Ecklund Internship in Research, Instruction, and Outreach Services

"As a CSUN alumnus, the Ecklund Internship was both a professionally transformative and emotionally meaningful experience for me. The University Librarians welcomed me with open arms, sharing invaluable tips, guidance, and mentorship that built up my skills and confidence. Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, I gained valuable hands-on experience staffing the reference desk, assisting students virtually through LibChat, and co-teaching information literacy sessions for first-year students. Additionally, I updated Chicana/o and Africana Studies LibGuides under the guidance of the Ethnic Studies librarian and engaged with the campus community through various outreach and tabling events. This internship solidified my passion for academic librarianship and deepened my connection to CSUN’s vibrant community. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the librarians who taught me so much and were always rooting for my success. I wholeheartedly encourage any MLIS student interested in academic librarianship or reference services to apply!"

"As a San Jose State University student in the MLIS program, I am very pleased to have been a part of the RIOS internship program at CSUN. It equipped me with hands-on experience of various tasks that a librarian would accomplish in an academic setting. Moreover, what drives my work is the desire to see library users develop awareness of how to use the internet consciously. Whenever I staffed the reference desk or helped out students in a lab, I sought out ways to challenge them to develop clarity when they narrowed down their topics. If you are considering an internship opportunity at an academic library, I guarantee that it will expand your knowledge too. "

"As I drew closer to finishing my MLIS program, I wanted to explore working in-person at an academic library, and the Ecklund internship was an invaluable opportunity to do so. Throughout the internship, the librarians of University Library were welcoming, kind, and open to answering any questions I had about a career in academic librarianship. I was able to shadow librarians both at the reference desk and in the online 'Ask A Librarian' reference service. And I was able to assist in the design, planning, and implementation of a successful and fun STEAM Day program for the CSUN community. I also had wonderful opportunities to update and develop a LibGuide, provide analysis for Affordable Learning Solutions, and observe several information literacy instruction sessions. I am forever grateful for the advice, guidance, and mentorship provided by CSUN's amazing librarians and for the knowledge and skills I developed through the internship's projects and experiences."

"As an Ecklund Intern, I gained invaluable experience that will benefit me in countless ways in the future. During my time at the CSUN library, I was able to work closely with experienced librarians to gain a deeper understanding of library operations, from reference to outreach to instruction, which allowed me to combine theoretical perspectives with practical experience. Under the guidance of supportive and knowledgeable professionals, I developed my skills and learned more about how the library engages its users and the campus community, something I am deeply passionate about, and I am incredibly grateful to the librarians who shared with me their insights about their work and their roles within the library. This internship has not only provided me with numerous skills and insights that will stay with me for years to come, it has solidified my goal to pursue a career in academic librarianship."

"The Ecklund Internship at CSUN was an incredibly rewarding experience as an aspiring academic librarian. I had the privilege of learning to provide reference services and information literacy instruction from a team of librarians who are profoundly welcoming, knowledgeable, and generous with their time and expertise. I was also lucky enough to be able to help develop an Open Educational Resources LibGuide, a fascinating project that taught me a useful skill set and also helped me discover a new passion within the field of librarianship. Every step of this internship, I have felt both nurtured and empowered by this amazing community of librarians; they constantly went above and beyond to help me despite challenging circumstances, and I will forever be thankful for that. I started the semester unsure of whether or not I had made the right choice to pursue academic librarianship, and I am completing this internship confident in my choice, deeply grateful for the invaluable skills and relationships that I have gained, and excited to see what my career in librarianship holds next."

"The Ecklund Internship opened my mind to the possibility of a career in academic librarianship. During my time at the University Library, I learned just how rewarding it can be to provide research and reference services and teach information literacy. I had the opportunity to observe and staff the reference desk, observe and co-teach classes, and develop a LibGuide. Not only did I develop useful skills that I will be able to utilize throughout my career, but I had invaluable support and guidance from the librarians at the University, who are warm and welcoming. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to learn and grow as a professional in such a nurturing environment, and I feel confident in my decision to further explore a career in academic librarianship."

