Library Intern: Center on Media and Child Health, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

To see this job description as a pdf: http://www.cmch.tv/DOCUMENTS/CMCH_library_intern.pdf

About CMCH:
Now that we are in the Information Age, media are arguably the single most powerful influence on the health and development of our children. Youth today spend more time using media than they spend in school, or in any activity other than sleeping. There is mounting scientific evidence that exposure to entertainment media can be a major contributor to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in young people: violence, substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and nutritional problems ranging from eating disorders to obesity.

There is also good evidence that media can teach children and expand their worlds. As we head deeper into the Information Age, with its increasing barrage of images, and ideas, it is crucial that we put much-needed thought into our media use and understand its effects - particularly on our youth. To date, however, there has been no easy, ready access to the wealth of data that can inform and empower parents and others to develop safe, healthy media use strategies for children and youth. In 2002, the Center on Media and Child Health (CMCH) was established to meet this need.

The mission of the Center on Media and Child Health is to conduct, coordinate and compile scientific research to improve the understanding of how media affect children's health in positive and negative ways and provide evidence-based expertise to initiatives and programs that address children's involvement with media.

Job Duties:

• Index articles by adding metadata (including keywords from our custom controlled vocabulary) to articles that will be added to the CMCH Database of Research
• Monitor current literature for research about media and child health
• Write blog entries about media and child health issues in news and research
• Aid with reference questions
• Obtain electronic or hard copies of articles, occasionally using Harvard's Countway Library of Medicine

Qualifications:
Library Science graduate student or recent graduate who:

• has completed more than half of his/her coursework.
• is interested in the topic of media and child health.
• is enthusiastic and dynamic.
• is able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• has had experience with HTML. ASP and/or other advanced knowledge a major plus.
• is open to the possibility of rapidly increased responsibility and commitment.

Other Information:

• Paid internship; pay rate would increase along with responsibilities and commitment.
• Short walk from Simmons or the D line Longwood T stop.
• 20 hours/week, flexible scheduling.

Application Process:

1. Explore CMCH's electronic resources to learn more about us:
   CMCH website: http://www.cmch.tv
   CMCH blog: http://cmch.typepad.com/cmch
   CMCH newsletter: http://www.cmch.tv/newsletter.asp
   CMCH Database of Research: http://www.cmch.tv/research/searchcitations.asp
2. Send a cover letter and resume to brandy.king@childrens.harvard.edu by February 3rd.
3. If selected for interview process, an interview will be scheduled for February 5th-13th.
4. Start date: As soon as possible.