fellow’s collections-oriented project will help Hispanic Reading Room librarians transfer the collection’s currently available descriptive metadata to a LibGuide for enhancing access to this unique collection. This work will increase the collection’s discoverability and identify its usefulness for research on social groups in the region. The Junior Fellow will identify three to four countries of interest, review the pamphlet collections, revise the metadata to ensure optimal discovery, and transfer this metadata to a LibGuide. The Junior Fellow will write a blog post summarizing their experience and use the collection to investigate a topic related to their research interests. 

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational skills; attention to detail and ability to ensure standardization of description; ability to devise searches for databases and library catalogs to find and verify information.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using online library catalogs and/or LibGuides; Spanish language skills.

8. A Nation Changed: Preserving the 9/11 Newspaper Collection (Onsite) - Serial and Government Publications Division

   Project Description: The Library of Congress Serial & Government Publications Division holds one of the largest newspaper collections in the world. The Division preserves original print issues for historic significance, such as newspaper issues from across the United States following the attacks on September 11, 2001. These newspaper issues were collected with the intention of creating a special sub-collection: the “9/11 Newspaper Collection.” This sub-collection is significant for its collective depiction of 21st century U.S. history and the ensuing ripple effects around the world. In this collections-oriented project, under the mentorship of reference librarians with a specialty in newspapers, the Junior Fellow will gain experience working with historic newspapers, use a preliminary inventory list to arrange the newspaper issues by state, house the newspaper issues using Library of Congress preservation practices, and assist with creating a finding aid that will enhance the discoverability of this unique sub-collection for researchers in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational and communication skills. Ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input. Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel. Ability to find and verify information using internet search engines, databases, and library catalogs. Intellectual curiosity about American history. An interest in working with print newspapers.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience specifically working with newspapers or other serial publications more generally. Familiarity with 20th- and 21st-century American history. Experience working with archives and/or special collections materials.

9. Elizabeth Brown Pryor Internship, Manuscript Reading Room (Onsite) - Manuscript Division

   Project Description: Overseeing a collection of approximately 74 million primary source materials relating to American history and culture, the Manuscript Reading Room is a service-oriented focal point for members of Congress and their staff, the academic community, journalists, genealogists, and the general public conducting research in American history and culture. The division’s Elizabeth Brown Pryor Internship, supported through a generous bequest of a long-time Library researcher, introduces the selected Junior Fellow to the principles, concepts, and techniques of archival management and reference. The Junior Fellow will assist researchers in accessing the division's collections by responding to reference inquiries received in person and remotely, analyzing reference requests, investigating sources of information, and providing timely responses. The Junior Fellow may also work on special projects that improve researcher access to the materials that highlight the diverse cultures and narratives represented in the Manuscript Division holdings.

   Knowledge and skills required: Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines; ability to communicate effectively in writing; ability to think critically and propose resolutions to problems; and ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team setting.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience working in a research library environment. Preferred knowledge of integrated library systems, basic library applications, and other information technologies.

10. Mary Wolfskill Internship, Manuscript Reading Room (Onsite) - Manuscript Division

    Project Description: Overseeing a collection of approximately 74 million primary source materials relating to American history and culture, the Manuscript Reading Room is a service-oriented focal point for members of Congress and their staff, the academic community, journalists, genealogists, and the general public conducting research in American history and culture. The division’s Mary Wolfskill Trust Fund Internship, established in honor of a former longtime head of the Reference and Reader Services Section, introduces the selected Junior Fellow to the principles, concepts, and techniques of archival management and reference. The Junior Fellow will assist researchers in accessing the division's collections by responding to reference inquiries received in person and remotely, analyzing reference requests, investigating sources of information, and providing timely responses. The Junior Fellow may also work on special projects that improve researcher access to the materials that highlight the diverse cultures and narratives represented in the Manuscript Division holdings.

    Knowledge and skills required: Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines; ability to communicate effectively in writing; ability to think critically and propose resolutions to problems; and ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team setting.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience working in a research library environment.

11. Office of War Information Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA) - National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

    Project Description: This collection-oriented project will focus on processing tasks for Recorded Sound collections, including the Office of War Information collection which contains lacquer discs from mid-1940s OWI broadcasts. The materials will provide important historical documentation for researchers and be useful for those focusing on public diplomacy and combatting misinformation. The Junior Fellow will create inventories, identify materials to prioritize for digitization and online access, perform conservation treatments, and describe items in our collections management system. The Junior Fellow will gain experience in sound recording format identification and handling and will have the opportunity to learn about sound recording copyright and preservation from NAVCC colleagues. The Junior Fellow will gain experience and understanding of project management at a large archive and will help determine project efficiencies. The work on this project will reduce the sound recording arrearage and allow more people to find and access important documentary material in the OWI collection.
    Note: All work for this project will be completed onsite in the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virgina.

    Knowledge and skills required: Basic computer skills, including familiarity with Excel.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience in processing and/or describing audio materials; archival experience.