"The Ecklund Internship was an amazing experience as a library student. I was able to put into practice the theory I had been learning in class. All the librarians at University Library were very welcoming and helpful. I am very thankful to all of the librarians who took time out of their schedule to answer my questions and let me work with them on their projects. This internship helped me feel reassured that academic librarianship is the career I want to pursue. I spent some time observing librarians at the reference desk and in information literacy classes. This was extremely helpful in learning and developing my skills in order to become an academic librarian. I had the opportunity to work on an assessment project and on developing a LibGuide. Both of these projects gave me various perspectives of the different jobs and skills needed in an academic library setting. I can say that this internship has made me feel more confident about myself and I am very excited to start my career as a librarian."

"The Ecklund Internship was an amazing opportunity for me to expand my skillset in librarianship. The librarians at the University Library were extremely welcoming and supportive. A number of them took time out of their busy schedules to help answer any questions I had and share tips they’ve developed over time. While here, I was able to improve my reference skills, help teach classes, and work on a digital learning object project that exposed me to working with mockups and usability testing. I can definitely say that after this internship I feel more confident in my abilities and am excited to see where my career in librarianship will take me."

"The Ecklund Internship was instrumental in solidifying my passion for information literacy, and reaffirmed my commitment to instructing students on effective research strategies and information access skills. I have not only gained valuable professional experience, but also have been fortunate enough to develop relationships and communication skills that I know will last my entire career. I am very thankful for all of the support and energy that the University Library librarians and staff have invested in my professional development."

“I spent considerable time observing librarians at the reference desk, asking questions on how to improve my reference techniques, and providing reference to students, faculty, and non-CSUN patrons. I really improved my own skills in searching the OPAC and databases with Boolean searches. I also had the opportunity to attend library instruction taught by several librarians. It was interesting to see the interactions with faculty and students and the different approaches to orienting students to the library. I was able to ask questions and take notes of specific methods that were used. Also, I spoke in depth with many of the librarians and got tips and information on preparing and providing instruction, especially as it relates to subject specialty and cooperating with the faculty to support student learning.”

"The Ecklund Internship awarded me the opportunity to learn and develop many of the skills needed to become an academic librarian by working within the Research, Instruction, and Outreach Systems Department at the University Library. I had the privilege of working on a variety of projects and gaining first hand experience in reference (both in-person and virtually), learning new library instruction techniques and creating digital learning objects. The most positive and rewarding aspects of the internship came from working with the talented librarians who were generous with their time and knowledge and guided me through this rewarding experience. This internship has definitely increased my passion for academic librarianship and I am more excited than ever to start my career."

"The Ecklund Internship is a great experience for students who are interested in understanding all aspects of what it means to be a Reference and Instruction librarian. All of the University librarians and administrators are supportive and enthusiastic mentors who are happy to share their experiences and knowledge. As an intern, I have had the chance to observe and participate in all the duties of a RIOS librarian, at the reference desk, in the classroom, in meetings and electronic reference service. I am happy to say that this internship has enriched my MLIS studies."

"Working as an Ecklund Intern at CSUN was a wonderful opportunity to start my librarian career. Being exposed to the various tasks of an academic librarian provided me the helpful experience needed to gain a foothold in the field and build my skill set. But most importantly, I am grateful to the librarians, and especially Lynn Lampert, who were always willing to answer my questions and, in a sense, took me under their collective wing during my 6-month internship." 

"The Kristin Ecklund Internship at the University Library was both a great opportunity and experience. I worked with so many knowledgeable people at the reference desk and gained a lot of experience working with such a diverse student body. In addition, it was great to be in an environment where information literacy is really stressed as part of student education and it was a real learning opportunity for me to observe all the skilled librarians teaching lectures. I would definitely recommend this internship to any student interested in reference and instruction."