JoAnn McManus, Internship Grant CoordinatorMary Jo Ryan, Communications CoordinatorNebraska Library CommissionGuest contributor: Laurie Yocom, Wilson Public Library, Cozad

The 2017 Nebraska Library Internship Grant Program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission, in partnership with the Nebraska Regional Library Systems.

Planning forSuccessful Internships

Two Audiences Today Libraries selected to receive funding

through the 2017 Nebraska Library Internship Grant Program (contingent on LSTA fund allocations)

Others interested in tips for successful internships at their library

So what is theSecret to Successful Internships?

P L A N N I N G

“PLANNING makes all the difference. The detailed calendar was extremely

useful. It kept us on track.”

Did you ever…. Inquire about a job opening and the

supervisor had trouble describing job duties?

Start a new job and your supervisor wasn’t prepared to start your training, provide an orientation, or provide you with expectations?

Feel like you were only productive for a small portion of your first day on the job?

With Short-term Internships….

You don’t have the luxury to waste your intern’s time if you want them to be productive during the internship —wasting their time ultimately leads to your time being wasted.

So invest time BEFORE the internship starts. This gets the internship off on

the right foot and can serve as a template to use for your next internship.

How can you afford an intern?

Those selected to receive an internship grant have $1,000 available (contingent on Federal funding). * use this opportunity to show you need the extra staffBut any library can be creative in their efforts to find funding: Check with your friends group, have a fundraiser, ask a local business to partner, etc. Or maybe you have flexibility in your fiscal year’s personnel budget because of a temporary vacancy, etc.

Two ways to provide payment to Interns

Hire the intern as a part-time temporary employee and pay hourly wage

ORUse a stipend-based internship & provide intern with one or more (suggested) stipend payments that total what you plan to pay (in our grant generally $1,000 for one intern or about $500 each if you have two interns).

How much to pay?Stipend-based: Stipend must be equivalent to or more than minimum wage ($9.00/hour in Nebraska)

Employee: Hourly wage at a minimum of $9.00/hour

Exception: For student workers, employers can chose to pay a “training wage” of at least 75% of Nebraska’s

minimum wage ($9.00 x .75 = $6.75/hour)

Remember to check with city or county (if associated)to check their guidelines to hiring or providing stipends they may want you to follow.

Come Up with Do BEFORE you determine work plan/intern duties.Nebraska Internship Grant Program goals include: Involve the student in real library work Provide view of role of libraries, library

operations, & role of technology Ensure internship serves as recruitment tool

to help the student view library work as a viable career path

Now add your own goals related to specific needs you have in your library

Such as….

Expand a program Start or expand use of social media Update the library’s website Reorganize the children’s section Assist customers in public computing

area Other Goals

Develop Work Plan to Achieve Goals

Determine the duties of the intern

Successful internship grant applicants have already described those duties.

But do you need to stick to your described list of activities, or can you take a different direction?

From Goals to Work Plan…

It’s possible your grant application was successful partially because of the activities described. On the other hand, we want you to: Provide the student a great experience Make use of the intern’s talents and skills End up with a valued work product

So if you wish to make adjustments…

Our Request: When deviating significantly from your grant-funded work plan, email JoAnn McManus as to what’s new and what’s been eliminated so any issues with the new (or dropped) activities can be addressed.

Timing of InternshipDetermine the best time to have an internat your library Consider student’s schedule Consider best time for library

Maybe NOT your busiest time—start the internship at a time it’s not as crazy so you are able to devote time to and orientation and providing direction for that special project.

Recruitment…

What are the skills and attributes an intern needs to be successful performing tasks?

What is the best age range for the student for your situation?

Do you want to recruit a college or high school student? Or be open to either?

Under 16…Worth the Red Tape?

Is any age high school student too young?

Remember if the student is only 14 or 15, there will be number of hours and time of day limitations that vary during the year (school day/weekend/summer) that may be too restrictive for you.

Plus you need to acquire a properlyexecuted Employment Certificate from the school’s superintendent.

14 & 15 year old limitations:

Comply with both Federal & State Laws (the more restrictive of each)School days (M-F)• Maximum 3 hours between 3 and 7 pm Weekends (when school is in session)• Maximum 8 hours between 7 am and 7 pm June 1 to Labor Day• Up to 8 hours per day/40 hours per week• Between 6:00 am to 9:00 pm + Properly Executed Employment Certificatehttps://www.youthrules.gov/know-the-limits/14-15.htmhttps://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/EmploymentOfMinors

Recruitment – So, once you know…

Whether you are hiring a part-time employee or a stipend-based intern,What the job duties are, What skills would be ideal,

You are ready to search for your intern

How do you get the word out?

Local newspaper (article & classified ads) High school career office and school

librarians Community college, colleges & universities InternNE.com (1-stop for paid internships in

Nebraska http://nowhiringatyourlibrary.nebraska.gov/

JobsAndCareers.asp Post in Library Other ideas?

Intern Wanted!

Selection and InterviewingDo you need to follow the same process you would if you were hiring a permanent employee? If you are hiring a part-time employee, check with the City/County to see if they have any interviewing guidelines you need to follow. If you are having a stipend arrangement, you may be able to be less structured

Selection and Interviewing

Take process seriously Ask every candidate the same questions & consider having more than one person on the interview team

Put your best foot forward A structured interview process lets students know this is a real work relationship. They are more likely to treat the internship like a real job with responsibilities and consequences (leading to a more successful internship experience)

Develop questions to help you determine…

If they have the right skill Will they be dependable Are they open to learn new things? Do they have the social skills needed? Are they interested in the planned task

areas? Do they have an interest or talent in

another area that might be an even better direction for the library/internship?

