2026 Internships - Library

ABOUT SALZBURG GLOBAL

Salzburg Global is where open-minded leaders from around the world gather for breakthrough conversations on pressing global issues.

Since 1947, our programs have worked to overcome barriers and open up a world of better possibilities – creating spaces where divergent voices can address the big challenges of our time.

We have gathered over 40,000 Fellows from 173 countries for more than 1,100 sessions that change the conversation on the pressing issues of our time.

That very first session brought together over 100 young Europeans and Americans – including veterans of the French resistance, survivors of Nazi concentration camps, prisoners of war, and former enemies.

They met at Schloss Leopoldskron, an Austrian palace that had been occupied by the Nazis in a country that was still under Allied military occupation. They wrestled with how diverse and fractured groups of people could come together and start creating the conditions for peace in the aftermath of World War II.

More than seventy-five years later, the challenges may be different, but our mission still carries that same founding spirit: to overcome barriers and open up a world of better possibilities.

We are supported by a combination of institutional partnerships, generous individual donations and revenue generated from our social enterprise, Schloss Leopoldskron.

We seek to be an exemplary international institution in terms of equity and environmental sustainability. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our work.  

ABOUT OUR INTERNSHIPS

The internships are full-time, for a maximum period of three months.

Although the position is not paid, we will provide the successful candidate with:

• board and lodging at Schloss Leopoldskron

• a return ticket for their country of origin

• excellent networking opportunities with the international participants of our programs

Start dates for the Library Internships are available in:

• mid-March

• late June

• late September

Should your application be successful, we will provide the exact dates on completion of the internship offer. Due to program scheduling and accommodation reasons, we do not accommodate internship requests outside these fixed periods.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

As our point of contact for Salzburg Global’s small, private collection, your focus will be on archival work and library oversight. We will rely on you to create and curate our institutional archives and to maintain our private library. You will also be managing our periodicals collection.

In 2018, Salzburg Global moved its print documents to the Harvard University Archives. It is now seeking to systematize, organize and cull its digital documents. This unique opportunity will allow you to receive real-world experience transforming digital documents into a usable archive.

While in Salzburg, the intern will also have the opportunity to support one or more programs scheduled during the internship.

Typical duties include:

Archives:

• Provide support for the filing system development (including the naming structure)

• Review digital program-related documents and help curate our archives according to our Database policies

• Identify important historical documents that may have been lost over Salzburg Global’s 75-year history

Library:

• Catalog all new acquisitions and library holdings in DublinCore in our open-source, integrated library system, OpenBiblio, and the social cataloging platform LibraryThing

• Assign call numbers in Dewey Decimal classification

• Re-shelf and shift books that are out of place

• Write gift plate and thank you notes

• Maintain existing periodicals subscriptions and ensure their renewals as required

Program-related:

• Prepare program materials (session-based) before each program

• Research partners and participants, and compile biographies; provide relevant program reading material (for instance, articles of interest)

• Ensure the smooth running of programs by providing event management and technical support (in sessions: recording lectures, controlling the sound system, managing the microphones, presentation visuals management, etc.)

• Provide administrative support such as printing, copying, and mailing

• Provide reliable operational support to the program team and the participants throughout programs

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You have recently completed or are in the process of completing your postgraduate studies in Library Information Science, or a related area, which should include at least one cataloging course

• You already have some internship, professional or volunteering experience in a library setting

• You have excellent (native or equivalent) writing and communication skills in English, including editing skills

• You are proficient with Microsoft Office 365 (MS Sharepoint Libraries, MS Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

• You are enthusiastic about our mission

• You have a can-do attitude, are able to multi-task, are proactive, and willing to work flexible hours according to the running program’s needs

• You thrive in culturally and professionally-diverse environments

Note: German language skills are not required.

Our Internship Program is specially designed for young professionals.

If you are under 18, sign up to our newsletter for upcoming internship opportunities and please wait for a couple of years before sending us your application.

If you are over 30 years old, please share the opportunity with your younger peers and consider applying for one of our programs instead.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants or employees. 

Sustainable business practices are our highest priority in all areas. We encourage creative, equitable, and sustainable change and develop environmentally conscious and socially responsible practices at all levels. We believe that every team member plays a critical role in our journey toward sustainability. 

HOW TO APPLY

Only complete applications via the online form will be considered. A complete application will include a CV and a cover letter.

Selected applicants will be asked to complete an interview call. 

All candidates, successful or otherwise, will be informed of the outcome of their application.

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to take phone calls or to answer individual questions by email.

Should you successfully be selected, you will receive a very detailed information package in due time.