Exploring Collections Management and More at the Libraries
The Washington University Libraries are thrilled to welcome Darian Dickerson and Lauren Lee as our 2023 Summer Diversity Interns. Chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, Darian and Lauren will complete a six-week internship at the University Libraries this summer.
The annual internship program is managed and led by Rudolph Clay, head of Library Diversity Initiative and Outreach. The program aims to introduce Washington University undergraduates to library and information science as a way to develop a diverse workforce and increase the number of candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the library profession.
“Many undergraduates interact with the library and they come for services, but there are many things that we do behind the scenes that make our jobs interesting and that students do not get to see. This internship will give them a chance to interact with librarians and staff across different units and learn about the field and profession,” Clay said.
Darian and Lauren discussed their summer internship experiences at the Libraries.
Name: Darian Dickerson
Major: Anthropology
Year: Junior (Class of 2025)
What drew you to apply to the University Libraries Summer Diversity Internship?
Darian: I was interested in seeing what the daily routine of librarians is like. As a student, I only interact with the library from a fixed perspective and I figured an internship would be a great opportunity for me to experience the library in a different way.
How do you think the Libraries internship fits in with your career path or professional and academic interests?
Darian: I think the internship allows me to uncover hidden resources that can aid students in their studies. The internship is stretching my ability to take advantage of all the resources the library has for us to become better scholars.
What project/s are you working on now and/or will be working on in the near future as part of your internship?
Darian: I am currently working on an archiving project with the Special Collections department, consolidating website information into a LibGuide, and ruminating about a future project that is to be completed upon the end of the internship.
What has been the most surprising thing you have learned about the Libraries so far?
Darian: The most surprising thing I have learned about the Libraries so far is how much information is stored not only in our online databases but physically within our special collections. There are bountiful amounts of information from many time periods archived in special collections, and it was surprising and fascinating to see so much history stored in one place.
What excites you the most about working in the University Libraries?
Darian: Meeting new people such as librarians, communications, and engagement staff, as well as students on the Libraries Student Advisory Group, and understanding how their roles affect the daily routine of working in the University Libraries.
Name: Lauren Lee
Major: Global Studies and Organization & Strategic Management
Year: Junior (Class of 2025)
What drew you to apply to the University Libraries Summer Diversity Internship?
Lauren: I was intrigued by the opportunity to learn more about librarianship as a professional field. I’ve always interacted with library resources and librarians at a somewhat superficial level, so I was interested to get a closer look at what librarians do.
How do you think the Libraries internship fits in with your career plan or professional and academic interests?
Lauren: I’m still in a pretty exploratory part of determining what I want to do post-college, and the Libraries internship felt like it would provide an interactive, in-depth overview of the different library departments. I feel like there are a lot of transferrable professional skills I’ll pick up over the next couple of months.
What project/s are you working on now and/or will be working on in the near future as part of your internship?
Lauren: Right now, my co-intern Darian and I are beginning an archiving project for the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. I’ve never done this kind of work, so I’m excited to see what this project has in store. We were given a lot of their older playbills and old press releases, and I’m interested in learning more about Black Rep’s history through this project.
What has been the most surprising thing you have learned about the Libraries so far?
Lauren: I was surprised by the amount of input the different library departments want to hear from us interns. I’ve never done an in-person internship before, so it’s been really nice being able to directly engage with the people I’m working with. I’ve really enjoyed being able to learn from the library staff about all of the projects they’re working on.
What excites you the most about working in the University Libraries?
Lauren: I’m honestly just excited to learn, as corny as that may sound. For me, WashU’s libraries have been a place where I pursue academic learning. It’s cool that it can be a place of professional and career-based learning as well.