Lights, Camera, Internship

June 30, 2024

For its part, San Diego Public Library (SDPL), in partnership with the City of San Diego and the nonprofit Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD), launched a paid internship program comprising a six-week video production training course taught by visual artists and film producers. The classes offered hands-on opportunities to pitch a documentary idea, shoot … Continue reading Lights, Camera, Internship


Program attendees complete a craft to as a part of the Latinx Book Club discussion at Montclair (NJ) Public Library. This program was developed and led by intern Jack Rodriquez-Vars, age 17. Photo: Jack Rodriquez-Vars.

Teens Experience Librarianship Firsthand

October 6, 2021

III offers paid, mentored internships to high school–aged students from diverse backgrounds, allowing them to experience the work of librarianship firsthand and explore how to use their talents and perspectives to impact their communities. This year 42 teens interned at 40 libraries of all sizes and in various locations, from Anchorage, Alaska, to Cleveland, Tennessee. … Continue reading Teens Experience Librarianship Firsthand


Sade Wilkins El (right), an intern with Public Library Association's Inclusive Internship Initiative (III), networks at the III wrap-up event in Washington, D.C.

2019 Inclusive Internship Initiative Concludes in D.C.

September 24, 2019

The program formally began September 21 at the Library of Congress (LC). ALA President-Elect Julius C. Jefferson Jr., section head of the Congressional Research Service at LC, welcomed the group and shared that his own career path started with a library internship. He thanked mentors and interns alike for their commitment to increasing inclusivity within … Continue reading 2019 Inclusive Internship Initiative Concludes in D.C.


From left, Mikel Gonzales, Dominique Robinson, Sommer Kinsler, Kelsey Coston, Sade Wilkins, and Cade Langsdon are a few of this year's selected interns. Photo: Phil Daquila

Inclusive Internship Initiative Begins Another Chapter

June 18, 2019

“Libraries should be more inclusive, different-thinking, and innovative,” he said. “I want us to try and revolutionize libraries towards the better and change stereotypes.” Now in its third year, PLA’s III program offers summer internships designed to introduce students of diverse backgrounds to library careers. The III Kick-Off, a commencement where intern–mentor pairs attended sessions … Continue reading Inclusive Internship Initiative Begins Another Chapter


In Practice by Meredith Farkas

Barriers to Diversity

May 1, 2019

Sometimes structures are designed to help the same people they unintentionally harm. Most LIS programs encourage or even require students to complete a practicum or internship where they get real-life work experience. For some, this can lead directly to a job at that institution; in other cases, LIS students gain valuable skills that make them … Continue reading Barriers to Diversity


Youth Matters: Linda W. Braun

Career Readiness for Teens

January 2, 2019

“Our Teen Squad programs are driven by youth interests while focusing on work readiness and 21st-century skills development,” says Kate Aubin, teen educator at PPL. “With our diverse community partners, we provide interactive and engaging competency-based programming that builds relationships and connects teens to workforce development opportunities.” One such offering under the umbrella of Teen … Continue reading Career Readiness for Teens


Interns pose with Inclusive Internship Initiative signs at the commencement event in Chicago on October 14. (Photo: Tori Soper)

Inclusive Internship Initiative Concludes Summer Pilot

October 30, 2017

The program was made possible from a pre-professional Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Through III, PLA sponsored paid, mentored public library internships for 50 high school juniors and seniors at 33 host libraries across the US, including two tribal libraries and sites in Alaska … Continue reading Inclusive Internship Initiative Concludes Summer Pilot



Michael Oden

Best of Both Worlds

January 3, 2017

Most library internships allow for experience in one area. Choosing between a public library and an academic library meant I would learn practices and policies unique to that particular type of institution. Thankfully I did not have to make that decision. I came across an opportunity for a dual-library internship, applied, and was selected. The … Continue reading Best of Both Worlds


UMSI Alternative Spring Break interns Alyssa Hanson, Gita Serpuja, and Yining Zhou in the ALA Library.

ALA Welcomes Alternative Spring Breakers

March 9, 2016

The ASB program “creates the opportunity for students to engage in a service-oriented integrative learning experience; connects public sector organizations to the knowledge and abilities of students through a social impact project; and facilitates and enhances the relationship between the School and the greater community.” Four UMSI students spent the week working in various units at … Continue reading ALA Welcomes Alternative Spring Breakers


EPA librarians and interns. Front, from left: Jane Bethel, Jessica Dixon, Lisa Becksford, Anna Loewenthal, Ebony McDonald, library director Susan Forbes. Back, from left: Catherine Field, Aurora Cobb, Jessica Yankowski, Eric Brownell, and Anthony Holderied.

Forty Years of Interns—UNC-Chapel Hill

June 19, 2015

“I had so little experience in ­libraries before I went to library school,” she says. “So I was especially keen to get some real-world experience.” Lucky for her, there was a library—the Environmental Protection Agency Research Triangle Park (EPA-RTP) Library—that would offer Lamoureux an internship with that real-world experience she was craving. The internship, she … Continue reading Forty Years of Interns—UNC-Chapel Hill