There’s Still Time to Apply for Internship Grants — Applications due Feb. 18, 2014

The Nebraska Library Commission’s Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program offers support for internships through grants to accredited public libraries. Application deadline is Feb. 18, 2014. In partnership with the Nebraska Library Association and funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, the internship grants increase awareness about library professions and education and the opportunities for employment in Nebraska libraries. Internship grants range from $500 to $1,000. Library grantees will recruit, select, and hire their interns. Usually, interns are hired as contract workers and paid on a stipend rather than an hourly wage, but the terms of employment are determined by the library’s governing body. Interns provide valuable assistance with library service activities and local library programming. Library staff help introduce interns to the joys of library service careers. Partnership projects involving collaboration between a public library and another type of library will be given special consideration. To the right is a Facebook post by the Rock County Public Library showcasing their 2013 intern Saresse Clay. Saresse designed a Story Walk project during the summer and implemented the project in November 2013. Web conferencing: NLC staff are available by phone and through e-mail to discuss general issues relating to the internship grant program. We also invite you to the recorded NCompass Live webinar, Internships: Cultivating Nebraska’s Future Librarians, to learn more about the program from previous grant recipients and to listen to the questions and comments of other participants. In this session, participating libraries and intern Saresse Clay shared their experiences with the internship program, including successes and lessons learned. This session also introduced the 2014 grant opportunity for internships, including information on writing a winning proposal. To apply: Applications are now being accepted. The deadline for applications is Feb. 18, 2014. More information is available on the Now Hiring @ your library^® website, at https://nlc.nebraska.gov/nowhiring/internship-grants.aspx.

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As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services — “bringing together people and information.” The Nebraska Library Association is the cornerstone of the Nebraska library community. The Association advocates for its members, enriches their professional lives, advances the lifelong learning of all Nebraskans, and promotes all library interests in Nebraska. For more information, visit http://nebraskalibraries.org. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit http://www.imls.gov.