MLA 2024 Conference

Hear from Library staff and a cohort of interns how the Northfield Public Library, in partnership with the Northfield Community College Collaborative (NCCC), used a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to launch an inclusive internship program intended to appeal to and support students from diverse backgrounds who might not otherwise consider a career in libraries. Libraries serve their communities best when their staff is representative of the communities they serve. However, around 85% of library school graduates are white women. Over 95% of NCCC students are the first in their families to attend college. Over 85% are BIPOC. Over 80% are low income. More than 75% are female, and 15% are parents.

Using the Inclusive Internship Initiative (iii) toolkit designed by the Public Library Association as a template, we brought on 5 interns to work with us in the summer of 2024. With the funding we received we were able to offer reimbursement for childcare during the summer through the flexible spending benefit the City of Northfield provides, in addition to an hourly wage.

Attendees will learn how we developed the grant proposal and adapted the iii toolkit to fit our needs; how we designed a 12-week internship experience to provide professional experience to interns and develop leadership skills of current staff; what worked and what didn’t; and how we leveraged partnerships with three educational institutions (NCCC, TORCH, and Carleton College) to offer a valuable, paid library internship to a diverse group of students. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage directly with our interns in a panel discussion. This session is intended for anyone in a position to advocate for increasing diverse staffing and professional development in libraries.