Disclaimer

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Students pursuing the Library and Information Science degree with School Media specialization should review the most recent version of the LIS Handbook and the Guide to Successful Practicum Experience Completion for School Media Students.

Introduction and Philosophy of the iSchool Internship Program

The Purpose of an Internship

In recognition that education extends beyond the formal classroom, the faculty of the School of Information Studies (iSchool) encourages students to participate in special learning situations outside existing courses. An internship allows students to demonstrate what they have learned in class.   A student A student intern also has the ability to gain knowledge, skills, and abilities that are not taught in class. For For the LIS program, the internship is was previously part of the program’s exit requirement and now can be taken as elective credits. IST773 is the LIS program exit requirement as of the 2023-24 academic year.

The Difference between Co-ops and Internships

At the School of Information Studies, co-ops and internships are differentiated primarily by their duration. A co-op, or cooperative work experience, is a paid position which can last between 6 and 12 months, extending beyond a single semester, and is most often associated with the IM IS students.  Whatever   Whatever the time duration, however, at least three (3) credits must be taken as LIS internship credit.  Three credits will require 150 hours for completion.  LIS internships tend to be non-paid. 

 A A maximum of six (6) credits may be earned through co-ops or internships by a graduate student in the LIS program.  Internships are generally completed over the time frame of one semester, or possibly a quarter term; however, there are some experiences that may be shorter, or longer, in duration.  If you have questions about the duration of your internship, please feel free to contact Kathy Benjamin (kabenjam@syrCareer Services (icareers@syr.edu) with questions. 

Students are encouraged to seek meaningful, relevant internships in which they can apply the theories taught in the classroom to real world applications. While Site Supervisors do share their knowledge and expertise with interns and co-ops, the students give a tremendous amount back to the organization in terms of projects completed, professional services rendered, enthusiasm, creativity, and new approaches to information problems. 

Where the Internship fits into an Information Studies Program

Students usually choose to register for internship opportunities when they have completed approximately one-half to two-thirds of their academic program at the iSchool and have a GPA of 3.0 or greater. This is to ensure that they have the skills to be successful in the work experience they select. However, students are encouraged to plan early, so that their work experience will best parallel their professional goals. It is never too early to contact the Academic Advisor or Faculty Supervisor to develop a goal and discuss possibilities. 

Benefits for Everyone

Clearly, an internship opportunity is a winning situation for everyone involved! While you, the student, gain real work experience, your employer gains the use of your skills for a designated period of time. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what benefits will accrue for the various parties. 

Benefits for the Student

• Use information skills and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical experience
• Pursue a special interest in a subject specialty
• Interact and communicate with professionals
• Experience an information setting consistent with professional goals
• Become aware of employment opportunities
• Test theoretical concerns against reality
• Understand the role of the sponsoring site within the community
• Develop a professional self-awareness
• Develop professional contacts for future advice and job seeking
• Develop and implement a project that fulfills personal goals and benefits the internship site
• Demonstrate abilities learned in the classroom

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Frequently Asked Questions

Must I do an internship?

LIS students are required to complete a 3-credit internship; however, in some circumstances an Independent Study course could be approved by the program director instead. LIS students with at least three-years’ of professional level library experience at the time of their expected graduation may request to do an independent study project. In the event a student’s request is approved, the student must arrange the Independent Study. This would require the student to find a faculty member who would be willing to oversee the proposed work. In some cases, the program director may allow a student to take a course instead. Up to 6 can take IST973 as an elective. Up to 6 credits may be earned through internships. Students should select their internships based on what they want to learn in a particular setting. 

What will an internship opportunity cost?

You must pay regular Syracuse University credit hour costs for your internship opportunity. If you are earning 6 credit hours, you must pay the bursar’s office for 6 credits.  If   If you find an internship in another region from where you currently live, you may need to pay housing costs to live in the area or transportation costs to get there. Remote internships are an option. 

How and where do I register for an internship opportunity?

