Summer Internship - Metadata and Strategic Planning

Naperville, IL
Internship
Student (College)

Metadata and Strategic Planning Summer Internship Naperville

Ready to launch your career in book publishing? Join Sourcebooks, the fastest growing publisher in the U.S., and the home of an unparalleled number of bestselling books where creativity, innovation, and storytelling collide. We’re a team of passionate book lovers who bring extraordinary authors to readers in bold, data-driven, and entrepreneurial ways. 

👉 This isn’t a coffee-run internship. You’ll contribute meaningfully to projects, collaborate with publishing professionals, and discover how your ideas can impact readers everywhere. 

This internship is ideal for a current college student or recent graduate eager to dive into the world of book publishing — especially the side that connects books with media, events, and promotion with the readers. You’ll get hands-on experience working on real publicity campaigns, collaborating with passionate team members, and you’ll learn how publicity helps stories reach new audiences.

About the Program 

  • When: June 9 – August 13, 2026
  • Where: Naperville, IL ($17.00/hourly)
  • Schedule: 24 hours/week (2 days in-person, 1 day remote) 
  • Who: Current college sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent grads 
During the Metadata and Strategic Planning Internship you will learn about the critical role metadata plays at Sourcebooks and in the publishing industry as a whole, and how it can be optimized to increase discoverability using the latest innovative technology; gain knowledge of the life cycle of a book in the market; partake in our Summer Sprints experimental program and assist with project management.

Key Responsibilities Include:
  • Reviewing metadata health and identifying opportunities for improvement
  • Categorizing titles and applying metadata rules consistently across lists
  • Adding and refining keywords to strengthen discoverability
  • Suggesting BISAC updates and ensuring accurate subject classification
  • Using data insights to prioritize descriptive copy optimization
  • Learning best practices in online merchandising and understanding how metadata influences retail performance
  • Supporting project management tasks for the Summer Sprints program and other strategic initiatives
Your Cover Letter Matters — A Lot! 
We want to know why you want to intern at Sourcebooks. Your cover letter is your chance to tell us: 
  • Why publishing — and why Sourcebooks — excites you 
  • What you hope to learn and contribute 
  • How your creativity, curiosity, or love of books shines through 
*Applications without a cover letter won’t be considered, so take the time to tell your story! 

Why Sourcebooks? 
  • Named #2 Most Loved Workplace by Newsweek (2024) 
  • Recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies (2024) 
  • Over 300 million lives changed through books — and counting 
  • A culture built on creativity, innovation, and impact 

Application Deadline: January 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT - Applications will be reviewed after the deadline.  

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status. 


 

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