My stated learning objectives for my Culminating Experience at Perry Public Library were to:
- Discuss, observe, and participate in daily life at Perry Public Library, including reference services, circulation services, and programming.
- Learn about the unique needs and challenges of a small, rural library.
- Participate in Perry Public Library’s ongoing strategic planning process, including as a usability study observer.
- Discuss, observe, and participate in computer and technology classes.
- Discuss, observe, and participate in the selection and deselection (weeding) of materials for Perry Public Library.
- Assist in developing a website and social media strategy
Over the course of my 150 hours at Perry Public Library, I fulfilled nearly all of these objectives. I participated in day-to-day activities, serving as an additional reference librarian most days. I observed computer classes and offered my perspective as a fellow technology educator. I was active in Perry’s strategic planning process by inputting community surveys and developing and conducting the observation study tally sheet. I assisted a Perry employee in developing the library’s new website, including creating a sitemap, providing content, and advising on the necessary components of a library website.
I did not have specific projects relating to selection and deselection, though I had several discussions about these topics with the fiction and non-fiction selectors. I also did not develop a new social media strategy. I primarily focused on reference services, but also assisted in the marketing area of programming by creating a promotional video advertising a teen video game program. I was significantly less involved in developing the website than initially planned, due to the hiring of a technology specialist with more web development experience, but could assist him and act as a sounding board.
This internship was a very good experience. I have primarily worked in a well-funded, medium-sized suburban library and intentionally chose Perry to gain experience in a small, rural library. I was surprised by just how small the library was, including staffing, budget, and community. Ideas seem to move forward faster in this environment, as there are fewer levels of management. A suggested change could be implemented in a few days rather than a few months. Staff members are required to be a jack-of-all-trades, myself included.
My coursework was vitally important to my internship success. Understanding concepts such as intellectual freedom, collection development, strategic planning, and marketing allowed me to have productive conversations with staff members about how these topics impact a small library like Perry. For instance, the non-fiction selector consciously devotes at least 10% of her purchases to topics she “hates”, because they would be of interest for the Perry community. Without an understanding of intellectual freedom and collection development, this would seem a foreign concept. My experience in the Marketing the Library class provided me the skill and motivation to conduct my final project of the internship, an in-depth audit of Perry Public Library’s signs.
In my job, I primarily work with technology. This practicum was a good review of my previously-trained reference skills. From early on, I felt confident enough to act as the only reference staff member, if needed. I enjoyed providing an outside perspective, something that is not commonly found in a small, insular library like Perry. I used my existing skills in technology training to learn specific tasks independently, such as Analytics Station, and transmit that knowledge to other staff members, both verbally and through written handouts. I feel that these skills are in demand in all types of libraries and should be emphasized.
I would highly recommend that other students use their Culminating Experience to explore a library significantly differed than the ones in which they have worked. Completing my practicum at a similarly-sized, similarly-located library to my employer would have been too similar to my days at work. I would not have experienced how quiet a small rural library can be or discuss the challenges of purchasing materials for a community with significantly different views than the staff member making these decisions. There were times when I had little more to do than staff the (very quiet) reference desk. Becoming more assertive and asking for more responsibility and tasks would have minimized these times, but overall I am content with the project and objectives I completed and grateful for my experiences at Perry Public Library.