The British Library is pleased to be able to offer a paid internship in the Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts section of the Western Heritage Department for a doctoral or post-doctoral student in History, History of Art or other relevant subject.

Gorleston Psalter, England (Suffolk), 1310-1324, Add MS 49622, f. 193v

The intern will be involved in all aspects of the work of the Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts section, including responding to enquiries, providing talks for students and patrons, selecting and presenting manuscripts for display in our exhibition gallery, and cataloguing, thereby gaining insight into various curatorial duties and aspects of collection care. During the internship at the Library, the intern will enjoy privileged access to printed and manuscript research material, and will work alongside specialists with wide-ranging and varied expertise. 

The primary focus of the internship will be to enhance the online Digitised Manuscripts website by creating and supplementing catalogue entries for medieval manuscripts and accompanying images, and assisting with the Library’s Magna Carta exhibition, working under the supervision of the Lead Curator, Illuminated Manuscripts. 

The internship is designed to provide an opportunity for the student to develop research skills and expertise in medieval and Renaissance art and history, and in presenting manuscripts to a range of audiences.

Candidates

The programme is only open to students who are engaged actively in research towards, or who have recently completed, a PhD in a subject area relevant to the study of pre-1600 manuscripts, and who have a right to work in the UK. 

Hours of Work/Contract Duration

• 36 hours per week over normal business hours, full time for nine months.
• The internship will start on 2 February 2015 or as soon as relevant security checks have been completed. 

Applications are available on the British Library’s website, http://www.bl.uk/careers/index.html.

Closing Date: 18 December 2014

Interview Date: 7 January 2015

The selection process may include questions about the date, origin and decoration of a particular manuscript to be shown at the interview.

 - Kathleen Doyle