Special Collections Training Manual: General Guidelines for Interns/Volunteers

Interns and volunteers have the opportunity to learn about archival theory and practice while working with Special Collections staff to continue to develop collections. Interns may work with collection materials such as photographs, letters, drawings, newspaper clippings, brochures, and digitally-born materials. Special Collections staff and the intern/volunteer will establish specific duties and expectations at the beginning of the semester, based on collection needs and student interest.

Depending on the length of the internship and/or amount of hours needed, interns and volunteers may be tasked with the following:

• Describing and processing archival collections using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
• Developing physical and digital exhibits of Special Collections materials
• Preparing collections for digitization and upload in Georgia Southern Commons
• Participating in Special Collections instructional sessions or programming
• Facilitating patron requests for materials