Sharing Our Experience: A Joint Practicum Case Study

Abstract

Librarians at a private and a public institution collaborated to offer a health sciences librarianship practicum that emphasized public services. After advertising the practicum on library school internship Web sites, the librarians conducted joint interviews to select a student and determined what aspects of librarianship would be covered during the practicum. During the Fall 2010 semester, the student spent 60 hours at each library, working 2 days a week, gaining experience at each institution. The joint practicum was deemed a success by both libraries and the student. The libraries will continue with their collaboration. This model may be used by other libraries.

Keywords:

• academic libraries
• collaboration
• internships
• library school students
• medical libraries
• practicum