You must register for academic credit in Myslice.  Register for IST 973.  IST 973 has a variable amount of credit hours assigned to it in Myslice.  Be sure to register for the correct number of credit hours you are seeking for the work experience. Most LIS students tend to register for three (3) internship credit hours for a work experience and can be repeated for a second internship if desired.  Keep in mind that you must work at least 50 work hours for one credit hour of internship. 

 Questions Questions about registration can be directed to Kathy Benjamin Academic Advising (kabenjam@syriadvising@syr.edu).  Required forms & documents can be found in LIS Handbook. The Internship The Internship Proposal, Learning Agreement & Evaluations are completed via Qualtrics.  Qualtrics links are sent to students registered for IST 973 by the faculty supervisor.  Reflections   Reflections are uploaded to the LMS. 

What if my work assignment won’t end before the end of the semester?

You will have a missing grade on your next grade reportIdeally, all work will be completed within the time frame of the term to avoid an Incomplete (only given under certain circumstances). Once the internship work is completed and all of your assignments have been submitted, a grade will be submitted for you. Plan ahead of time with your Faculty Supervisor. 

What if I want to extend my experiential learning opportunity for another semester?

Keep in mind that you are limited to a total of 6 credits for an internship opportunity.Contact Kathy Benjamin Academic Advising (kabenjam@syriadvising@syr.edu)to decide how to register for the additional credits and to ensure that your grade is not withheld. 

Can I use my work as my internship?  If not, how can I work full time while doing an internship?  

No, you cannot count the hours of your regular job as your internship. To fulfill the internship requirements, you can find an internship at a different site other than the library (or any organization) you currently work for and work out a schedule with your site supervisor that will allow you to perform your internship activities outside of your job. Or, in some cases, you may choose your workplace as the site for your internship, but the activities and experience as well as the site supervisor MUST be different from those of your regular job duties and the hours must be outside your regular job time.

I have an idea for a research project.  Should I do an internship or independent study?  

Doing an independent study or internship for your project idea will not make any important difference in terms of the outcome, as either way you can conduct your research based on your plan under someone's guidance. The only difference between the two is the administration of the course. If you choose to do it as an internship, you will work with your site supervisor who you may have identified as the person with the knowledge and experience to guide you in conducting this research project.  Please keep in mind when doing an independent study in place for an internship, you must obtain program director’s approval (please refer to the first question in this document) to make sure you have sufficient prior library (or similar institution) experience to be eligible for such a replacement.your job. Or, in some cases, you may choose your workplace as the site for your internship, but the activities and experience as well as the site supervisor MUST be different from those of your regular job duties and the hours must be outside your regular job time. 

I was hired to work on a short-term project.  Can I use it as my internship?

In general, a short-term, temporary job can be considered to be counted as an internship as long as long as the activities and experience are relevant to the LIS program goals. There are cases where an employer an employer has a short-term project (several months usually) and needs to hire someone to do the jobthe job. It will be up to the student to negotiate with the faculty supervisor, who will evaluate the work involved work involved to make sure it fits into the LIS program goals. Once approved, the student can count the count the hours for this short-term project as an internship. 

Internship sites are as varied as the students who find them.  When you are searching for a site, consider these organizations that have hosted LIS interns in past semesters: 

Library of Congress                                     Syracuse University’s Bird Library

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In selecting a site, use the following Resources:            1. 

1. Academic Advisor.  Your advisor has probably worked with other students in similar situations and may have suggestions for where you can pursue an internship opportunity. He or she may also help you define your skills to include on your resume.

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1. Faculty Supervisor.  Various LIS Faculty members act as the faculty supervisor for LIS internships and may have suggestions and contacts for you to consider for your particular interests.

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1. Your program’s listserv (istlis@listserv.syr.edu or istollis@listserv.syr.edu). These listservs are utilized by the Career Services & Experiential Learning team to post some currently available jobs,

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1. internships and co-ops, including local to international positions. The main system in which students should search for jobs, internships, and co-ops is Handshake, https://syr.joinhandshake.com .

