Inside Scoop on Musselman Library’s Barbara Holley Internship
Michelle Williams is the 2019-2020 Barbara Holley Library Intern (Photo provided)
By Musselman Library
Each year Musselman Library hires a full-time (paid) library intern to work in all areas the library. This internship provides the individual with a unique opportunity to learn the inner workings of the library. While there is a standard rotation for the internship, each intern’s experience varies based on their interests and project work available that year. To help demystify this position, Michelle Williams, the current Barbara Holley Library Intern, answers a few questions about her experience.
What is the Holley Internship?
The Holley Internship is a one-year, full time position in which the intern rotates throughout all five departments of Musselman Library. Along with working in each department, the intern is also involved in the committees of their choosing, as well as participates in many library and campus-wide events. It’s a truly immersive experience that allows one to understand the nature of academic librarianship while gaining hands-on training to help them in their future career.
In addition to hands-on work experience, the intern will be provided with additional professional development opportunities, such as attending conferences, summits, and webinars; visiting places such as the National Museum of American History, the Frederick Book Arts Center, and the National Cemetery; and participating in various retreats and workshops.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are ever the same! The one constant would be that my day is a combination of individual work and group projects. Especially because of the rotation, wherein I work in two different departments throughout the day, I feel like I always have a variety of things to do, which keeps work interesting! On any given day, I may be cataloging, creating a book display, designing an exhibit, working at the Research Help Desk, making my own book from scratch, planning a library event, or practicing for the book cart drill team! There are so many things that can make up your day as the Holley Intern, and the great thing is, you can customize the projects to fit your interests.
What are some of the projects you have done as the Holley Intern?
One of the first projects that I did as the Holley Intern was processing the Papers of the Bond / Smith Families in Special Collections. The collection came to us in a suitcase which was full of hundreds of letters, photos, and mementos from a family that spanned from the Spanish-American War to World War II and into the 1970s.
I also worked on various displays including Banned Books Week, Open Access Week, and a monthly book display which featured comic books, graphic novels, and manga. As part of the marketing committee, I helped create a library mini-golf event, which was a great success!
What would you say to someone interested in the position?
Applying for this internship has been one of the best decisions of my life, and I’m sure the other Holley Interns would say the same. You will learn so much that will not only help you in a future career in librarianship, if that’s the path that you choose, but will help you in many other aspects of life. You will also meet so many amazing people and will get the chance to learn from library professionals who are genuinely interested in fostering your growth.
What are you doing after the internship concludes at the end of May?
After the internship, I will be pursuing a Master’s Degree in Library Science. I have a background in history and a passion for archives, which is what initially led me to this position, but after spending time in the various departments, I’m interested in everything! I’m very excited to go back to school and learn more about all the different aspects of librarianship.
If this sounds intriguing and you think that you might want Michelle’s job, consider applying for the position! Musselman Library is current accepting applications for the next Barbara Holley Library Intern through Sunday, February 23 via the Gettysburg College online application system. For more information about the internship, visit the job description on the library’s website or contact Meggan Smith at mdsmith@gettysburg.edu.
