Finding Value in Volunteering and Internships for Future Archival Professionals
description
Transcript of Finding Value in Volunteering and Internships for Future Archival Professionals
FINDING VALUE IN VOLUNTEERING AND INTERNSHIPSFOR FUTURE ARCHIVAL PROFESSIONALS
Utah Library Association Conference May 2, 2013
Panelists: Greg Seppi, Jay Burton, Sarah Langsdon, and Maggie Kopp. Hosted by: Archives Manuscripts and Special Collections RoundtableModerated by: Kellie M. Johnson
ROOTS OF THE CONVERSATION Society of American Archivists (SAA)
2011 Annual Meeting
"Wanted, Free Labor: The Impact and Ethics of Unpaid Work" by Lance Stuchell http://newarchivist.com/2011/11/17/free-labor/
SAA Students and New Archives Professionals (SNAP) Roundtable
SNAP CALL FOR COMMENTS“Although I can see the benefits of volunteering to both the student and an organization, I believe that organizations can take advantage of this arrangement and additionally if there are volunteers to "fill in," organizations are less motivated to hire regular employees.” – Name Withheld, BA/MA History, MLIS Candidate
“. . . if a college student is paying a course fee to intern, it is the responsibility of the supervising archivist to prepare a useful internship experience or, if not at the student's institution, to pass on hosting an internship unless they are willing to make it useful. It's not fair to the student to have them pay for a lousy internship.” – Greg Jackson, Archivist, Bryn Anthyn College
SNAP CALL FOR COMMENTS
“Volunteering may be a good way to see if you would like different aspects in the field but job seekers need to go beyond the traditional volunteering route. Volunteering no longer makes candidates stand out.” - Name Withheld, MA Public History
SNAP CALL FOR COMMENTS
“It is always difficult to say "I would love to volunteer, but I am also in the process of looking for full time work" - so that balance between wanting to help an organization and looking out for oneself is quite hard. I don't want to lose an opportunity to network and get some more experience and I don't want them to think that I will "work for free" forever.” - Shane E. Stephenson, Graduate UW Milwaukee Archival Studies Program
SNAP CALL FOR COMMENTS
GOALS Begin a conversation
Promote advantages of professional training
Provide meaningful ideas for host institutions
PANELISTS Greg Seppi – LDS Church History Library
Rare Book Acquisition Specialist Jay Burton – LDS Church History Library
Digital Records Archivist Sarah Langsdon – Associate Curator of
Special Collections at Weber State University
Maggie Kopp – Curator of Rare Books at L. Tom Perry Special Collections
Greg SeppiPERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN INTERNING
LDS Church History Library
Jay BurtonPERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN INTERNING
AND WORKING WITH INTERNSLDS Church History
Library
The Good, The Bad, and The
Phils* (names have been changed)
Sarah LangsdonAssociate Curator of Special Collections
Weber State University
Internships have long been an accepted way to learn
and enter the archival profession Internships are
A necessary educational tool Helps students get jobs Essential to entering the profession
SAA Guidelines “In the context of archival education, practical experience
is not an exercise to discover theory and methods; rather it is an opportunity for students to verify their understanding of archival principles by applying them to real life situations”
Internships
Started as ad-hoc program with the history
department Undergrad history students working 20 hours 1-3 credit hour interns (Public History
Students)
Background at WSU
Undergraduates
Public History Students have to do6 credit hours of internship
Usually have 1-2 a semester working 90-120 hours
They must keep track of their hours, create a portfolio
A letter is given by library staff to their supervising professor
Practicum
Higher level of expectations Processing Helping patrons Exhibit work Dealing with donors Readings Set learning objectives
Graduate Students
Volunteers
Former Interns Interested
Community Members
Retired persons
Intern Packet
MPLP
Processing Manual
Sample of RegistersControlled Vocabulary
Mock CollectionCollection of letters, photographs, printed materials that the students must process
Process Collections
Scope Complexity Ability
Projects
Address dress code (if necessary) Food/drink policy Timeliness Who to contact if can’t work Professionalism Remind them to always ask questions
You don’t expect them to know everything Remember to be flexible and go with what
works
Set clear expectations
Gets our collections processed Provides work experience to students Been able to hire some for student and staff
positions Beneficial to both library and history
department Fostered a better relationship with students Students work on collections that they can
then use for senior thesis
Success
Unreliable Undergraduates
Disappeared Not interested in the work Don’t follow directions
Volunteers Stay on
Graduate Students Better work ethic Fewer problems
The Phils
A program requires staff time including
training and supervising On the flip side- able to better use interns
It is all well and good to have theory but unless you have the practice you are useless to an employer
Conclusion
Questions?
Maggie KoppCurator of Rare Books, L. Tom Perry Special Col lections,BYU
CREATING A SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEER/
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
ABOUT PERRY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS’ INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Why start an internship program?
SOME CONSIDERATIONS
Commitment to mentoringSupervisor workloadWorkspace issuesBreadth and depth of experience being providedExpectations of academic programsLegal: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
SOME CONSIDERATIONS
Though taking place in employer’s facilities, training is similar to what would be received in school
Training is primarily for student’s benefit, not employer’s
Student does not displace a regular employee & works under close observation of a regular employee
Employer provides training & derives no immediate advantage from trainee’s activities (training may in fact impede operations)
Trainee is not necessarily entitled to a job at the end of the training period
Employer & trainee understand that the trainee is not entitled to wages during time spent in training
Criteria for differentiating between employees & interns
FLSA
Source: Bastian & Webber, Archival Internships (SAA, 2008)
A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR INTERNS
Create a professional environment – allow students to take on professional responsibilities
Choose appropriate projectsSet clear expectations – learning outcomesMonitor & evaluateTeach & trainMake realistic time commitmentsCommunicate regularly with intern & with academic
program as needed
A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR INTERNS
Internship coordinator handles logistics Create internships on an ad hoc basis
rather than having students compete for fixed positions
Interns must adhere to same work expectations & policies as student employees
Curator/supervisors assign tasks & mentor
No more than 2 interns per supervisor
WHAT WORKS AT LTPSC:Coordinating the program
Interns receive formal training alongside student employees: training videos (
http://www.youtube.com/user/LTomPerrySC) and readings
Hands-on training Students encouraged to explore other
areas of the department Allow students to produce something
they can share with future employers
WHAT WORKS AT LTPSC:Working with students
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://lib.byu.edu/sites/sc/policies-services/fellowship-internships/
CONTACTINFO
DISCUSSION What would you say to MLIS Candidate
who stated that “organizations are less motivated to hire regular employees” if they can use volunteers/interns?
How much responsibility do you thinking the hosting site has in the way of creating a “professional” experience?
DISCUSSIONAn individual noted on the SNAP Listserv that although experience through volunteering has been paid lip service it has not resulted in satisfactory hirings.
Another respondent stated “There is no bridge between intern/volunteer work and the skills apparently needed now for a full-time professional position. Institutions make it seem like internships are a gateway to employment, when really they're just cheap labor.”
Is there a negative attitude towards volunteer work?And what can we do to change that?
FINAL THOUGHT
“We are only as strong a profession as our greenest members. Those most in need of experience and mentoring. Those that are the most open and willing to continue to learn. Are we willing to offer them that service?” - Jan Coco Day, MLS 2013
http://archivingaloud.tumblr.com/post/49238431264/thoughts-on-interns-in-the-archives
CONTACT US Greg Seppi – [email protected] Jay Burton – [email protected] Sarah Langsdon –
[email protected] Maggie Kopp – [email protected]
(underscore)
Kellie Johnson – [email protected]