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1. Special Needs.    International Students must consult the Center for International Services (CIS) for information regarding internships and employment. The iSchool’s Career Services &

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1. Experiential Learning team works closely with this office to process CPT (curricular practical training) for all international students choosing to work for an off-campus employer. The iSchool provides the

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1. CPT recommendation letter for the work experience, but it is up to the student to complete the CPT application process before starting work for an off-campus employer.

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1. Career Counselors.  

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1. For assistance with resume preparation, interviewing, and utilization of Handshake, the

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1. online recruiting database, you may consult with the iSchool’s Director of

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1. Career Services,     Morgan Mastronardi, Career Advisor - mrmills@syr.edu or Assistant Director of iSchool Career Services, Jeffrey Fouts (jlfouts@syr.edu).   You can set up an appointment to meet with these staff members

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1. on Handshake.

Independently Finding Your Own Internship

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The internship opportunity does not have to come from the iSchool. Feel free to enlist the help of family, friends, professors, administrators, or anyone else you may know who is in a position to help you.  Be creative in the utilization of resources from the library such as national guides for internships to reach outside of the Syracuse community. Multiple online resources provide lists of internships worldwide, and individual company websites list internship opportunities.  Keep in mind that the site and your role there must meet the criteria specified by the iSchool in order for you to earn credit. Your internship proposal must be approved by the Faculty Supervisor.

Have an Effective Resume

Remember, your resume may be your initial contact with an employer. Make sure it reflects exactly what you want conveyed to an employer.  Students   Students who may be unfamiliar with the resume and its purpose should set up an appointment to meet with Christopher Perrello Morgan Mastronardi or Jeffrey Fouts, the career counselors here in the iSchool.  Appointments   Appointments can be made by going into Handshake and clicking on the “Request an Appointment” link from your homepage. Telephone or Skype Zoom appointments can be arranged if you are not in the Syracuse area. 

Be Persistent

Create a cover letter and attach your resume. Follow up with a phone call.

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iSchool Career Services Program Manager

Kathy Benjamin Career Services (kabenjam@syricareers@syr.edu)  can help you with the internship process. She can also assist with internship registration issues and general help for internship searches. Kathy is the go-to person for CPT and OPT letters for international students. 

International students must see an advisor in this office to ensure that they can work in the United States. There is additional mandatory paperwork required by the Center for International Services that you must complete before starting an internship. The Center is located on Walnut Place (across Waverly Ave. from Bird Library) and the telephone number is 315-443-2457. 

Just the Facts...When You've Accepted a Position

Step 1:  Register for the class through the University’s MySlice system. Students should register for internship experiences during the regular registration period for a semester (main campus students) or a quarter term (online students). LIS students must register for IST 973 for internship credit.  Please note that IST 973 has a variable amount of credit hours for the registration.  An amount of credit hours must be entered (1-6 credit hours). If no amount is entered, MySlice will default to one credit hour, so be sure to input the number of credit hours you are seeking for the internship. Remember that at least 3 credit hours are required of every LIS student.  If you have any problems, contact Kathy Benjamin (kabenjam@syr.edu), Career Services Program Manager. You may register before you have found a site if you anticipate that you will find one during a particular semester. 

 Step 2:  Review the course syllabus in the Bb Blackboard or Canva for IST 973 to see the required assignments and when they are due during the internship time linetimeline.   

 Step 3:  The Internship   The Internship Proposal must be completed via Qualtrics. Initial Reflection is to be uploaded to the LMS. Qualtrics links are sent to students registered for IST 973 by the faculty supervisor.  Reflection papers will be submitted to the LMS for IST 973. 

Once you’ve started working

Step 4:  Complete the Learning Agreement.  This form must be completed through the Qualtrics link for IST 973 once you have worked30 hours at the site. By this point, you will have a much better idea of exactly what you are doing on the job, and can detail your assignment more accurately. If there are changes between what you are expected to do and what you find you are actually doing, report them here. You may limit your response to the form, or attach additional pages if necessary. This form is an important part of your grade, so it should be taken seriously and filled out with care. 

