Supporting our Future Colleagues: Remote Student-Led Data Internship

Daria Orlowska

Data librarianship is an in-demand specialty that is not taught in library school and often requires figuring individuals to "figure it out" on the job when they are hired or transition into a role demanding data services. This presentation reflects on a remote, paid internship ran during Summer 2024 to address this gap, offering the opportunity to engage in a data project emphasizing skills such as data management, curation, preservation, reuse, and communication. The internship operated under the assumption that experiential learning projects should be student-led (rather than guided by needs of the institution) in order to provide interns the opportunity to identify and expand on skills that would like to hone in preparation for their future careers. It also sought to attract a more diverse pool of applicants by reducing barriers to application, such as eliminating references and transcripts, and focusing on skill building instead of requiring minimal skill requirements. Although the internship focused on collections as data work, this presentation will generalize the components of a successful paid internship to allow participants to consider ongoing initiatives and apply the information shared at their institutions.