Columbia University Libraries www.columbia.edu

Organization Overview:

Columbia's Libraries, with 8.6 million volumes, 65,650 current serials, and an extensive collection of electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms, and other nonprint formats, rank among the top 10 academic library systems in the nation.

Projects:

1. Humanities and History Division (One Student)
The Humanities and History Division provides instruction, information services, collections, and access services to Columbia University students and faculty, especially to those in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of the Arts, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies. Those in many other Columbia programs as well as alums and visitors are also served by the "H&H" Division staff. This internship provides an opportunity to observe a Butler reference desk supported by an extensive reference collection (online and print), a busy Reserves unit, a Music Library and workshops taught in the subject areas of humanities and history, as well as on tools used by Columbia scholars (e.g., EndNote). The intern will also have the chance to discuss and observe virtual reference at an exciting juncture as we consider how we will be providing reference services over the next few years.

Ree DeDonato, director of the Humanities and History Division and acting director of the Burke Library (Union Theological Seminary), will supervise the intern and act as the mentor. Colleagues from H&H, including the music librarian, head of the electronic text service, and head of Butler Media and Butler Reserves. The Milstein Collection supervisor will provide opportunities to observe reference and information services; collection development; access services; and attend relevant meetings. The intern will also assist the head of reference programs in preparing for the 5th Columbia University Libraries Reference Symposium.

While there is no specific project for the intern to complete, this internship will offer a student the chance to be part of the day-to-day operations of several inter-related units in an academic research library, as well as being included in several new initiatives and planning for the future. The library would be appreciative if the intern could provide a brief summary of his/her observations of the experience.

Participant Comments

"Met with many librarians in groups and individually to learn about their roles in the library. Toured campus, archives, and the Rare Book Room. Assisted for a couple hours at reference desk. Attended to library instructional sessions and provided my feedback on how they could be improved. Gave my input on possible Web site updates for Butler Library.

"Used SurveyMonkey to place a survey for an upcoming symposium online. Worked on an Excel document to track reference reshelving statistics.

"The librarians were great -- very friendly and wanting to know about me and hear my opinions of how things were working at the library. The experience solidified my interest in academic librarianship. Everyone I spoke with in-depth at Columbia really enjoyed their work.

"Ree, my supervisor, was wonderful. She had put a lot of work into keeping my schedule full and providing me with a comprehensive overview of Columbia's libraries. She was also willing to be flexible if I had something in particular I wanted to do. She seemed to really value my opinion on things. It was wonderful working with her."


2. Access Services Division (One or More Students)
The Access Services Division of Columbia University Libraries will provide opportunities for student(s) to observe and participate in access-related activities, including: assessment, circulation, collection/stack maintenance, document delivery/interlibrary loan, library privileges, marketing and public relations.

Students will have the opportunity to assist Access Service librarians who are performing a wide range of activities including: reviewing and updating library privileges for visitors, evaluating staff processes and procedures, migrating to a new interlibrary loan management software, developing user surveys to assess user needs, and promoting library services through print and electronic media.

Terry Kirchner, director of access services, will supervise and mentor the student(s). As time permits, the student will assist the director of access services in evaluating the design and content of the access services related Web pages, with the goal of finding better ways to provide relevant information and to promote under utilized services.

This internship will also provide intern candidates with an opportunity to attend two meetings with the director of access services: an Access Services Division managers meeting and a campus-wide Access Services Coordinating Committee.


3. Science and Engineering Division (One Student)
The eight science and engineering libraries at Columbia University provide instruction, information services, collections, and access services to undergraduate majors, graduate students, faculty and researchers in astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences (geology), mathematics, physics, and psychology. The libraries also serve as the main library for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York. This program will provide the opportunity for a student to experience a typical week in the life of academic science librarians as they work in partnership with faculty, students, and researchers.

Barbara List, director of science and engineering libraries (and a 1982 graduate of the University of Michigan), will supervise the student and act as the mentor. Colleagues from the eight departmental libraries will provide opportunities for the student to observe Columbia's "on call" reference service; the divisionŐs participation in IM information service; collection development and access services activities; planning for a new consolidated science library breaking ground in 2007 and one major renovation project to be completed in 2007; and attend a division-wide meeting where a variety of issues will be discussed.


4. Collection Development (One or More Students)
The Collection Development Division of Columbia University Libraries will provide opportunities for student(s) to observe and participate in a wide variety of activities involved in building one of the largest academic research collections in the country.

