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The Library of Congress > Digital Preservation > National Digital Stewardship Residency (NDSR) > Frequently Asked Questions

National Digital Stewardship Residency FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long is the residency program?

    • NDSR is a nine-month program.
  • How many residents will be participating in the program?
    • During the first year there will be ten residents participating in the program, located at ten host institutions in the Washington, D.C. area.
  • What organizations are participating in the residency program?
    • Association of Research Libraries
    • Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
    • Folger Shakespeare Library
    • The Library of Congress
    • Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities / University of Maryland Libraries
    • National Library of Medicine
    • The National Security Archive
    • Public Broadcasting Service
    • Smithsonian Institution Archives
    • The World Bank

  • What is the amount of the stipend paid to residents for living expenses?

    • The NDSR resident salary is $1306 bi-weekly, before taxes, etc.

  • How does NDSR define digital stewardship?

    • Digital Stewardship, for the purposes of this program, is the act of acquiring, selecting, managing, preserving, and providing access to digital information.

  • Is housing provided?

    • No. Residents must locate and finance their own housing.

  • Does my NDSR video need to be professionally made?

    • No. While we encourage applicants to use their creativity while making the video, we do not require fancy editing tricks, transitions, or production values. The most important thing for applicants to get across in their video component is their passion for digital stewardship and the NDSR projects.

  • How many hours per week will I work?

    • Residents will work 40 hours per week.  The scheduled report time is flexible and will be determined by the resident and mentoring supervisor.

  • Should my resume be detailed or a basic one-pager? Do I need to submit a federal resume?

    • Yes, you do need a federal resume, created using the resume builder in USAJOBS. Tailor your resume to show your digital stewardship and leadership skills. The federal resume should be no longer than 5 pages.

  • How should I send in my application - via email, standard mail, etc.?

    • Submit all documents through the USAJOBS application with the exception of the letters of recommendation and the video.

  • Where can I find a checklist to make sure I have completed all of the application materials?

  • When will I be notified that my application has been accepted? Will I receive a confirmation that my application has been received?

    • USAJOBS will inform you if you are missing any necessary documents for your application. Acceptance and Rejection letters will go out in May 2013.

  • Who should I contact if I have questions or technical issues during the application process?

    • Please route additional questions and concerns to ndsr@loc.gov

  • Do I need to be a US citizen to participate in the program?  

    • Yes, you must be a United States citizen to be a resident.

  • What if I am unsure if I meet the graduation requirements set by the program?

    • You must have graduated with your Master’s Degree in Spring 2011 or later to be eligible.

  • If I do not meet the necessary requirements for this program are there any other programs similar to this one within the Library of Congress?

    • Yes! We have the Library of Congress Junior Fellows Program, Hispanic Association of Colleges and University interns, Congressional Research Service interns, and various programs across the Library. See http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/index.php for all openings at the Library.
  • Can you elaborate on the type of work we will be doing while participating in the program? What does a typical day as a resident look like?  
    •  Please see the Hosts page for specifics on the different host institutions’ job duties and the Residency page for information on the day-to-day activities.
  • Will I receive benefits while participating in the program? Healthcare, transportation stipend, etc.?
    • Residents will be considered temporary employees, and thus, will be ineligible for health benefits. They will, however, receive a monthly transportation stipend. 
  • What kind of skills and qualifications are you looking for? How extensive does my background need to be in digital stewardship before participating in the program?
    • We are looking for recent graduates (Spring 2011 – Spring 2013) that are seeking to bridge their classroom learning with hands-on work experience.  Applicants should not be established professionals in the field.  In terms of technical and educational background, candidates that have studied in fields related to digital stewardship with great interest in libraries, museums, and archives should apply.  There is no set formula for the perfect candidate.  Each applicant will be considered on a case-by-case assessment. Click here to apply for the National Digital Stewardship Residency.