Class Credit Opportunities
Are you in a major that requires you to do an Independent Study, Research Assistantship, or Internship?
Do you have an interest in being a librarian or working in a related field after college? Or do you just like the smell of old books?
If you answered yes to these questions you might want to consider earning class credit by working in Special Collections for a semester. I am happy to work with one or two students a semester on an Independent Study, Research Assistantship, or Internship.
In order to work in Special Collections you will need to talk to and get permission from your major advisor, head of your academic department, or the internship coordinator for your major. Once you have that person’s permission you will need to contact me (kowens@flagler.edu) to ask for an interview. After your interview I will contact you and the professor who will be overseeing your class to let you know if I have accepted your request. Please contact your professor and myself the semester before your intended credit work.
**In addition to internships, I have one student worker position per semester as of Fall 2018. The hours for this position are 12 hours per week in the fall and spring, and 20-25 hours per week in the summer. In order to give students some pre-graduate experience in the field, preference is given to students who identify as interested in a book-related career (libraries, museums, writing, teaching).**
Summer 2014 – Lisa Vallen (English major) did an internship in the Library learning about the entire field of librarianship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science. Her internship was overseen by the entire library as she worked on projects in reference, collection development, and Special Collections where she created the first version of the St. Augustine Fiction Libguide (subject guide).
Fall 2014 – Miranda Orlando (history major) did a Research Assistantship helping to process and catalog the William J. McClure Deaf Education collection.
Fall 2014 – Jessica Black (liberal arts major) did an internship in the Library learning about the entire field of librarianship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science. Her internship was overseen by the entire library as she worked on projects in reference, instruction, collection development, and Special Collections.
Spring 2016 – Peyton Short (history major) did a three-way internship with Special Collections, Archives, and the Civil Rights Library of St. Augustine creating transcripts for interviews for the Civil Rights Library and from interviews with early Flagler College employees, working at the reference desk, and helping with curating library displays.
Spring 2016 – Jessica Black (liberal arts major) did an Independent Study studying issues related to Special Collections and Archives departments, taking part in site visits to other academic libraries, and creating a mock grant proposal for funding to create a dedicated space for these collections.
Fall 2016 – Meagan Helms (religion/philosophy major) did a three-way internship with Special Collections, Access Services, and our religion specialist librarian learning about the entire field of librarianship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science. She learned about researching, processing, and cataloging rare books; collection development; reference; circulation procedures and collection management and care; how to curate a library display; and helped with the Early Library Inventory project.
Fall 2016 – Kelsey White (English major) did a two-way internship with Archives and Special Collections and did scanning for the Flagler College Digital Archives, researching and creating a Libguide (subject guide) to world dystopian literature, and collection development.
Spring 2017 – Katlin Landeros (public history major) did a two-way internship with Archives and Special Collections working on processing the physical objects and curating the first digital collection for the Digital Archives on Theater at Flagler College, working at the reference desk, learning about and practicing basic book and document preservation, collection development, and installing displays.
Spring 2017 – Kaitlyn Colborne (history major) did an internship learning how to process and catalog rare books and maps, hosting a Meet the Collections and Curators event, and creating Instagram posts.
Fall 2017 – Katrina Zarelli (history major) did an Independent Study as preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science with a concentration in archives and special collections. She cataloged rare books, installed displays, posted to Instagram, and helped host a Meet the Collections and Curators event.
Fall 2017 – Kathleen Ross (public history major) did an internship learning about hosting a Meet the Collections and Curators event, collection development, preparing for Hurricane Irma, installing displays, and helping with the Early Library Inventory project.
Fall 2018 – Madison Theodore (history major) did an internship learning about hosting a Meet the Collections and Curators event, the Early Library Inventory Project, display installation, and covering Special Collections Reference hours.
Summer 2019 – Nick Spadea (history major) did an internship learning about how libraries have many tasks that are behind-the-scenes including: shelving books; shelf-reading books; shifting a collection to better distribute space for new books; identifying Caldecott and Newbery award winners; and collection development for Pulitzer, Caldecott, and Newbery winners.
Fall 2019 – Emmaline Bruce (international studies/anthropology major) did an internship in the Library learning about the entire field of librarianship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science. Her internship was overseen by the entire library as she worked on projects in: archives, circulation, inter-library loan, instruction, marketing & events, preservation, and reference.
Spring 2020 – Caroline Martin (history major) did an internship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science about planning for a Meet the Collections and Curators event, manuscript evaluation, preservation, what libraries were doing in response to COVID-19, and how to create an Omeka digital exhibit.
Fall 2020 – Micayla Robbins (fine arts major) did an internship in preparation for a career in museums designing custom art work for a new Omeka digital exhibit, public relations materials for a Meet the Collections and Curators event, as well as, helping host MtC&C events, stacks maintenance, and reference.
Spring 2021 – Juliann Ramos (public history major) did an internship in preparation for a career in museums learning how to create an Omeka digital exhibit, learning about hosting a Meet the Collections and Curators event, how to write display labels, assisting with teaching students about rare books, and some of the basics of how to research books for inclusion into Special Collections or not.
Spring 2022 – Nicolette Cisko (English major) did an internship in preparation for a Masters in Library & Information Science learning about hosting a Meet the Collections and Curators event, how to write display labels, data input for an Omeka digital exhibit, assisting with the Early Library Inventory Project, and some of the basics of how to research books for inclusion into Special Collections or not.