12. Universal Music Group Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA) - National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

    Project Description: This collections-oriented project will focus on pre-processing and processing tasks in Recorded Sound, including experience with the Universal Music Group collection which contains historic master recordings, many of which are unreleased, by performers like Billie Holiday, Les Paul, Louis Armstrong, the Ink Spots, and Bing Crosby. The Junior Fellow will create inventories, engage in research, perform conservation treatments, and describe items in our collections management system. The Junior Fellow will gain experience in sound recording format identification and handling and will have the opportunity to learn about sound recording copyright and preservation from NAVCC colleagues. The Junior Fellow will gain experience and understanding of project management at a large archive and will help determine project efficiencies. The work on this project will reduce the sound recording arrearage and allow more people to learn about the music and spoken word performance in one of Recorded Sound’s premiere collections.
    Note: All work for this project will be completed onsite in the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virgina.

    Knowledge and skills required: Basic computer skills, including familiarity with Excel.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience in processing and/or describing audio materials; archival experience.

13. Mapping the Collections-Title Collection Map Project (Onsite) - Geography and Map Division

    Project Description: The Geography and Map Division is the largest library of cartographic material in the world. Following the global transition from analog card catalogues to digital cataloguing, a portion of the Division’s maps remains unavailable online. The Junior Fellow will conduct an inventory of historic 18th-20th century maps depicting countries and regions outside of the Anglosphere, collecting unique and descriptive information about the individual maps from countries of their choice in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America to create a finding aid to these important areas. The Junior Fellow will share a collection story via blog post or StoryMap, engaging future users and fostering new collection uses. This project will enhance public access to and awareness of extensive holdings of geographic, political, environmental, and social history of regions of the world that are historically underrepresented in the Geography and Map Division’s online catalogue, and facilitate improved scholarly and civic area studies.

    Knowledge and skills required: Strong attention to detail and organization, basic proficiency with Microsoft Office and Excel, critical and adaptive thinking, ability to follow established standards and workflows, ability to collaborate with a diverse group colleagues.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using online library catalogues, ability to communicate in writing to both technical and non-technical audiences; language skills supporting African, Caribbean, or South American areas.

14. Examining and Contextualizing the ‘Indian Ocean World’ Collections (Onsite) - African Section

    Project Description: The Library of Congress African Section, in the African & Middle Eastern Division, is the focal point of the Library's collection development activities on Sub-Saharan Africa. Years of collecting have resulted in strong colonial and post-colonial Eastern Africa collections. The Indian Ocean world includes the varied histories of the interior of East Africa, Swahili coast and the crosscurrents of Indian Ocean trade and migration dating back at least a millennium. Under the mentorship of two Africa Section specialists, the Junior Fellow will explore and document pertinent publications, photographs, postcards, and other ephemera in the collection. The Junior Fellow will contribute to the knowledge available about the collection through a Four Corners of the World blog post, the creation of a StoryMap or other collection description.These products will increase discoverability and access to collections by future users. Additionally, the information will be used to guide collection development decisions.

    Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input. Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using online library catalogs. Basic reading level of French.

15. Video Preservation from Shelf to Video Lab and Beyond (Onsite – Culpeper, VA) - National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

    Project Description: The National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC) is home to the world’s largest moving image collections as well as state-of-the-art preservation laboratories. Under the mentorship of supervisors in the Moving Image Section (MIS) and the Video Lab Manager, the Junior Fellow will participate in the processing, digitization, and ingest of moving image materials, following the life cycle of content from acquisition to archiving for long-term preservation. The Junior Fellow will work on collections highlighting the rich diversity of moving image holdings including those from Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The Junior Fellow will inventory and describe collection items for part of the internship period, including learning about and applying respectful descriptive practice. Then the Junior Fellow will be in the Video Lab, learning and performing digitization work in various moving image formats. The collections selected will draw on a rich diversity of moving image materials, many of which are currently inaccessible.
    Note: All work for this project will be completed onsite in the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virgina.

    Knowledge and skills required: Attention to detail.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience with collection management systems and library catalog systems; interest and/or experience working with collection materials from Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

16. Providing Access to American History and Culture (Onsite) - Manuscript Division

    Project Description: Through hands-on learning under the guidance of an experienced archives specialist, this onsite project provides the Junior Fellow with the opportunity to apply archival standards and principles while processing and making available for research use all or a significant portion of a collection forming part of the Manuscript Division’s archival backlog. Manuscript Division collections typically comprise material types such as correspondence, photographs, born digital media, and other ephemeral materials, documenting diverse cultural and historical events and people throughout United States history. In addition to physical processing, the Junior Fellow also will work with division staff on tasks like cataloging, finding aid preparation, born digital processing, and preservation assessments. The Junior Fellow’s work will enable the Manuscript Division to expedite the collection’s arrangement and description, making it fully available to researchers in the Manuscript Reading Room by the end of summer 2025.

    Knowledge and skills required: Ability to organize, describe, and preserve archival materials. Ability to plan work and meet deadlines. Ability to think critically and propose resolutions to problems. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team setting. Ability to communicate in writing.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Knowledge of born digital standards and preservation practices.

