Seven SI students spent Alternative Spring Break at the Queens Borough Public Library. The students had an opportunity to showcase their skills including usability testing, youth services, reference, print and online collections development and cataloguing. Some of the students completed specific assignments while others experienced a more generalized view of the public library setting. A number of students also had the opportunity to visit schools and some of the branch libraries.

The students described their supervisors as extremely warm, friendly, supportive and open, especially the QBPL-ASB Coordinator, Laurel Sandor, an SI alumna and a participant in the second-ever ASB in 2000, which took place at none other than the Queens Borough Public Library! By week’s end, the group was invited to lunch with QBPL Staff where they discussed Queens, New York and working at a public library in a diverse, urban setting.

Matt Albee spent the week shadowing different librarians and toured different branches throughout the community gaining a deeper sense of the day-to-day activities and responsibilities of librarians in a public library setting.

Michael Beasley & Moises Curiel spent the week conducting usability testing a new search engine that the library is considering purchasing to complement its regular OPAC. They worked with the Central Branch staff to explore usability issues and user preferences, creating a report at the end of the week stating their recommendations and findings.

Mike Chmura spent the week in the Youth Department, participating in children’s and YA book selection committee meetings, teaching two classes and conducting a read-aloud at the Far Rockaway branch library.

Eboni Curry worked with children and youth services. She attended collection development meetings, ran an after-school workshop and in-class programs for local public school students.

Cynthia Matthias & Rachel Oram spent the week in the IT department at the main branch, working with developers of two different collections of Internet sources. By the end of the week, they developed one set of “controlled vocabulary” subheadings for both their Internet and WorldLinQ resources.

What students had to say:

“I met some great people in Queens and started to warm to the idea of working in a public library.”

“The organization was great, giving us a good welcome and giving us support throughout.”

“I really liked that we visited both a branch library and a school and interacted with students in both places. I thought the assignment was excellent.”

“Students at the public school were astounded [that] we would be willing to come from Michigan without being paid to do so!”

“As an SI alum, [our supervisor] was an amazing supervisor. She truly understood what areas we would be interested in gaining experience, as well as where we already had a strong background.”

Click to see what past ASB students did at QBPL on the second-ever ASB trip in 2000.

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