Internship — Physical Science and Engineering Libraries, U Penn (Philadelphia, PA)

Posted by Christopher Landbeck on

Physical Science and Engineering Libraries Intern

Penn Libraries

Philadelphia, PA

Availability: one year long position open beginning April 2016.

Hours: Up to 20 hours per week, mainly within 9AM-5PM Monday–Friday time period, but with the possibility of some evening and/or weekend hours.

Salary: $15/hour.

Broad Functions:
This internship offers a service-oriented, self-motivated individual a complete experience in a small science library setting, providing library services to physical scientists and engineers. Based at the Penn Chemistry Library, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to experience most aspects of the job of a departmental librarian at a large research institution, while working on projects in many areas of science and engineering. A background in a science discipline is not required; this is an ideal opportunity for a non-scientist interested in science and engineering librarianship to gain knowledge and experience.

Specific Duties:
Duties will fall into three basic categories, with other duties and projects as assigned.
Patron Services and Instruction, including

  • Developing and updating remote education materials including Web guides and tutorials
  • Working at a reference/information desk in one of Penn’s larger libraries
  • Working a minimum of one to two hours per week providing chat reference services
  • Preparing supporting materials for course-integrated instruction sessions

Collection Development Responsibilities, including

  • Updating links and index terms for Penn’s science and engineering e-resources in the library’s e-resource editor
  • Maintaining databases and spreadsheets of current and historical periodical pricing and generating reports from them as part of the annual budget process
  • Analyzing usage statistics for electronic resources

Professional Development Activities, including

  • Attending workshops and training sessions that will develop job and professional skills
  • Attending other applicable Penn library meetings, as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications:
All applicants must be enrolled in a master’s degree program in library/information science. In addition, the successful candidate must have the ability to manage and prioritize their workload and must be able to work both independently and cooperatively in a team environment.
Other requirements include:

  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and HTML coding
  • Experience searching online databases
  • Flexibility, accuracy, and attention to detail in work

Preference will be given to applicants with the following skills:

  • Experience designing instructional handouts and guides to the literature
  • Experience searching science and engineering databases
  • Ability to create databases using Microsoft Access
  • Ability to write macros and use pivot tables in Microsoft Excel

To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest to:
Elizabeth Martin
martinev@pobox.upenn.edu
Use subject line “Physical Science and Engineering Libraries Internship.”

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.