Gaining Experience

Internship update: Several weeks have gone by now since I began my internship. To date I have cataloged 20 records that were accepted by my site supervisor. I am currently working on a batch of 13 that are due by the end of the week. I feel much more confident cataloging this set of records since I feel like I have worked out a lot of the problems and issues that I had with the first batch of records.

General thoughts: I chose to do an internship instead of taking another elective because I did not have any library experience. Each semester I heard from other students about the wonderful library jobs they already had and I felt discouraged that I wouldn't be able to find a job once I graduated. As soon as I started the program I began filling out applications for various positions in libraries, mostly page or clerk positions since I did not have my degree, nor did I have any library experience. I rarely got an email back even saying the position had been filled, let alone asking for an interview. Job searching can be a tedious and discouraging process. Several times I stopped applying for jobs altogether. I was afraid I wouldn't even be able to get an internship because of my lack of experience. However, after getting an internship, I updated my resume to reflect my new position and within a month of starting the internship I was offered a job running a small, corporate library. I feel like my internship not only gave me the confidence to apply for jobs again, but also gave me that much needed experience that employers look for. I highly recommend internships for anyone struggling to gain library experience.

Beginning Stages of Work

Almost two weeks have passed since I officially "started" my internship work. Last Monday I participated in a training session to learn how to use the software I use to catalog the titles that are sent to me. The training session lasted about a half hour and went over the basics. I felt confident to start working. The next day I was sent 20 records to catalog. The turnaround time for the records is one week. It took me a little while to get the hang of it and remember all the rules I had learned in LIB 248 (Beginning Cataloging and Classification). After MANY emails to Tom and Cindy, my site supervisors, I was able to complete the records. However, even after what seemed like endless corrections and tweaks to the records, they still were not up to production standards. Tom and Cindy have been very supportive and helpful when giving me corrections, but it's easy to become discouraged. I finished all the corrections I was given and I'm waiting to hear back now if they passed standards. I have learned several things so far.

• I am an intern. Therefore I am not expected to know everything or complete tasks perfectly the first time. An internship is a learning experience. If I already knew how to catalog perfectly, what would be the point of doing the internship?
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. My site supervisors and I probably email back and forth ten times a day. Since we're in a virtual environment I can't just walk down the hall and ask a question. The supervisors are there to help you. You're not bothering them. It's better to ask questions than do something wrong and have to go back and change everything.
• When you start feeling discouraged, take a step back. You were chosen for the internship for a reason. If they didn't think you could do the job, they wouldn't have chosen you.

I hope all of your internships are going well so far. For those of you who are stressed like I am, take a deep breath. We'll get through the semester.

Deanne