 Step 5:  Midway point.  It is up to you to arrange a mid-point evaluation with your faculty supervisor and site supervisor.  You should email the faculty supervisor with a request to contact the site supervisor once you are approaching the midpoint of the work experience. Do not wait until the internship is almost over. The faculty supervisor will then reach out to the supervisor. 

Step 6:  Finish the work assignment.  At this point, you must complete the Student Evaluation Form. This form will not affect your grade, but will give you the opportunity to rate the value of the experience in relation to your overall program at the iSchool and to your career goals. This form must be submitted to the Qualtrics link for IST 973.  You must also submit the Final Reflection  paper.  This is to be uploaded to the LMS for IST 973. 

Step 7:  Ensure that your Site Supervisor has completed the Site Supervisor Evaluation Form. Your supervisor will receive a copy of this form early in your work experience (usually after you submit your Proposal form with contact information)link to the form when you're finishing your internship experiences. The site supervisor should complete the form prior to your last day of internship so the evaluation can be shared with you. Completed evaluation forms should be emailed to Kathy Benjamin (kabenjam@syr.edu). This evaluation is designed to provide you valuable feedback on your performance. In addition to the form provided by the School of Information Studies, the site supervisor may choose to evaluate your performance using an in-house evaluation form.  This is also an excellent time to request that your Site Supervisor provide you with a reference letter for your future use. 

 Step 8:  Complete any additional assignments for Faculty Supervisor, if required.

Getting Credit

 Basically, the hours spent at the work site are those included toward your earning credit. However, in some cases, the employer may allow you to work remotely for a portion of the internship.   This does not include hours spent traveling to and from the internship site.

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 Be sure to register for the correct number of credits.  If you need to change your registration, please contact Kathy Benjamin (kabenjam@syr.edu or 315-443-4496).  

LIS Internship Checklist

1. Finding an Internship Opportunity
   • Meet with your Academic Advisor
   • Use Handshake, the online recruiting tool used by Syracuse University, to assist in finding internships and employment
   • Read the internship process outlined in this internship guide book
   • Propose a project you would like to work at as part of the internship. Project: A definable undertaking (project) with a beginning and an end. This may be part of normal job duties but forming a distinct entity that the student develops and finishes. This is a necessary part of the internship experience. This proposed project would be discussed by the student with a potential site supervisor during the early stages of an internship search. It should also be a part of your Learning Agreement.
2. After you have accepted an offer
   • Contact your Faculty Supervisor
   • Register for IST 973 for the correct section
   • Meet with your Site Supervisor
   • Fill out the LIS Proposal Form, submit it to the Qualtrics link for IST 973
3. During the internship
   • Fill out the Learning Agreement, submit it to the Qualtrics link for IST 973
   • Work the necessary number of hours
   • Contact your faculty supervisor when you are approaching the midpoint of the internship to arrange for a Midpoint evaluation
   • Complete any remaining assignments for your Faculty Supervisor
4. Upon completion of the work assignment
   • Fill out the Student Evaluation Form and submit it to the Qualtrics link for IST 973
   • Remind your Site Supervisor to complete the Site Supervisor Evaluation Form
   • Complete any remaining assignment(s) for your Faculty Supervisor

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• LibGuide on Reserve Component – update, specifically Posse Comitatus page
• JCWS (Joint and Combined Warfighting School) and JAWS (Joint Advanced Warfighting School) orientation briefings and library tours – Shadow, assist and then present/lead
• Textbook issue – work with library technicians to checkout and distribute JAWS textbooks
• Reference Desk – shadow, then assist reference librarians in answering students’ reference requests, both in-person and via email
• Circulation Desk – train on ILS and then provide user support in locating and checking-out library materials
• Using ILS, create report on usage of JCWS electives textbooks to facilitate updating of JCWS library reserves
• Complete FDLP item profile spreadsheet by populating with names and SuDoc numbers
• As needed, provide reference instruction for student workgroups
• As time allows, I will work on updating and creating more LibGuides.

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The broad nature of the various projects will provide experience in the many different roles of a librarian in a research setting. This experience is applicable in all of the various fields of librarianship that interest me- military, government, academic and/or law librarianship.

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