Since 2011, the Archives and Library of The Henry Ford has maintained an instance of California Digital Library’s Extensible Text Framework application, or XTF, providing keyword search and access to a large body of archival collection description for our staff and onsite researchers. The application is used extensively and has become a fundamental tool for provision of access to our archival collections.

The Archives and Library now desires to enable access to this tool for our remote staff and public researchers and is seeking a Simmons intern to assist in the effort to develop and launch a public web instance of XTF.

Working primarily with the Archives Technical Services Team, and in conjunction with IT, Web, and Marketing staff from The Henry Ford, duties of the intern will include:

• Verifying proper installation, function, and access of the instance
  
• Styling of the site to conform with institutional and departmental branding requirements
  
• Populating the site data store with description files
  
• Creation or modification of description metadata files used by the application
  
• Verifying proper harvesting interaction with OCLC ArchiveGrid

In addition, at the completion of the internship, with assistance and input from appropriate staff, the student will present a synopsis of the project to an audience of The Henry Ford staff. 

Skills and abilities required:

• Interest in gaining experience with description and access of archival collections
  
• Understanding of archival description standards and practices
  
• Experience with reading, creating and editing XML, XSLT and CSS files
  
• Experience using the MS DOS/Windows command line
  
• Strong writing and communication skills, and attention to detail

Successful completion of the internship will give the student experience with requirements for the description of, and provision of access to, archival collections; experience with a web-based text document search and retrieval system; experience coding with XML, XSLT and CSS; and experience working in the multi-disciplinary environment of a museum archive and library.

The deadline for application is Friday, March 8, 2019 (postmarked or emailed by 11:59 PM EST). 

Please submit inquiries, letter(s) of application, résumé or CV and letters of recommendation to HistoryInternship@TheHenryFord.org or Saige Jedele, Associate Curator and Simmons Internship Coordinator, The Henry Ford (20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124-5029).

Program information and complete application requirements available at thf.org/about/grants.aspx.