Internships

So far all is well with the semester and both of my internships.
This week is library orientation at the junior high school I am interning at. I watched my librarian teach the lesson as students helped set the expectations of the library by visiting stations and writing an idea for an expectation using the school's new iPads. The lesson got better and better each time she taught it. On Wednesday, I will be conducting the lesson with 8th graders.
Last Thursday, I spent 5 hours in the college library gaining an introduction to reference. I learned about the reference procedures, the technology used to conduct reference and record transactions. We use a system called Gimlet to communicate important reference queries and keep track of what kinds of questions we receive. We use Pidigin chat reference and also offer reference over email and phone.
Today I think I will also be starting my collection development project which will be interesting. Overall, it's been a great start to the semester; I am either ahead or on track with all of my assignments. I hope the entire semester stays this way!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

major update needed

My summer public library/ bookmobile internship has ended and my fall ceases have begun. Tomorrow I begin my fieldwork/ practica at the local junior high school and later this week I embark on an additional internship experience at the local college library. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my summer internship before embarking on a few new adventures!
My summer internship was an exciting experience. I was able to compete a variety of projects and gained a variety of experience in the field. I will summarize my experiences below:

• Created a bibliography of suggested graphic novels for the library to purchase
• Assisted with the facilitation of the digital media club
• Taught 2 internet safety lessons to teens
• Assisted in recording microfilm pages for digitization grant
• Assisted with the Summer Reading Program finale
• Assisted in the Children's Room at the Library preparing story hour crafts and shelving materials
• Helped children and teens select books from the Oswego Bookmobile along with other associated tasks
• Planned the Bookmobile Theme for Outer Space week which included suggesting read-aloud books for purchase and donation, gathering themed reading response activities including designing a space quest requiring Bookmobile visitors to visit the Oswego Public Library to answer basic information literacy questions.

My favorite part of my internship was working on the Bookmobile and working with the Children's Room. I enjoyed delivering books to at-risk children in our area and helping them find the right book. I also enjoyed the atmosphere and children of the children's room. I was offered opportunities in both places for next summer so those are definitely opportunities to keep in mind!! Honestly, I would ride the bookmobile year round if it ran; the experience is that rewarding!

Tomorrow I attend a staff development day for the local junior high school I am completing my fieldwork and practica hours at. My librarian is a recent SU graduate and very enthusiastic about her job. We are working together to create a reading incentive program for middle school students and I will hopefully also be completing a collection development project weeding and suggesting resources for the school library's reference section.

On Thursday, I begin my supplementary internship at the college library. I will be working on gaining reference skills and another collection development project. I will receive reference training and be able to answer students, faculty, and staff reference questions via in-person, phone, email, and IM inquiries. I will be weeding materials in the Teacher Resource Center and suggesting new materials to add to the collection. I am excited about this project because I can use my background in childhood education to assist in this project.

On top of my crazy (albeit, self-inflicted) internship schedule, I am taking Literacy in School Libraries and Library Services for Students with Disabilities, a new requirement for teachers and librarians in New York State.

I hope to keep the blog more updated this semester even if it's my busiest semester yet! I am considering copying and pasting my blog and journal posts from my internships here for your viewing pleasure. In the meantime, I am signing off. Early start tomorrow! Wednesday will be the first time I experience the first day of school in the eyes of a teacher librarian!