Students will observe and assist the director, assistant director of collection development, and selectors as they work on a variety of tasks, including collections budget management; design of revised collection policy statements; selection of approval books; assessment of electronic resources; impact of currency fluctuation on ability to purchase materials; negotiation of licenses for electronic resources; and more as opportunity presents.

Barbara List, director of collection development (and a 1982 graduate of the University of Michigan), and Jeff Carroll, assistant director of collection development, will supervise and mentor the student(s).

Participant Comments

"I was shown the inner workings of the library system with respect to collection development -- a very thorough introduction. The project component included reviewing collection development policy at the Butler Library in contrast and comparison to available policies at peer institutions. I compiled a folder of policy information, annotated it with various notes and analyses, and handed it over for Columbia's consideration. I learned at the end of the week that this project would serve in jump starting one part of the library's new strategic plan, which involves the updating and dissemination of a new collection development policy.

"What I liked most: The feeling that I was contributing substantial and useful work -- but not feeling overburdened. Everyone I worked with was very open with their instruction and receptive of my own thoughts and observations.

"My assignment further solidified my professional goal: collection development in an academic library. I feel extremely fortunate to have received the assignment that I had, given both the institution and the context.

"Columbia was a great place to intern. Jeff Carroll and Barbara List were warm, friendly, instructive, and receptive. I couldn't have asked for a better placement or better mentors.

"Having time to see NYC was also very pleasing. Columbia -- and my mentors especially -- was very accommodating in allowing me to do recreational things that I might not have been able to do in the course of a normal work week."


5. Social Science Division (One Student)
The Social Science Division Libraries at Columbia University provide instruction, information services, collections, and access services to graduate students and faculty in our School of Social Work, the Columbia School of Business, and the Columbia School of Journalism. At the same time, the division provides collections and services to graduate students and faculty in the academic departments of political science, economics, anthropology, sociology, and the universityŐs School of International and Public Affairs. This brief but intense internship will provide someone the opportunity to explore the differences between serving professional schools and academic departments and to experience the planning and discussions involved in piecing together major space renovations.

Jane Winland, director of the Social Science Libraries, will supervise the student and act as mentor. Colleagues from the Watson Library of Business and Economics and the Lehman Library of the Social Sciences will provide opportunities for the student to observe the "on call" reference service; the divisionŐs participation in IM information service; collection development activities; planning for three major renovation projects to be completed in 2007; attend a division-wide meeting where a variety of issues will be discussed; and finally, have the experience of meeting with librarians who are working in the numeric and geospatial center as they plan for an expanded information commons sometime in the near future.

While there is no specific project for the student to complete, this would be a great opportunity for a student to be part of the day-to-day operations of several divisions in an academic research library, as well as being included in several new initiatives and planning for the future. It would be of great interest to the library if the intern could provide a brief summary of his/her observations of the experience.


6. Digital Knowledge Ventures (One Student)
Columbia University Digital Knowledge Ventures is a unit of the Columbia Libraries devoted to creating media experiences and tools to project the content based intellectual property of the university to the outside world. In that regard, DKV creates media-rich Web sites, touch-screen kiosks, podcasts, data-driven maps, videos, and other digital tools. DKV also provides similar services to institutions outside Columbia including museums, nonprofits, and some for-profit ventures on a limited basis.

This brief but intense internship will provide the opportunity to experience an unusual working environment that links academia with practical media skills. The student will manage a specific project devoted to analyzing and reviewing hours of short videos that are part of the DKV collection of more than 120 "E-seminars" and a number of other video-rich Web sites devoted to subjects ranging from the history of Harlem to the annual World Leaders Forum.

The student will be asked to create a subject matter log of the materials and to write a very short description of what each video is about. The student will also evaluate whether each video could stand on its own as an online offering either to the public at large or in collaboration with other creators of digital media.

Vivian Ducat, senior director, business development for DKV, will supervise the student and act as the mentor. Members of DKV's staff come from a variety of media, professional, and business backgrounds. To the extent that they are able within their working day, DKV staff will be available to demonstrate how digital resources are created in a "real world" work environment. The student will be able to attend production and scheduling meetings as time permits, to get a sense of the day-to-day operations of this particular media development environment.

Participant Comments

"I worked largely independently on a project as set forth in the description. It's nice to have the red carpet rolled out, exchanging ideas informally with the supervisor. The ride down (was great). Twenty hours in a car with three people in a week gives a good opportunity to discuss academic and career stuff. Just great."