Library & Archives Intern Reflects on How 'it is Incredibly Gratifying to be Part of an Institution that Offers Free Public Access'

Hoover Institution (Stanford, CA) - Hoover aims to transfer the Institution's knowledge about improving the human condition to younger generations through its student-centric programming. From public policy solutions to primary source materials, the Hoover Institution recognizes the importance of equipping future leaders with the tools and skills they need to make a lasting impact.

Jenna Mollerus was a part of the 2025 Summer Internship cohort at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives and specialized in Research Services. She shared what the experience in this "dynamic role" meant to her in a recent interview:

LC: What is your background and how did it lend to your interest in this field?

JM: My first introduction to this field was at the Jerwood Centre Literary Archives in Grasmere, UK, which I visited as an undergraduate English student. Throughout several educational workshops, my peers and I gained hands-on experience with tangible artifacts related to our literature studies, shaping my understanding of the importance of primary source preservation and research. Inspired by this experience, I am pursuing a career in Reference Services where I can leverage my past work in the public services sector with my passion for connecting scholars to cultural heritage resources.

LC: What was your most valuable experience while working with the Library & Archives?

JM: Over the course of the internship, Library & Archives staff gave presentations to our cohort about their work, often delving into their own professional journeys. For someone just starting out, hearing about the various (and often quite unique) paths taken by others helps me envision my own future in the field and affirms my goals as I move forward in my career. These presentations were great opportunities for cross-departmental learning: each session-from Preservation to Communications-influenced my work within the Research Services team, and I know that these takeaways will remain valuable in my future studies and career.

LC: Can you describe a day-in-the-life during your internship?

JM: All interns split time between their specialized department and Circulation. My mornings are dedicated to Research Services tasks, which typically include answering reference inquiries via email, staffing the Reference Desk, providing archival handling orientations to new researchers, imaging material, and writing up research guides. In the afternoons you'll find me down in the stacks paging and reshelving material for researchers, and helping with other circulation tasks as needed. I love the dynamic role I have as an intern, and since the summer is an especially busy season for the Reading Room, there's always plenty to do.

LC: Were there opportunities for personal and/or professional growth throughout the internship?

JM: Definitely! In addition to the cross-departmental presentations I previously mentioned, I attended weekly Research Services team meetings, including annual reflection and goal-setting meetings, where I was able to observe the larger decision-making processes within the department. My mentor Richelle and I also met for weekly one-on-one sessions to discuss my projects, address challenges, and outline objectives. Richelle's support, encouragement, and advice throughout the internship has been invaluable, and I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to work alongside her this summer.

LC: Among the 6,000+ archival collections documenting war, revolution, and peace, is any one in particular a favorite of yours?

JM: The Battalion Artist exhibition featuring the Natale Bellantoni collection was on display at the Hoover Tower during my internship, and seeing his artwork and the stories behind it was very inspirational. I paint landscapes in my free time, so I love when there are overlaps between my professional work and personal interests.

LC: What is your most proud achievement or something that you look forward to sharing in your next interview?

JM: As part of the Library & Archives LibGuide Update project, I revised and added new content to five existing research guides, as well as created a brand-new Art History guide. These upgraded guides are streamlined, easier to navigate, and provide researchers with more organized resources and information. I especially look forward to sharing the Art History guide in future interviews; I loved curating the visuals and designing the page layouts, and I hope this guide will make these materials (many of which are digitized and available online) more discoverable- there's some amazing artwork to be found in Hoover's collections!

LC: What is a research guide and why are they important to promoting primary source research?

JM: Our research guides are great thematic entry points to the collections held at the Library & Archives: if a researcher is interested in a specific topic but perhaps not sure where to start, these guides make searching our collections more approachable and accessible. Each guide provides a selection of archival, library, and digital resources relevant to the given subject, with the aim of sparking curiosity that may evolve into a more specific scope of research.

LC: How has this internship influenced your next steps in your studies and/or career?

JM: This internship helped me gain a better understanding of where my skills fit into the library & archives field, and what skills I want to develop and specialize in as my career unfolds. I'm excited to say I have decided to pursue a Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and will be applying to programs this fall. I look forward to implementing what I learned at Hoover to my future studies!

LC: What is one thing that you wish the public and/or young people knew more about when it comes to the Library & Archives?

JM: Many people might be surprised about the vast array of academic, educational, and creative mediums to which archival research can be applied. In addition to academic scholars and historians writing dissertations or books, we also assist documentary filmmakers, fiction writers, genealogical researchers, artists, and more. It is incredibly gratifying to be part of an institution that offers free public access, encouraging these myriad uses of archival collections and broadening engagement with primary sources.

LC: What would you tell people who are on the fence about applying for the next Library & Archives internship cohort?

JM: Don't be discouraged from applying if you don't have much archival experience: the transferable skills you bring to the table can make you stand out. Expressing your enthusiasm, adaptability, and willingness to learn is an important part of being a successful candidate.

Jenna has been an incredible addition to Research Services this summer. Throughout her time with us, Jenna has brought passion, professionalism and creativity to all her projects including creating new reference guides, imaging material for researchers, answering reference inquiries, working in our reading room and supporting circulation. We have especially appreciated her Art History LibGuide which draws attention to some of our digitized artwork and is a great resource for students, scholars and anyone interested in art. Research Services has greatly benefited from Jenna's contributions, and she will be missed by everyone. - Richelle Mackenzie, Research Services Archivist

Interested to join our team as an intern? Read about the application timeline and process here.

Planning a trip to the reading room or conducting your research from afar? Learn more here.