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Program Description

OhioLINK Luminaries Program Student Internship

University Libraries (UL) at The University of Akron, in cooperation with OhioLINK, seeks to identify candidates, interested in an internship in the library. This position requires a full academic year commitment (fall and spring semesters) and the ability to working 10-15 hours per week. The internship includes an orientation, departmental rotations, and working with a mentor. Interns are also expected to participate in professional development sessions to be coordinated throughout the internship.

About the OhioLINK Library Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative

OhioLINK is Ohio’s academic library consortium, connecting 88 libraries in 117 colleges and universities. OhioLINK is committed to a future of librarianship that reflects the needs, culture, composition, and ambitions of its communities, and believes in the power of committed, consistent, systemic change. The OhioLINK Library Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative seeks to create and promote career opportunities in librarianship, information studies, and data sciences to individuals from under-represented populations and economically disadvantaged environments. The Initiative aims to identify and encourage diverse candidates for Ohio’s libraries and library-related industries that are more representative of the state’s population, while also encouraging and supporting efforts towards greater diversity, equity, and inclusion at the library level. The UL is partnering with OhioLINK and other university libraries throughout the state to provide an undergraduate internship for our students.

Luminaries Program Position Description

The OhioLINK Luminaries program, part of the OhioLINK Library Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative, offers students a unique, paid learning opportunity within their campus library unlike traditional internships or other part-time campus employment. Please note no previous experience is required and it is not necessary to be considering information studies or librarianship as a career to apply for this position.

As a paid, resume-building position offering hands-on experience, students in the OhioLINK Luminaries Program receive a broad introduction to the information studies profession—its purpose, its reach, and its expertise. Students are paired with a mentor to explore and gain valuable knowledge in the field, and develop marketable skills that are extendable to a variety of career disciplines. This program provides experiential learning, valuable training, and professional support within a structured work environment. OhioLINK Luminaries around the state will be given the opportunity to network and collaborate via an agreed-upon capstone project, if desired.

The student will gain working knowledge of library culture and how libraries operate while developing marketable skills based on their own career aspirations. Interns will have the opportunity to experience different aspects of library and information work.

The Luminaries Program student will be required to do a final reflective project that will be discussed and agreed upon with their mentor. There can be flexibility in the format of delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

  • At least sophomore standing, with 2 or more semesters remaining.
  • Ability to commit to an internship for one academic year.

Application Questions

To apply for this internship, please apply in Handshake (link below) and include a document which includes your answers to the below questions:

  • In a paragraph, describe what interests you most about a position in the library.
  • In a paragraph, please explain what equity, diversity and inclusion mean to you.
  • In a paragraph, please describe your interest and/or experience (including, but not limited to, your own lived experiences) advocating for and/or promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department & Pay Rate

Library

$10.00 per hour

Work Schedule

10-15 hours per week for one academic year. Typical work hours will fall between 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday, but may vary.