Host Institution Guidelines

Written by Judy James, Akron-Summit County Public Library, with assistance from:

• Heather Howiler, Cleveland Heights/University Heights Public Library
• Andy Verhoff, Ohio History Connection
• Stephanie Walker, MLIS graduate of Kent State University, School of Library and Information Science

Hosting an intern in your organization can be a gratifying and valuable experience. Students have an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in their coursework while experiencing the “real life” work of a museum or library where they can learn more about standard museum or library procedures, issues, and practices. For some students, an internship may be their first experience in their chosen professional field. For host sites, it is an opportunity to receive assistance with projects and tasks from students who are familiar with current best practices in the field of archival or library and information science. A successful and mutually beneficial internship, however, requires planning and structure. The following guidelines are designed to assist host institutions in planning for, supervising, and mentoring interns to ensure that both the student and host benefit from the experience.

• Are You Ready for an Intern?
• Recruiting Great Interns
• Before the Intern Starts
• Working with Your Intern
• Concluding the Internship
• Student Evaluation of Internship Sites
• Sample Forms and Supervisor’s Handbook