17. Cataloging the Deinard Collection (Onsite) - Hebraic Section

    Project Description: The Library of Congress Hebraic Section (within the AMED Division) boasts rich holdings of Hebrew materials that reflect the record of Jewish thought and experience throughout the ages, as well as related fields and disciplines. One of the earliest Hebrew collections acquired by the Library of Congress is the Ephraim Deinard Collection. The Junior Fellow will work with Hebraic Section staff on tasks like review of the collection and basic description of the items (Title, Author, Publisher, Place of Publication, and Year). The Junior Fellow’s work will enable the Hebraic Section to expedite the collection’s description, recording minimal level data into a spreadsheet which can then be transformed into MARC metadata and then imported as “skeletal” initial bibliographic control records into the Library of Congress’ public catalog. The Junior Fellow will gain experience working with diverse, ephemeral, personal collections, provide new access to this unique and valuable collection.

    Knowledge and skills required: The Junior Fellow should possess a strong ability to read and understand the Hebrew language.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Basic reading level of Yiddish.

Remote Projects for JFP 2025

Remote projects for JFP 2026 will be updated in late October 2026. Projects vary from year to year.

Interns will complete the following 18 remote projects during JFP 2025. All work for these projects will be completed remotely. Each intern will be assigned to work on one project as their primary responsibility, alongside other assignments that will introduce them to the range of LOC activity. Applicants will be asked to list their top three project choices in the application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once selected and hired for the internship, every effort will be made to accommodate project selections. Due to the popularity of some areas of interest, preferred project placement cannot be guaranteed. All project areas may not be available at the time applicants are selected and others may be added. Applicants should be sure to indicate three project areas of interest within their applications.

1. The Literary Heritage of America: Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) Books Project (Remote)
2. Music and the Arts as Vehicles for History, Civics, and Democracy (Remote)
3. Teen Internship Program Assistant (Remote)
4. Literary Programming at the Library of Congress (Remote)
5. Mapping the Stories: The Legacy of Daniel A.P. Murray (Remote)
6. Digital Rewind: Exploring CCDI’s Impact Through Digital Engagement and Storytelling (Remote)
7. Expanding Artificial Intelligence Community Engagement at the Library of Congress (Remote)
8. Digital Front Door – Environmental Scan (Remote)
9. Year of Digital Accessibility Fellow (Remote)
10. Copyright Card Catalog Metadata Capture Project – (Remote)
11. American Archive of Public Broadcasting Online Exhibit Project (Remote)
12. Indigenous Government Websites of the U.S. Web Archive (Remote)
13. Computational Collections: Exploring Library of Congress Collections as Data (Remote)
14. Documenting the Digital Age: An Introduction to Web Archiving (Remote)
15. Researching the Black Press in Chronicling America (Remote)
16. Pathways to Gilded Age & Progressive Era Business Collections (Remote)
17. Veterans History Project Jukebox: Reaching and Teaching New Library Connectors (Remote)
18. Enhancing Accessibility: User Research for Inclusive Library Services (Remote)

Remote Project Descriptions

The Junior Fellows Program for 2025 is offering 18 Remote Projects:

1. The Literary Heritage of America: Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) Books Project (Remote) – Professional Learning & Outreach

   Project Description: The Library of Congress Center for the Book (CFB) is a network of fifty-six Affiliate Centers hailing from all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. Together, the Centers promote books, reading, libraries and literacy nationwide. They also have a special mission: to promote local literary heritage. The CFB’s project with Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Books will create programs focusing on the Centers and the diverse local literary heritage they promote. This video project will demonstrate how the Library reaches all Americans where they live through their local Center while introducing communities to the Library’s vast online collections. The Junior Fellow will research collections for assets that are relevant to each state or territory’s literary heritage, including contributions from Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, for use in videos. The project is part of the Library’s celebration of America 250, a commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

   Knowledge and skills required: Research experience.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Use of online digitized collections; interest or experience in working with literary heritage collections from Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and/or authors.

2. Music and the Arts as Vehicles for History, Civics, and Democracy (Remote) – Professional Learning & Outreach

   Project Description: The Library of Congress Professional Learning and Outreach Initiatives office (PLOI) offers classroom materials, professional development, and grants to help teachers use primary sources from the Library's digital collections. PLOI also manages the Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative (LHI), which enables the Library to distribute Congressionally appropriated funds to organizations to develop learning initiatives for secondary education based on creative arts-driven instruction, especially focused on music, history, civics and democracy. The Junior Fellow will search for primary sources and brainstorm ways they could be used in educational settings, with specific attention to developing strategies for using primary sources as a way to tell a “people’s history” of the United States, encompassing diverse stories and perspectives including those from Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander and/or other communities of color. The Junior Fellow will share outcomes of their research with members of the Lewis-Houghton Initiative cohort and the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium.

   Knowledge and skills required: Familiarity with archival research and digital collections; strong communication and relationship-building skills; ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input; ability to devise searches for internet search engines, databases, and library catalogs to find and verify information; prior knowledge of music, the arts, civics and/or humanities topics; knowledge of K-12 teaching and curricula.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Desire to learn about teaching and learning with primary sources; prior teaching experience in formal or informal K-12 or higher education contexts; intellectual curiosity about civics education; interest or experience in researching, collecting, and/or sharing diverse stories, perspectives, and/or collections.

