The Library Services Section of the UN Library & Archives Geneva is looking for up to six interns in Library Services and Knowledge Management, starting in Geneva from November 2026. The internship lasts 3-6 months, it is unpaid, and applications close on 31 October 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full job opening, and every duty, requirement and condition is set out below.
Job Opening 285012: The Essentials
📌 Position: Intern, Library Services and Knowledge Management
🆔 Job Opening ID: 285012
🏛️ Department/Office: United Nations Office at Geneva
🗂️ Job Family: IMA
🏷️ Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1
🪪 Recruitment Type: Intern
📍 Duty Station: Geneva
🗺️ Work Location: Geneva
⏱️ Expected Duration: 3-6 months
👥 Places: Up to six interns
🗓️ Start: From November 2026
💶 Remuneration: Unpaid
Up to Six Places, Starting in November 2026
This is not a single vacancy. The Library Services Section is seeking up to six interns to begin work in Geneva from November 2026. With the deadline on 31 October 2026, the gap between closing date and start is short, so applicants should be ready to plan their move to Geneva quickly.
Who the Section Wants to Hear From
The Section is looking for highly motivated candidates who wish to gain experience managing library collections and conducting research to support Library products and services. Two strands run through that sentence:
📖 Managing library collections
🔬 Conducting research that supports the Library's products and services
Your Focus Is Shaped Around You
The job opening does not assign one fixed project to every intern. Internship focus will depend on:
🎓 The relevant background and capacities of candidates
🧩 The needs and opportunities within the Section
What you studied and what you can already do will influence where you are placed, which is why a clear account of your background matters in the application.
Major Conferences in International Geneva
One possible focus is major conferences organized by the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva. Interns placed on this strand support the Library's work around those conferences.
The International Law Commission (ILC)
A second possible focus is the International Law Commission (ILC). This links naturally to another task named in the job opening: legal research.
Heritage Collections and Resource Mobilization
The third area the job opening names is UN Library Geneva unique heritage collections and resource mobilization.
Library Services and Reference Work in an Intergovernmental Setting
The job opening describes the placement as an opportunity to experience library services and reference work in a multicultural intergovernmental organization.
Understanding the UN Agenda and International Geneva
Beyond practical library skills, the internship is meant to help interns develop a better understanding of issues on the agenda of the United Nations and the different actors in international Geneva. The conferences, the ILC and the reading rooms all put interns in contact with that wider landscape.
Metadata for Collections and Research Products
The core shared task is clear: the interns will contribute to providing metadata for the Library's collections and research products. It is the one task the job opening attributes to all interns, whatever their specific focus.
The Reading Rooms of the UN Library Geneva
Interns may also participate in the reference services in the UN Library Geneva reading rooms.
Legal Research
Another possible task is legal research. The job opening lists it alongside reference services as something interns may take part in, and it fits the International Law Commission focus described above.
Projects Across the Library Services Team
The internship will also provide other opportunities to contribute to the various projects and tasks of the Library Services team. The listed duties are therefore a starting point, and interns can expect to be involved in wider team work.
Browse more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub →
Academic Requirements: Two Routes
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
🎓 (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
📜 (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent)
English Required, French Desirable
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship:
🗣️ Fluency in spoken and written English is required
💬 Knowledge of French is desirable
➕ Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage
The Six Official UN Languages
The job opening lists the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat:
🔤 Arabic
🔠 Chinese
📝 English
✍️ French
📘 Russian
📗 Spanish
Any of these beyond English counts in your favour, with French singled out as desirable.
No Salary: What the United Nations Does and Does Not Cover
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. The job opening is explicit about who carries the costs. Costs and arrangements for the following are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions:
✈️ Travel
🛂 Visas
🏠 Accommodation
🧾 Living expenses
If you are comparing this placement with salaried options, our guide on how paid internships and funded traineeships really work explains the difference between a paid internship and one where the costs sit with you or your sponsor.
Visa and Work Authorization
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization.
Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. Raise the question before you say yes, not after.
Recruitment Is Free of Charge
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, covering application, interview meeting, processing, or training. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Any request for payment or for bank details in connection with this internship does not come from the United Nations. Our page on how we check every listing before it goes live covers the warning signs to watch for.
Who This Internship Suits
This placement fits a final-year bachelor's student, a graduate student or a recent graduate with fluent English who wants hands-on experience managing library collections, providing metadata and supporting research inside the United Nations. Because the focus is matched to each intern's background, it also suits candidates with an interest in international conferences, international law through the ILC, or heritage collections.
More United Nations internships are published on Youth Works Hub as they open, each with its official application link.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Library Services and Knowledge Management intern do?
Interns contribute to providing metadata for the Library's collections and research products. They may also take part in reference services in the UN Library Geneva reading rooms or legal research, and contribute to other projects and tasks of the Library Services team.
Which unit is the internship in?
The Library Services Section of the UN Library & Archives Geneva, part of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
How many interns are being recruited?
The Section is seeking up to six interns.
When does the internship start and how long does it last?
Interns begin work in Geneva from November 2026, and the expected duration is 3-6 months.
Where is the internship based?
In Geneva, Switzerland. Both the duty station and the work location are Geneva.
What areas could my internship focus on?
The focus depends on your background and capacities and on the Section's needs. It may be related to major conferences organized by the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, the International Law Commission (ILC), or UN Library Geneva unique heritage collections and resource mobilization.
Is the internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.
What education do I need?
You must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme, or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent).
Which languages are required?
Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable, and knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
Do I need a visa?
Possibly. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the host country may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization, and successful candidates should discuss their visa requirements before accepting the offer.
Is there a nationality requirement?
The job opening lists no nationality requirement. The stated conditions concern education and languages.
Does the United Nations charge a fee to apply?
No. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and it does not ask for information on applicants' bank accounts.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is 31 October 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 31 October 2026
Link
🔗 Job opening and application (Apply Now): https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285012?language=en
