Library Preservation Internship Spotlight

I applied to the University of Washington’s MLIS program with a strong desire to work in the field of archives and preservation. Upon starting my courses, I found myself wanting to find an outside experience that would let me gain relevant skills and knowledge. The Dirks Internship was just what I needed, as it built upon hands-on experience I had from a previous role with both experiential learning and exposure to the theory behind how and why things are done.

My fall and winter quarters were initially spent doing deep-dives into preservation theory, archival principles, and learning the ways the environment can impact different kinds of materials. Eventually, I transitioned into hands-on experiences with binding, disaster response, digitization, conservation, media preservation, and digital preservation experts within the University of Washington Libraries. One project of note was ensuring that the digitized copies of The Daily had accurate Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This process provided me with an in-depth understanding of the capabilities of OCR and the challenges it poses to those trying to implement it. Overall, these first two quarters provided me with a foundational understanding of what it means to work in preservation as well as the different duties that fall under that umbrella.

My fall and winter quarters were initially spent doing deep-dives into preservation theory, archival principles, and learning the ways the environment can impact different kinds of materials. Eventually, I transitioned into hands-on experiences with binding, disaster response, digitization, conservation, media preservation, and digital preservation experts within the University of Washington Libraries. One project of note was ensuring that the digitized copies of The Daily had accurate Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This process provided me with an in-depth understanding of the capabilities of OCR and the challenges it poses to those trying to implement it. Overall, these first two quarters provided me with a foundational understanding of what it means to work in preservation as well as the different duties that fall under that umbrella.

I will forever be grateful for the education and experience I received as the Dirks Intern, and I look forward to applying my new skills upon my graduation in 2026.