3. Teen Internship Program Assistant (Remote) – Informal Learning Office

   Project Description: The Informal Learning Office (ILO) remote Junior Fellow will assist with the preparation, launch and implementation of the summer teen internship. The Junior Fellow will be a liaison between teen participants and ILO staff for the summer program and will assist with disseminating information to a diverse group of teens during virtual sessions. Teen participants for the summer internship reflect a wide range of Library users from across the country, and the Junior Fellow will help ensure that this diversity of experience and interest is reflected in their work. The Junior Fellow will also help the teens navigate Library systems and act as an informal mentor to whom teens can discuss their research and work. And, the Junior Fellow will assist ILO with developing and creating diverse and engaging content to support youth and families. Deliverables will include contributing to online interactive sessions and co-authoring Minerva's Kaleidoscope blogs for families.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong research skills; verbal and written communication; experience working with diverse and or/underserved youth audiences.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Creative writing, blog writing, experience working in a public, research or university library or museum in a visitor engagement or education capacity.

4. Literary Programming at the Library of Congress (Remote) - Literary Initiatives

   Project Description: The Library of Congress Literary Initiatives team develops literary programming, including the National Book Festival and year-round literary events, and administers literary ambassadorships such as the U.S. Poet Laureate, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. The Junior Fellow will work remotely with the literary event planning team to increase visibility, accessibility and opportunities to share a diverse range of established and new literary voices – including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, and/or Asian American and Pacific Islander authors -- while receiving valuable training in arts administration. They will assist with editing author bios, proofreading website content, and other tasks to prepare information for the public, alongside researching, collecting and organizing participant information and assets. The Junior Fellow will have opportunities to contribute to the blog, upload website updates, and contribute to LibGuides. Their work will promote awareness of the Library’s resources and services to the public, primarily through literary events.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong editing and other journalism skills; ability to set and meet deadlines; effective communication in writing; advanced proficiency in use of computer software; excellent research skills; creative and organizational flexibility, spreadsheet and database management; knowledge of contemporary literature, current trends and conversations within literary world, organization and administration of events, particularly in the art and culture fields.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Basic reading level of Spanish; LibGuides, WordPress, Teams, Sharepoint; interest or experience in working with diverse literary voices.

5. Mapping the Stories: The Legacy of Daniel A.P. Murray (Remote) – Office of Communications

   Project Description: The Junior Fellow will research the history of Daniel A.P. Murray and his historical relevance to the Library’s efforts in telling the stories of African-American contributions. Building upon this research, the Junior Fellow will research the vast exhibitions and online collections beginning in 1930 to present day with a focus on identifying and highlighting items from underrepresented and communities of color. A Story Map and Display Day project will outline and identify stories that will be integrated into the ongoing efforts of the Of the People: Widening the Path (OTP) initiative. This project supports the Office of Communications' efforts to identify and catalog the various cultural and ethnic-based exhibits and collections presented over the past 60 years. This will additionally support the ongoing OTP initiative by documenting continuous efforts to support storytelling by and of communities of color.

   Knowledge and skills required: Research; spreadsheet development; attention to detail; writing and editing, including knowledge of Associated Press Style.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Interest or experience in researching collections and/or stories centered on underrepresented and/or communities of color; interviewing skills.

6. Digital Rewind: Exploring CCDI’s Impact Through Digital Engagement and Storytelling (Remote) – Connecting Communities Digital Initiative

   Project Description: Connecting Communities Digital Initiative (CCDI), part of the Library of Congress "Of the People: Widening the Path" initiative, supports projects that leverage the Library's digital collections to explore and preserve the histories of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color. To ensure CCDI’s impact endures beyond the life of the program, Junior Fellows will create a dynamic, collections-oriented digital storytelling project that documents and shares the work of CCDI’s awardees and its impact on stakeholder communities. Junior Fellows will conduct in-depth interviews, craft compelling narratives, and integrate multimedia elements such as video, audio, and infographics into the project. By showcasing how CCDI’s awardees have creatively remixed the Library’s digital collections to tell meaningful stories about their communities, this project will broaden CCDI’s reach and visibility, foster informed civic engagement, and ensure that histories of underrepresented communities are preserved and shared on a national platform.

   Knowledge and skills required: Digital storytelling; multimedia production; project management; research and interviewing skills; knowledge of library systems, digital humanities, and the use of digital archives and collections in research and storytelling.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Advanced multimedia production, data visualization, user experience design; interest or experience in working with collections focused on communities of color.

7. Expanding Artificial Intelligence Community Engagement at the Library of Congress (Remote) – Digital Strategy Directorate Section

   Project Description: The Library is ushering in new perspectives and approaches with artificial intelligence. This project is to develop and execute an approach to AI Community Engagement in collaboration with Library staff, through research and developing content. Understanding and engaging with Library’s communities is at the heart of our continuous improvement and this project will focus on expanding our community engagement using authoritative sources and best practices while working with Library staff. This project is services and operations oriented, and the Junior Fellow is expected to: create a project plan; conduct background research; plan a workshop with established outcomes; develop content for the workshop; conduct the workshop; analyze and document outcomes; prepare Display Day materials; incorporate feedback into final deliverables; and write a story or article on outcomes.

