Become a State Co-Librarian
Senior curators of the Library's state pages — the people whose names appear at the foot of a state's records and whose judgment shapes what the Library says about that state's trust.
A State Co-Librarian owns one state's State Records page, that state's Counting House entry, and the state-specific source pages in the Reading Room. You validate every change before it goes live. You flag the figures the Library has wrong. You supply the primary sources we are missing. Over time, you carry the institutional memory of that state's trust into the Library's record.
The Library is recruiting State Co-Librarians now because the collection has reached the point where its credibility depends on named, qualified stewards for each state. AI-assisted drafting can do a lot. It cannot replace a person who has lived inside a state's trust system and knows which figure looks off and why. The Library needs both.
What is expected: a few hours a month, sustained over time. The work is reading what the Library publishes about your state, telling us where we are wrong, sending us sources we don't yet have, and reviewing the editorial staff's proposed changes before they go live. There is no fixed quota and no clock.
What is not expected: leaving your job. Most State Co-Librarians are current or recent staff of State Departments of Lands, State Treasurers' offices, school-finance offices, or state historical societies, contributing in their professional capacity. The role is designed to fit inside a working life, not replace one. Where serving under your real name would be professionally costly, a verified pseudonym is available; the Library Board holds the verification confidentially and your professional identity is not exposed without your consent.
The Library is the Record pillar of the A Forever Gift family: the public archive of school-trust law, history, accounting, source trails, and case materials. Dave Sullivan, as the founding officer, reviews State Co-Librarian applications while the planned Library Board is being assembled.
Apply
The form below takes about twenty minutes if you have your background notes handy.
What happens next
Your application enters a review queue for the Library's founding officer and editorial staff. You will hear back within two to four weeks. The editorial-board review applies: we may accept, decline, or ask for a conversation before deciding. Acceptance includes a one-hour onboarding call, an introduction to your state's pages and the editorial workflow, and the official credit on the pages you take on.
If you would like to talk before applying, write to the Library via the contact path at /about/.
