The following is a guest post by Ali Fazal, Program Management Assistant for NDSR at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress and the Institute of Museum and Library Services are pleased to announce the official open call for applications for the first National Digital Stewardship Residency.  From today until April 5, 2013, applicants can log onto the application portal here and apply to be a part of NDSR’s inaugural class.

The NDSR program will allow 10 recent master’s program graduates in relevant fields to complete a nine-month residency at various institutions in the Washington, D.C. area.  Beginning in September 2013, accepted residents will attend an intensive two-week digital stewardship workshop at the Library of Congress. Thereafter, residents will move to a host institution to work on significant digital stewardship projects. These projects will allow them to acquire hands-on knowledge and skills involving the collection, selection, management, long-term preservation, and accessibility of digital assets.

The Smithsonian Institution Archives , the World Bank , the Library of Congress, and the Public Broadcasting Service are just a few of the renowned institutions that will host the founding NDSR class. Each of these institutions submitted challenging project proposals that can be viewed on the NDSR website here. Application requirements include a detailed resume and cover letter, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a creative video that defines an applicant’s interest in the program.  (See this page for more application information.)

“The video requirement in the application process will help the selection panel identify which candidates are truly passionate about digital preservation” explained George Coulbourne, Library of Congress OSI executive program officer.

For additional information and updates regarding the National Digital Stewardship Residency, please see our website.