.png)
 |
| Robert Gassman Class of 2018 |
This summer I had the privilege of working at the Library of Congress through the Junior Fellows Program which allows undergraduate and graduate students from across the country to intern with divisions which relate to their academic interests and passions. I had the unique opportunity of working for the Educational Outreach Division, a division dedicated to making the immense collections of the Library of Congress available to students and educators alike.
My project was the research and production of a primary source set about American entry and involvement in World War I. It was incredibly rewarding to view the digitized collections of the Library, searching and investigating thousands of items posters and political cartoons, to videos of the time and popular music. Not only did I have the opportunity to view and learn from the primary sources themselves, but I also had the unique opportunity to observe and take part in the Library of Congress’ Summer Teacher Institute. The Summer Teacher Institute is a world-class professional development opportunity for educators across the United States to learn comprehensive strategies for incorporating primary sources and Library collections effectively in their classrooms.
These experiences at the Library helped me grow not only my knowledge base, but also professionally and personally. It is an inspiring place to work because the ultimate goal of the Library can be boiled down to one word: service. This service is to the American people through the institution’s work for Congress and through its resources made directly available to the people. This service is to the world in preserving knowledge and culture from across the globe for future generations to come. I experienced this service as first-hand staff continually poured into me support and advice, making evident that my development through this institution and program was important to them. As a student impassioned by learning, what better summer internship could I have asked for? My summer was spent researching collections at the world’s largest repository of knowledge in human history, working with the premier talent that this country has to offer in the Library’s staff, and
Robert Gassman, of Louisville, Ky., is a junior McConnell Scholar majoring in political science, history and Asian studies