   Knowledge and skills required: Excellent understanding of the internet and online discussion platforms; understanding of community engagement methods; good communications skills; good research skills; good information organization skills.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Strong writing skills.

8. Digital Front Door – Environmental Scan (Remote) - User Experience Design (uxd) Section

   Project Description: The Library’s website, loc.gov, serves as the bedrock for the Library’s digital engagement and provides vast resources. With this, it is critical to ensure that visitors to the Library can easily engage with content that is welcoming, dynamic, intuitively organized and easy to navigate, particularly on the homepage and other major landing pages for visitors across loc.gov. The Junior Fellow will work with the User Experience (UX) team to plan and conduct UX research as part of the Library’s effort to further develop the Visitor Experience Master Plan. Using user-centered design practices, the Junior Fellow will contribute to the discovery of what is available in the current environment for similar organizations and help to develop a plan for how we can align the Library’s needs/desires within the current site (loc.gov) framework.

   Knowledge and skills required: Strong verbal and written communication skills; strong sense of empathy; attention to detail; ability to work well in team environment; natural curiosity to dig deeper into user behaviors and motivations; flexibility to adjust research methods based on project needs or constraints; familiarity or experience with user experience research methodologies, including an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Ability to present insights to both technical/non-technical audiences; skills in documentation research findings and creating reports that are clear and actionable; familiarity in using presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint).

9. Year of Digital Accessibility Fellow (Remote) - User Experience Design (uxd) Section

   Project Description: The Library is committed to providing digital access that faciliates collaboration, inclusiveness and resilience. This includes improving digital user experience through enhanced accessibility and implementation. The Junior Fellow(s) will support the Year of Digital Accessibility program, an annual, themed outreach and training effort that depends on engaging content and supportive staff training. The 2025 theme is plain language accessibility. The Junior Fellow(s) will: widen the program's engagement rate and support staff learning; research a selected theme with consideration to the wide range of abilities, literacy levels, and fluency in English represented among the Library’s target audience; create and lead training on the theme, and create content to communicate accessibility concepts, which may include presentations, tips on digital accessibility, games and exercises, and articles or blogs. These activities will nurture our growing accessibility program, bolster staff performance and understanding, and help ensure the needs of Congress and the public are met.

   Knowledge and skills required: English language fluency (written and spoken); enthusiasm for accessibility and disability inclusion; some experience teaching or training others; strong written communication; curiosity and love of learning; experience with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint; basic understanding of Digital Accessibility principles and practices.

   Knowledge and skills preferred: Outreach and advocacy skills; plain language and accessible communication skills.

10. Copyright Card Catalog Metadata Capture Project - Remote – Copyright Office

    Project Description: The U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) Card Catalog Records offer a historically important snapshot of the culture of the United States, primarily relating to copyrightable expression, authorship, and copyright ownership from 1870-1977. The records refer to books, photographs, musical compositions, sound recordings, motion pictures, lectures, software, etc. The USCO Card Catalog contains records of registrations, assignments, transfers of copyright, notices of use of musical compositions, and terminations of copyright ownership. These records are available in hardcopy format and online, but access to the physical records is limited, and online searching is cumbersome. To improve online access, we are capturing metadata from the records. The Junior Fellow will be a USCO Historical Public Records Team member and will review and update metadata captured for the card catalog records. The Junior Fellow will have the opportunity to learn about USCO’s historical records and gain experience working with metadata.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Knowledge and skills required: Cataloging, metadata, and digital archiving skills.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience with Microsoft Access; experience conducting research using search engines, databases, and library catalogs; experience reading and transcribing in German and/or French is desirable.

11. American Archive of Public Broadcasting Online Exhibit Project (Remote) - National Audio-Visual Conservation Center

    Project Description: The American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) is a collaboration between the Library of Congress and GBH Boston to preserve and make accessible public television and radio programs from the past 70 years. The AAPB website (americanarchive.org) includes online exhibits exploring how public broadcasting covered a range of topics. The Junior Fellow will create a new exhibit selected in consultation with the Project Mentor and GBH’s Media Historian that relates to public broadcasting’s coverage of the history and culture of Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, or underrepresented American communities. They will gain skills researching, organizing, describing, and displaying audiovisual programs the represent our nation’s diverse cultural heritage.

    Knowledge and skills required: Ability to communicate effectively in writing; ability to conduct research using authoritative sources. Ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans and adapt after input.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience in research or writing related to underrepresented communities.

