Navigating the Early Career Landscape Room: Interesting Times and Interesting Internships: Reflecting on Graduate Student Roles Across the Library Field
Event Type
Lightning Talk
Start Date
25-7-2025 1:15 PM
End Date
25-7-2025 2:00 PM
Description
Library and information science professionals work in diverse sectors, from academic, corporate, and data management fields, each requiring specific professional knowledge alongside librarianship skills. While an MLIS degree often provides a strong theoretical understanding of librarianship, many degree programs do not require internship or practicum experience (Torres et al., 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic additionally changed the format of many library internships, which became hybrid or virtual. This presentation reflects on student outcomes in a case study of three library science internships held between 2024 and 2025, including a remote academic library OER internship (Loyola Marymount University), an in-person corporate library internship (Analysis Group), and a hybrid internship in database management for a cultural nonprofit organization (Artists for Humanity). Comparing and contrasting the intent, product, and skills learned in each internship opportunity, this presentation will share challenges and successes in MLIS student internships.
While many library internships involve rote data entry, internships can offer additional value by providing training and access to proprietary LIS technologies, supporting professional development, encouraging connections between MLIS studies and the intern role, and fostering connections with other library workers, including POC library networks. Library internships take many forms and vary based on the funding for the internship role, the work of the hosting institution, the intent of the internship program, and the student's motivation for the internship. In a time of a challenging job market, increased expectations of applicants, and decreased funding for library systems, library internships are important to build experience. This presentation identifies unique internship skills and opportunities to offer in graduate library student roles.
Outcomes
- Recognize student challenges in library internships
- Identify internship skills and opportunities to offer in a graduate library student role
Navigating the Early Career Landscape Room: Interesting Times and Interesting Internships: Reflecting on Graduate Student Roles Across the Library Field
Library and information science professionals work in diverse sectors, from academic, corporate, and data management fields, each requiring specific professional knowledge alongside librarianship skills. While an MLIS degree often provides a strong theoretical understanding of librarianship, many degree programs do not require internship or practicum experience (Torres et al., 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic additionally changed the format of many library internships, which became hybrid or virtual. This presentation reflects on student outcomes in a case study of three library science internships held between 2024 and 2025, including a remote academic library OER internship (Loyola Marymount University), an in-person corporate library internship (Analysis Group), and a hybrid internship in database management for a cultural nonprofit organization (Artists for Humanity). Comparing and contrasting the intent, product, and skills learned in each internship opportunity, this presentation will share challenges and successes in MLIS student internships.
While many library internships involve rote data entry, internships can offer additional value by providing training and access to proprietary LIS technologies, supporting professional development, encouraging connections between MLIS studies and the intern role, and fostering connections with other library workers, including POC library networks. Library internships take many forms and vary based on the funding for the internship role, the work of the hosting institution, the intent of the internship program, and the student's motivation for the internship. In a time of a challenging job market, increased expectations of applicants, and decreased funding for library systems, library internships are important to build experience. This presentation identifies unique internship skills and opportunities to offer in graduate library student roles.
Outcomes
- Recognize student challenges in library internships
- Identify internship skills and opportunities to offer in a graduate library student role
