The Nebraska Library Commission and the Nebraska Library Association recently awarded
21st Century Librarian internship grants totaling $27,000 to nineteen Nebraska public libraries. These internship grants will support public library interns, who will contribute to the scope and value of the diverse programs and activities in Nebraska’s public libraries.
“The internships are a great opportunity for students to work in libraries, contributing needed help and sharing skills for a variety of summer and year-round library projects. Benefits abound for all involved – for the interns, for the libraries, and for the people served by the participating libraries,” said Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner. “The Nebraska Library Commission appreciates the renewal of Federal and foundation support for the internship grants.”
Funding for the project is provided through a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Such funding helps the Nebraska Library Commission and the Nebraska Library Association continue to support the missions and goals of libraries across Nebraska and statewide efforts to recruit the next generation of Nebraska’s librarians.
Student interns will learn about library work as they shadow and assist with day-to-day library operations and implement special projects. Interns will lead youth summer reading program activities, conduct training sessions to teach senior citizens to use technology, facilitate book discussion activities, help develop and update library Website and Facebook pages, create young adult library programs and spaces, work on publicity materials for library programs, sort and preserve archival materials, and assist in a host of other worthwhile activities.
In 2011, interns brought their technology skills to the forefront, much to the appreciation of the library staff, library customers, and community:
- One intern helped the library set up its social networking page. She wrote weekly entries on it also. She was also able to help patrons set up social networking pages. She enjoyed working with customers and their computer problems. These customers visited the library every day she worked at the library.
- Another intern used her tech skills to help the children manipulate photos of themselves using computer software so they would have crazy/weird pictures of themselves.
- A third intern headed up an e-reader book discussion for a group of middle school boys.
The following Nebraska libraries received internship grant funding in April 2012:
- Arapahoe Public Library
- Bassett, Rock County Public Library
- Blair Public Library
- Chadron Public Library
- Clearwater Public Library
- Howells Public Library
- Lincoln City Libraries
- McCook Public Library
- Norfolk Public Library
- North Platte Public Library
- Omaha Public Library
- Orleans, CB Preston Memorial Library
- Papillion, Sump Memorial Library
- Ponca Carnegie Library
- Randolph, Lied Randolph Public Library
- Rushville Public Library
- Schuyler Public Library
- Scribner Public Library
- Tilden, Raymond A. Whitwer Public Library
