Valuing Library, Archive, Museum (LAM) Labor: Assessing the Implications of Internships on the LAM Community

“It is widely accepted that internships are important in libraries, archives, and museums (LAM) professional training and correlate positively with future job prospects. Yet the potential costs, particularly of unpaid
internships, for diversity and inclusion, and to community engagement capacities and professional values are understudied. In this Community Catalysts Early Career Development project, Dr. Marika Cifor at the University of Washington, will conduct a three-year investigation into the implications of internships for recruiting, training, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce prepared to engender social wellbeing through U.S. LAM institutions. Using data collected through quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will result in benchmarks for LAM labor practices that will benefit American archives, libraries, and museums, as well as the individuals and local communities who work in and with them.”