Library of Congress Internships (LOCI) Program
Explore a fulfilling career at the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the world’s largest library.
In this fully funded internship, you’ll work alongside Library of Congress employees to further the mission of the nation’s oldest cultural agency. The Library of Congress serves the Congress in fulfilling its duties and preserves and promotes knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people.
It is the world’s largest library, with more than 160 million items in its physical collections (including books, manuscripts, prints, photos, film, video, and sound recordings) and over 52 million items online. Located primarily on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Library is the home of the U.S. Copyright Office, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Law Library of Congress, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Learn more about the Library of Congress at loc.gov and email federal@twc.edu with questions. We also invite you to register for one of our informational sessions.
Program Description
This full-time and fully funded internship program provides unprecedented access to the Library of Congress' world-class collections and staff. Opportunities include a wide range of applied learning and career development placements that advance the academic and professional pursuits of undergraduate and graduate students.
The goals of these internships are to recruit diverse talent and to bring to light the collections that more fully represent the rich cultural heritage of the United States.
The LOCI program supports the Library in expanding recruitment of applicants from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISI). The assignments will span many professional fields at the Library, including information technology, human capital, event planning, communications, as well as collections support and research.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (AA/AS, BA/BS, Masters, JD, MD, or Ph.D.) at an accredited higher education institution during the internship, OR recent graduate of an institution described above, who graduated no more than one year prior to the start date of the internship.
- Have completed their freshman year of college before the internship begins.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Be able to work full-time (33-40 hours per week) for the duration of the internship. Negotiation of hours to part-time is not possible. Please only apply if you know that you can handle a full-time work schedule on top of any other responsibilities.
- Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students participating in our Funded Federal Diversity programs are considered employees of The Washington Center and are required to be fully vaccinated to participate. Learn more about our COVID-19 policy
- Have a confirmed interest in working with the Library of Congress.
- Reside within the United States throughout the entire duration of the internship (if virtual).
Preferred majors include, but are not limited to:
- Anthropology/Archaeology/History
- Area Studies
- Business Administration/Human Resources
- Communications
- Computer Science/Information Technology/Information Systems
- Event Planning
- International Affairs/Political Science
- Library Science
- Museum Studies/Collections Support and Research
Program Components
The Library of Congress Internships (LOCI) program is a 10-week Summer or 15-week Spring or Fall program in which you will work full-time, five days a week, assisting with a variety of projects assigned by your internship mentor. Assignments will span many professional fields at the Library; past placements have included:
- Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate
- American Archive of Public Broadcasting
- Congressional Research Services
- Office of Legislative Information Services
- Office of Publishing
- Copyright Office
- General and International Collections Directorate
- African & Middle Eastern Division
- Asian Division
- Hispanic Division
- Research & Reference Services Division
- Science, Technology & Business Division
- Law Library of Congress
- National Library Service for Blind and Print Disabled
- Office of Chief Information Officer
Interested in hearing accounts from former participants of the LOCI program? Read one of our own TWC intern spotlights to get behind-the-scenes insight!
Program Benefits
This is a fully funded program. Sponsorship covers the cost of the program, housing (if needed/when in-person is available), and roundtrip travel to and from the internship site city. You will be responsible for living expenses and local transportation. However, a stipend of $3,650-$9,461 will be provided to help alleviate these expenses. The final stipend amount is based on the length of the session and your decision to accept or reject TWC-organized housing.
In addition, various professional development sessions will be available to enhance students’ knowledge and marketability. The Washington Center organizes multiple hands-on experiences to prepare you for your career including Resume Review & Cover Letter Writing, LinkedIn Review, and Interviewing & Pitching Yourself. TWC also organizes networking opportunities during your internship and has highly active alumni networks of which you will be a part. The Library of Congress also prides itself on providing interns with additional professional development opportunities including Employee Panels and explorative tours of the Library of Congress.
Housing and Living
Fully furnished housing near the internship site is provided by TWC for all participants who need it. Housing accommodations can, and typically do, require shared-living arrangements with other interns. Every effort is made to arrange housing near essential amenities like grocery stores, public transit and medical facilities.
Please note that the Summer 2023 format is TBD (possibilities include virtual, in person, and hybrid).
Academic Credit
You may be eligible to receive academic credit for your participation in this program. However, credits are determined and awarded by each university. You are responsible for arranging any academic credit through your college or university. You should discuss arrangements with your institution, prior to starting the program and let TWC know the specific requirements of your university.
Dates and Deadlines
Spring 2023 (Virtual and in-person positions)
- Applications Accepted: Applications for Spring 2023 are closed
- Decision Notification: Mid November 2022 (Applicants are notified when they are selected for interviews until all positions are filled or until mid November)
- Program Dates: January 23, 2023 – May 5, 2023
Summer 2023 (Format TBD)
- Application Accepted: November 28, 2022 – February 14, 2023
- Decision Notifications: Mid April 2023 (Applicants are notified when they are selected for interviews until all positions are filled or until mid April)
- Program Dates: June 5, 2023 – August 11, 2023 (subject to change)
Please reach out to federal@twc.edu if you have any questions.
How to Apply
Register Your Interest
Applications for Summer 2023 are now closed. Complete a program interest form to be notified when the next application cycle opens.
Interested in applying for a future semester? Want updates on webinars and application openings? Register your interest using the following form:
Please reach out to federal@twc.edu if you have any questions.