Temporary Museum Assistant Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

ABOUT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM 
The Walters Art Museum is among America's most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects. 

Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educator and storyteller, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives. The Walters Visitor Promise aligns staff and volunteers across the museum to preserve and share the works in our care for future generations, partner with communities, and create welcoming, accessible experiences for visitors. The museum offers challenging and creative work opportunities by promoting collaboration and teamwork. 

OVERVIEW OF  ROLE

The Library and Archives Graduate Internship is a temporary, educational experience designed to provide a graduate student (or recent graduate) in Library and Information Science with guided exposure to museum library and archival practice.

In 2026-2027, one Graduate Library and Archives Intern will be appointed.  Applicants must be graduate students in good standing or recently graduated from an accredited MLS, MLIS or equivalent program. Applicants should have some background in the History of Art and Library Science. 

Interns are employed 10 hours per week at the Walters for approximately 9 months, and receive a stipend of $20 per hour. The position carries no expectation or guarantee of continued or future employment.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Through this internship, the participant will:

• Gain familiarity with museum library and archival environments
• Observe professional workflows and best practices in access, description, and user services
• Develop foundational skills through supervised, practicebased exercises
• Complete a defined learning project
• Receive feedback and mentorship from professional staff

ACTIVITIES

Activities are performed under the guidance of the Librarian/Archivist and intended to provide professionalized training for the intern.

• Learn and implement best practices for copy cataloging of library materials
• Assist with Interlibrary loan processes to understand workflows
• Assist with research reference requests
• Observe researchers in the library and archives to learn about access policies and procedures
• Participate in supervised archival materials processing
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and mentoring conversations
• Develop an educational project tailored to the intern’s professional goals
• Other training-based tasks in alignment with learning goals

• Candidates must be 18 years or older
• Actively registered (or recently graduated from) an accredited university with an MLS, MLIS, or equivalent degree.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail
• Desire to learn professional standards for library work within a museum setting.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through library and archival practice.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a supervised learning environment.
• Able to lift 30 pounds and stand on ladders.

SCHEDULED SHIFT

• On-site at the Walters Art Museum
• 8-10 hours per week during regular work week business hours, Monday through Friday.

HOURLY RATE                                 $20.00 

TO APPLY:

1. Complete the required application
2. A single PDF that includes a letter describing your particular interests and relevant experience, along with your resume or curriculum vitae, and an unofficial academic transcript.
3. Have 1 PDF letter of recommendation submitted from a faculty or staff member (signed and on letterhead).

The Walters Art Museum does not sponsor work visas. This internship is temporary and does not confer bargainingunit status or employee rights under a collective bargaining agreement. Any future employment would require a separate recruitment and hiring process. All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This is a 100% on-site position.