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Making Room: Short-Term Internships as Pathways to Diversity in the Library Profession

Making Room: Short-Term Internships as Pathways to Diversity in the Library Profession
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Author(s): Lyndon Batiste (Emory University, USA), Ephranette Brown (Emory University, USA), Jessie Copeland (Emory University, USA), Kimberly A. Copenhaver (Yale University, USA), Margaret W. Ellingson (Emory University, USA), Kim Norman (Emory University, USA)and Sofia Slutskaya (Emory University, USA)
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 36
Source title: Developing Student Engagement Opportunities in Higher Education
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Lynne Orr (Walden University, USA)and Nancy Weiner (David and Lorraine Cheng Library, William Paterson University of New Jersey, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-0644-5.ch005

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Abstract

This chapter explores the development and implementation of a short-term summer paid internship program at Emory Libraries' Access and Resource Services Division. Distinct internships were offered in three departments of a large academic library: Preservation, Access Services and Resource Description. The program, aimed at increasing diversity within the library profession and designed for graduate students from underrepresented communities, exposes interns to a range of tasks in key library functions, providing them with valuable skills and experience. The chapter discusses the program's objectives, including the creation of equitable career pathways, and details its design, recruitment, and project examples from various departments. It also evaluates the program's impact, highlighting the benefits for both interns and staff. The chapter concludes with strategies for scaling and ensuring the program's sustainability while offering practical advice for other institutions seeking to diversify their workforce and increase student engagement.

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