Thinking about an internship for
Spring 2017???
LIBT 2900: Library Information Technology Internship FAQ
Where can I do my
internship?
You
can do an internship at just about any type of library, just about anywhere.
Think about what commuting limitations you might have, as well as the physical
environment in which you want to work. Do you:
- Need the site to
be accessible using mass transit?
- Want the site to
be close to work? Home? School?
- Want to intern
in a public, academic, or special library or school media center?
- Want to work
independently or more closely with other people?
- Prefer to
complete your hours during evenings, weekends, or day times?
The
answers to these questions will help guide your choices. For example, if you
need to complete your internship during evening hours, a school media center
won’t be a good choice for you. Alternately, if the ideal library setting for
you only has daytime hours available, you’ll need to adjust your schedule
accordingly
What can I do for my
internship?
Internship
or practicum projects should move beyond basic clerical tasks, although they
might include those types of tasks. Think about what skills you’d like to
develop. Would you like to get a variety of experiences or focus on one or two
areas? Would you prefer public services, technical services, or a mix of both? Many
internship sites will customize an experience just for you, so don’t be afraid
to ask!
Other
libraries have established, predefined internship projects. If there is a
library you want to work with, check to see if they have an internship program.
Those libraries that do have established internships often have application
processes in place; be sure to find out if there are any deadlines you need to
meet.
What are the
expectations for me for the internship?
You
can choose to enroll for 3 credits (120 hours on-site) or 4 credits (160 hours
on site) for the internship. You and your site supervisor will establish your work
plan and schedule together. Your hours at your internship site should be
consistent from week to week, to be respectful of the people with whom you will
be working.
The
internship also requires online interaction with your colleagues who are
engaged in their respective internships and the Internship Coordinator. We use
course management software called D2L Brightspace to discuss issues and write about
your experiences. You’re expected to post regular updates and respond to those
of your colleagues. The Internship Coordinator monitors and facilitates the
discussions.
Finally,
you will develop a working resume targeted for job seeking in the library
field. Your working resume, coupled with your online class participation, your
work plan, confirmation of hours on-site, and your evaluation will make up your
internship portfolio.
What are the
expectations for my site supervisor?
Your
site supervisor is expected to generally be a resource person for you during
the period of your internship. The level of direct supervision will vary
depending on the type of work you’re performing for the host organization, but
your site supervisor should be accessible to you either in person or by email
or telephone most of your working hours or by other arrangement. Your site
supervisor will work with you to develop your work plan and schedule, as noted
above. Your site supervisor will also verify your work hours and near the end
of your internship will provide you with a performance evaluation. That
performance evaluation will also be part of your internship portfolio, as
discussed.
How is the internship
graded?
The
internship is graded on a pass-fail basis.
Failure to perform at a satisfactory level in any one portfolio area may
result in failure of the internship.
