Internship — Reference and Emerging Technologies (Philadelphia, PA)

Posted by Christopher Landbeck on

AVAILABILITY: Multiple nine-month long positions, starting in late August.

SALARY: $15/hour.

HOURS: 10-15 hours per week, including regular weekly, weekend and evening shifts.

OVERVIEW:
Opportunities are available for creative, energetic graduate students of Library and Information Science enrolled in an online MLS/MLIS or related program. If you are interested in building your knowledge of research tools in online and print formats, participating in information literacy instruction, and strengthening your digital media skills, then we would like to hear from you! Multiple positions available.

Interns may work in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center or other assigned locations, reporting to the Coordinator of Digital Outreach Services. Van Pelt is the largest library at the University of Pennsylvania, supporting the social sciences, humanities, and graduate schools of Education and Social Policy and Practice.

DUTIES:
After a period of training, intern duties may include:

  • Assisting and advising remote and on-site researchers in using Penn’s digital and print resources, including complex research inquiries from students and faculty from Pennbo?= s School of Arts of Sciences, Penn Engineering, PennDesign, Perelman School of Medicine, and the Wharton School of Business, through the Penn Libraries chat reference services and at the Van Pelt Reference Desk.
  • Teaching library patrons to use software or research management tools effectively.
  • Designing and teaching workshops.
  • Developing, implementing, and analyzing outreach initiatives.
  • Authoring content for social media, and research, monitor, and assess social media impacts.
  • Keeping current with, investigating, and testing emerging apps and technologies for new initiatives.
  • Designing and producing Excel reports to assist in data-driven evaluation of library programs.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Enrollment in a graduate degree program in Library or Information Science or a related field is required.
  • Evening and weekend availability. Ideal applicants will be available several nights per week, weekends during the day, and Sunday evenings. Especially ideal for MLS/MLIS candidates with an entirely online course load.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills. Strong public services orientation.
  • Attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple tasks, learn quickly, and take initiative.
  • Comfortable with spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), Facebook Pages, Twitter, other social media, and smart phones.
  • Experience, or motivation to gain experience in, graphics, digital photography, digital video, and Web authoring applications desirable.
  • Prior academic research experience helpful.

Our extensive training program leads us to ask for a commitment of one full academic year: September 2014 through May 2015.
For beginning MLS students continuing their studies into the 2015-16 academic year, there is a possibility for an extension of another year through May 2016.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to:
Elizabeth Martin
martinev@pobox.upenn.edu