12. Indigenous Government Websites of the U.S. Web Archive (Remote) - U.S. Serials & Government Documents Section

    Project Description: The U.S. Serials & Government Documents Section (USSGD), part of the USAN Division, acquires, processes, and adds metadata to U.S. serial publications, as well as serials and monographs, both physical and digital, that serve as U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government documents. In line with the Library’s electronic preferred initiative, USSGD established the State Government Websites of the United States Web Archive, which contains websites of state government agencies and entities from all branches of government from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. This opportunity allowed USSGD to discover a gap for Indigenous government websites that are also vital to all Americans. Under the mentorship of primarily three senior librarians, the Junior Fellow, ideally with deep expertise and connections to one or more Indigenous communities, will conduct research using the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs: Tribal Leadership Directory to help us understand this resource and develop the Indigenous Government Websites of the United States Web Archive to ensure that all Americans are represented in our collections.

    Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Ability to set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input. Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel. Ability to devise searches for internet search engines, databases, and library catalogs to find and verify information. Ability to communicate effectively in writing. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with diverse populations; demonstrated independence and self-motivation. Desire to learn about web archiving processes and the Library of Congress collections.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Ability to understand at least one Indigenous language of the U.S.

13. Computational Collections: Exploring Library of Congress Collections as Data (Remote) - Digital Collections Workflow Section

    Project Description:The Digital Collections and Management Services (DCMS) division is dedicated to preserving, processing, and making digital collections accessible to diverse Library audiences and has recently begun a pilot program to support computational use of digital collections. The Library provides access to a vast amount of data and collections through its APIs (application program interfaces) and has a growing collection of packaged datasets, such as By the People crowdsourced transcriptions. The Junior Fellow will create a publishable project that demonstrates computational use of Library collections, such as a Python notebook or web map. The project would be hosted by the Library and thus made available for researchers to explore a set of Library collections. The Junior Fellow will be mentored by the Library’s Data Librarian and a Digital Collection Specialist, who can provide project ideas or help the Fellow develop their own idea. This project will help inform future practices for supporting computational researchers.

    Knowledge and skills required: Intermediate Python and/or other coding language. Strong self-starter with good problem-solving and organizational skills. Enjoys working with others collaboratively and independently.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience writing/using Python notebooks and using APIs (application program interfaces).

14. Documenting the Digital Age: An Introduction to Web Archiving (Remote) - Web Archiving Section

    Project Description: For twenty-five years, the Library has been preserving historically and culturally significant websites. International in scope, our collections document events ranging from September 11th to more recent history like the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, thematic collections cover diverse subjects like art, economics, science, politics, social issues, and popular culture. The Junior Fellow will be matched with a collection and immersed in the collaborative process of how the web archives are created, managed, and made accessible. By evaluating archival website captures, the Junior Fellow will learn about the technical challenges of web archiving and the workflows developed to monitor and improve the effectiveness of our collecting methods. They will contribute to descriptive work to make the collection more discoverable and analyze the collection for new insights. The fellowship will conclude with the opportunity to promote the collection by sharing their discoveries and accomplishments on The Signal blog.

    Knowledge and skills required: Ability to plan, organize, and execute work within specified deadlines. Strong oral and written communication skills. Attention to detail. Aptitude for working collaboratively with others. Eagerness to learn.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Experience using or working with archival materials, especially web archives.

15. Researching the Black Press in Chronicling America (Remote) - Digital Collections Services Section

    Project Description: In this project, the Junior Fellow will learn how to research the Black Press in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries using primary and secondary sources and write newspaper history essays to provide context to users of Chronicling America under the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). This project seeks to expand collection access and context for many of the individual newspaper titles digitized in a 2021-2023 project. The incumbent will create up to ten well-researched newspaper history essays up to 500 words long, representing significant titles or groups of titles from this collection, providing additional context to the content in the newspapers, the community they served, and the publishers and editors who created the newspapers. The Junior Fellow, as well as future users will benefit from this project by gaining a deeper of the Black Press and its impact.

    Knowledge and skills required: Ability to perform research in historic primary resources. Ability to research and write concise, well-written essays for public consumption. Familiarity in using digital collections repositories or databases, or digitized materials.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Ability to perform research in historic newspapers.

16. Pathways to Gilded Age & Progressive Era Business Collections (Remote) - Business Section

    Project Description: The Library of Congress Business Section is seeking to create content, enhance access, and improve discoverability to business-related information and themes regarding organizations, individuals, and companies from the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era. This content will connect remote students and researchers who often seek this information to the Library and will promote awareness and appreciation of our resources. The Junior Fellow will contribute to a LibGuide on these time periods, research and write entries for “This Month in Business History,” and develop posts for the Inside Adams blog by using the Library of Congress catalog to locate general collections materials, as well as Library of Congress digital collection. This content will explore stories from BIPOC communities historically underrepresented in the Library’s collections who made contributions to economic, business, or labor history during this period. This project is collections- and services-oriented.

    Knowledge and skills required: Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently, set and meet deadlines, follow work plans, and adapt after input. Good writing skills.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Knowledge of LibGuides; prior experience writing blogs or similar work or academic products.