More on the Interview

Determine criteria for your consideration before you start the interview process.

Doing so before you know who the candidates are will help you to refocus on what you thought was important.

After the interviews-Select your new intern

You found your perfect intern… Agree on a start date Before the first day:

Share your thoughts/plans with other staff Take another look at the work plan. Should it be

tweaked to capitalize on your intern’s talents? Get organized. Have a plan (what you’ll do & what the intern

will do). Put that plan into a “flexible” timeline

Your timeline will include… Introduce intern to projects to be

completed Orient the intern to the work of the

library (even if tasks are limited in scope)

Share information about education and career paths in library careers.

Follow the intern’s progress…

Why? So you can… Report on progress Make adjustments/provide guidance

Confirms that they understand the assignment If progressing faster, you can introduce next

assignment Allows you to provide timely feedback Makes it easier for the intern to ask questions Other benefits?

What leads to a good experience for the intern (other than the $1,000)? Gain valuable experience Can use internship on future job

& college applications Made a difference in lives Made new friendsWhat else leads to a good experience?

What leads to good experience for library and library staff?

Intern may have skills that staff do not possess Intern can help to make a “stale” project fresh

– new perspective You notice where there is room for

improvement—because intern is asking why You are getting new customers You discover the intern would make a great

part-time or on-call employee You have a fresh website, expanded program,

etc. Current employees are learning from the intern

Resources for you…. nowhiringatyourlibrary.nebraska.gov/

Internships.asp Timeline/Schedule of Intern Activities

Example Sample Public Library Orientation Plan Employer Guidebook to Developing a

Successful Internship Program (found on NDED’s website & linked from NLC site)

InternNE.com (one-stop for paid internships in Nebraska)

Questions about what we covered?

Before we move to grant requirements such as:

Agreement documentGrant requirementsReporting requirements

Grant Requirements & Expectations

When they arrive… Agreement – sign both and return one Request for payment form – sign and

return; triggers a check to your libraryInternship Window: Not before agreement is signed and conclude by Nov. 30, 2017 -You can advertise and interview students so you are ready to hire. -Tell student you cannot commit until grant funds are secured.)

Grant Requirements & Expectations

The intern(s) selected may be either: High school student or college student (a home-

schooled high school student is also permissible)

The student must NOT have been Employed by a library in the past or currently An intern for a library in the past or currently (no restrictions on past or current volunteers)

Past Library Employee Past Library Intern

Grant Requirements & Expectations

Use of grant dollars ONLY for: Stipends going directly to intern Intern wages going directly intern Withholdings associated with intern

wages (FICA, taxes, etc.)After internship, library director will be asked to sign a form attesting to how grant funds were expended.

Supervisor responsibilities Orient the student to overview of library

work Track intern’s hours and activities Inform intern of library career/educational

opportunities Complete supervisor assessments Instruct intern to complete baseline &

follow-up surveys (first and last days of internship)

Respond to requests from Nebraska Library Commission

Publicity Press Release pending notice of LSTA

funding Credit the Nebraska Library Commission in

all internship communication as follows:The 2017 Nebraska Library Internship Grant Program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission, in partnership with the Nebraska Regional Library Systems.

Laurie YocomWilson Public Library, Cozad

Tips from Past Intern Supervisor

Questions & Answers

Duties described by 27 fundedlibrary grant applicantsProgram Related: Plan, assist, implement and/or expand… Summer Reading Program Storytime 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Book discussion groups Nebraska’s 150th observation Mystery Night and Escape Room

activities Outreach events outside the library

Special Projects…

Prepare learning materials to include tutorials for library customers and lesson plans for maker clubs

Organize a teen advisory board Critique the library’s new website Review the procedure manuals to identify understandability issues

Technology Related: Update the website Explore website design options Plan and teach computer classes Add management software,

applications and content to mobile devices

Support digital learning

Makerspace Related: Offer input for makerspace guidelines & troubleshooting Assist in planning makerspace clubs Plan an open house to showcase

makerspace resources to teachers Teach staff to use makerspace technology Develop ideas for teen makerspace to

complement other programming Promote learning/usage of makerspace

resources by producing videos

Social Media & Public Relations:

Enhance the library’s Facebook page

Investigate other social media outlets

Create blog posts & Tweets Create social media releases Writing articles Create flyers & brochures

Creativity Outlets Create book displays Design/create bulletin boards

Plan and lead craft activities Design a newsletter Take photos Create short videos

Book Related: Shelve books/resources Circulation desk duties Process books (new & donated) Weed collections Assist with book selection

Assist Customers:

At reference deskUsing devicesUsing public computersAccessing online materials Assist with Spanish/English translations if qualified

Successful 2017 Internship Grant Public Library Applicants located in…

Alma Atkinson Central

City Columbus Cozad Crawford Geneva

Orleans Plainview Schuyler Stromsb

urg Verdigre Wayne York

Grant Kimball La Vista Lincoln

(4) Neligh Norfolk Omaha

(4)

JoAnn McManusNebraska Library CommissionGrant Program Managerjoann.mcmanus@nebraska.gov402-471-4870; 800-307-2665 (NE only)

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