17. Veterans History Project Jukebox: Reaching and Teaching New Library Connectors (Remote) - Veterans History Project

    Project Description: The Junior Fellow will advance the mission of the Veterans History (VHP) through collections data and demographically informed tools, including: GIS maps that identify active VHP connectors to new users; "VHP Jukebox" user training materials that leverage VHP’s audio and video holdings to teach oral history standards and best practices; creating a suite of interstitial VHP videos for Facebook; creating a list of topics and storyboards for VHP video series; and collating ZIP-code activity for Congressional interviewer activity maps. Junior Fellows will prioritize BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories, leveraging the stories that the VHP has collected in an effort to raise awareness of its diverse holdings, as well as advertise the VHP’s inclusivity to a national veteran and interviewer population.

    Knowledge and skills required: Inclusivity; Audio/Video Engineering; Writing; and Communication

    Knowledge and skills preferred: Organization; Intersectionality; and Pedagogy

18. Enhancing Accessibility: User Research for Inclusive Library Services (Remote) - National Library Service for the Blind/Print Disabled

    Project Description: The National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled serves as a crucial resource for individuals with visual impairments. This project will focus on supporting NLS’ patron experience research initiatives (including usability testing, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups) to gain insights into the needs and experiences of NLS patrons. Under the mentorship and guidance of experienced user researchers, the Junior Fellow(s) will engage with patrons to understand their interactions with NLS’ resources and services. Research initiatives are intended to inform improvements in service delivery, enhance accessibility, and foster a deeper connection between NLS and its patrons. This service-oriented project supports the Library’s mission to connect all Americans with its cultural record and promotes greater awareness and appreciation for Library resources tailored to underserved communities.

    Knowledge and skills required: The ideal candidate will possess an appreciation for the challenges faced by blind and hearing-impaired individuals as well as the communication and interpersonal skills needed to positively engage with these individuals. An intellectual curiosity about user-centered design and a passion for creating inclusive services will position the candidate for success.

    Knowledge and skills preferred: The ideal candidate would have exposure through coursework to or a degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX) Design, or a related field; reflecting an understanding of user research principles. Prior exposure to populations with disabilities would be a strong asset. Previous exposure to a data analysis tool such as Excel will be helpful.

Junior Fellows Program Frequently Asked Questions

JFP 2026 details will be updated in late October 2026.

1. What is GS-03/01 pay?

   These internships are full-time (8 hours per day, 40 hours per week), temporary staff positions at the 2025 GS-03/step 1 level (General Schedule hourly pay rate).  

   Onsite projects: The pay rate for onsite work in 2024 was $17.22 per hour. This is subject to change for 2025 based on federal cost of living adjustments.

   Remote projects: Interns will be paid at the 2025 GS-03/step 1 level hourly pay rate based on the location where the work is performed.

   Find your location and its accompanying hourly pay rate here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule/. Revisit the OPM page in January to confirm pay rates for 2025.

2. What is the work schedule?

   Junior Fellows work 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week and determine with their Project Mentors the actual work schedule.

   Those selected for this position must be available to work 8 hours per week, 40 hours per week for the entire 10-week program, Monday - Friday.

   Junior Fellows begin work between 6:30 am – 9:30 am and depart between 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Exact start times between 6:30 am – 9:30 am are flexible; Junior Fellows and Project Mentors discuss requirements and arrive at mutually agreeable schedules.

   With Project Mentor prior discussion and approval, Junior Fellows may adjust their schedule within the Pay Period. For example, a Junior Fellow who typically starts work at 8:00 am and departs at 4:30 pm may request to adjust a daily schedule to start at 6:30 am and depart at 3:00 pm.

   Junior Fellows must be available to attend a mandatory orientation on May 19, 2025 from 8:30 am -12:00 pm Eastern Time.

   Onsite Junior Fellows must be able to report onsite for the entire duration of the internship. Onsite Junior Fellows are not eligible for regular telework.

3. What is the location for this internship?

   Onsite projects will be completed within the Library’s Capitol Hill campus, with the exception of projects 11, 12, and 15. Depending on the project, interns will work in one of these three buildings:

   • Jefferson Building: 10 First Street SE, Washington, DC
   • Adams Building: 120 Second Street SE, Washington, DC
   • Madison Building: 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC

   The following projects will be completed onsite in the Library’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center:

   • #11. Office of War Information Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA)
   • #12. Universal Music Group Collection Lacquer Processing (Onsite – Culpeper, VA)
   • #15. Video Preservation from Shelf to Video Lab and Beyond (Onsite – Culpeper, VA

   The location for these projects is: 19053 Mt Pony Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701

   Remote projects will be completed throughout the continental U.S.

4. Do I need to provide a transcript?

   Yes. A legible copy of your latest college/university transcripts is required with your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Your transcript will be used to certify your eligibility for the program.

   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, JPEGs, 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. If you do not have an unofficial transcript at your disposal, please submit another document from your institution and/or registrar’s office to certify your current enrollment.

5. What are the selecting officials looking for in the application?

   Selecting officials will consider experience, education, and interests related to the projects. While not required, experience or education in cultural institution-related fields can be a plus.

   The Junior Fellows Program is an internship that incorporates professional learning and development opportunities. Successful candidates are interested in developing career skills and learning about the Library of Congress.

6. I am interested in more than one project for this program. Can I apply to more than one? Must I submit separate applications for each?

   In the Vacancy Questions, you will be asked to select your three top project choices within the selected format (remote or onsite) and describe how your education, experience, interests and/or training align with your selected projects.

   Submit only one application package per format.

   If you are interested in remote and onsite projects, you must submit separate applications for each. Note that you can only be selected for one project (remote or onsite).

7. Can I do two projects at the same time?

   No. You can only work on one project for this internship. If you apply for a remote project and an onsite project and receive offers for both, you will need to choose one.

8. I have not started my academic program yet. I am already registered for classes. Am I still eligible to apply?

   To be eligible, you do indeed need to be taking classes already, at the point of application (or be a recent graduate between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024). While you are unfortunately not eligible for the 2025 session of JFP, please do look for upcoming internship opportunities at the Library of Congress.

9. What is the time frame for recent graduate eligibility?

   Recent graduates between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024 are eligible to apply.

10. Do you provide housing?

    No.

11. Do you provide transportation?

    Transportation is not provided. Onsite interns are eligible to receive a transit subsidy for local public transportation.

12. What steps should I take when preparing my application to make sure I qualify and meet the requirements for this opportunity?

    Assess your schedule in advance as much as possible to make sure you are able to meet the 8 hour per day, 40 hour per week time commitment within the hours of 6:30 am- 6:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

    Review the JFP 2025 How to Apply Guide for step-by-step guidelines on preparing and submitting your application.

    Plan to submit your application through USAJOBS in advance of the 11:59 pm Eastern Time deadline on Monday, November 18, 2024 to allow time for any technical issues. Late applications will not be accepted.

    We highly recommend drafting responses outside of USAJOBS (in a Word document, for example) where they can be saved in the event of technical and/or network connectivity issues.

13. What are the Vacancy Questions required for this application? 
    • Describe how your education, experience, and/or training support the knowledge and skills required for your selected projects.
    • Describe how the Junior Fellows Program relates to your overall career goals and/or how you would benefit from working on your first, second, and third choice projects.

    We highly recommend that you craft responses that best demonstrate your writing skills. Selecting officials may consider your responses as writing samples, especially for projects that culminate in intern-produced written publications.

14. What should I include in my federal resume? 
    • Dates, hours, level of experience and examples for each work experience.
    • Volunteer work and roles in community organizations.
    • Numbers, percentages, and/or dollars that highlight your accomplishments.

    Find more details and guidance here: USAJOBS Help Center | What should I include in my federal resume?

15. How many academic credits do I receive in the program?

    The Library of Congress is not an academic institution and does not grant course credits. However, you may check with your school about receiving credits for your fellowship if interested.

16. I am not available to start the internship on Monday, May 19, 2025. Am I still eligible?

    No.  We require all Junior Fellows to report on the same day, Monday, May 19, 2025 for a mandatory orientation from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. During the orientation, interns will meet Library staff, learn about the program and policies, and complete onboarding tasks.

    Onsite Junior Fellows report onsite to access Orientation. Remote Junior Fellows report from their offsite work locations and access Orientation through Zoom.

17. I cannot work 8 hours per week, 40 hours per week for the 10 weeks of the program’s duration. Am I still eligible?

    No. Unfortunately, hours are not flexible, but we encourage you to apply for other Library of Congress opportunities in the near future if your schedule aligns.

18. What happens if I need to take leave during the first week of the program?

    Leave Without Pay (LWOP) is the option.

    Junior Fellows are not eligible to earn annual leave. Junior Fellows are eligible to earn sick leave after the first 2 weeks.

19. Is a background check required?

    If you are selected, a background check will be required. You will be contacted by the Library’s Personnel Security Division with directions detailing how to proceed. Follow the directions carefully and complete the required tasks as soon as possible. Late submissions will impact the onboarding process.

20. I will be living overseas during the summer of 2025. Can I still apply?

    No. Interns must be located in the continental U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

21. Can my internship lead to a full-time job?

    The internships come with no guarantee for permanent employment. However, we encourage those interested in careers at the Library of Congress to look at all job opportunities listed on the USAJOBS website and the Library’s Careers website. The new skills and experience gained during your time at the Library can be used as a stepping stone and the supervisor of your fellowship can be a valuable reference for your future job searches.

22. Will these internships be offered in the fall or winter?

    No. Junior Fellows is a summer internship only. For additional information about internships and fellowships at the Library of Congress, visit the Internship and Fellowship Program portal: https://www.loc.gov/ifp Click on the Overview tab to explore other internships at the Library of Congress.

23. What is the timeline for hiring decisions?

    Selections for all 2025 Fellows are projected to be complete by late March 2025. Notices of selection or non-selection will be sent out in the first week of April 2025. If you have any questions regarding the vacancy announcement or the status of your application, please contact jobhelp@loc.gov.

24. How can I stay connected to the Junior Fellows Program?

    Subscribe to the Of the People blog, an active platform for JFP intern spotlights, program resources, and new ways to engage with Library collections.