Questions about the internship paperwork process? Contact Dr. Buffy Edwards
Email: buffy@ou.edu
Welcome to the University of Oklahoma,
School of Library and Information Studies internship information site!
All students enrolled the BSIST or BAIS programs are required to complete an internship. These students can complete an internship in their final year of their degree program.
For MLIS students, an internship is an optional graduate level course that students may do after they have completed 18 credit-hours in the program.
This site is designed to answer questions about navigating an internship, possible locations to complete an internship, and walk you through the internship process from start to finish.
Museum Studies Students can gain field experience directly related to study focus in the Museum Studies program by taking MST 5920 Internship in Museum Studies. For more information about this process and internship sites contact the instructor, Dr. Dace Demir.
Internships locations are available in different locations inside and outside of Oklahoma with opportunities for in-person and remote experiences. The section below features a showcase of internship sites SLIS has partnered with.
Students are expected to secure their own internship location and may use the contact information below to request an internship at a site that best matches their interests.
Will the experience align with the skills that will help me in my career?
Who will your site supervisor at the internship site?
Will the experience be in-person or remote?
Where physically will you complete the hours?
What is a brief overview of the tasks you will complete during the internship experience?
How do you think this internship will support and further your learning and skills toward your degree?
ATI delivers effective solutions through cutting-edge technologies. We’re no strangers to government affiliations, boasting certifications from the Small Business Administration (SBA), NIH, and HUB Certification in Texas. Moreover, we’re honored to be listed as a Qualified Vendor with several City Governments.
Web: atiserve.com
Contact: Debbie Schumacher
Email: recruit@atiserve.com
The Gallogly College of Engineering maintains both a virtual lab and physical computer lab sites.
Web: ou.edu/coe/resources/tech/computer-labs
Contact: Dr. Buffy Edwards
Email: buffy@ou.edu
NEO A&M can provide students with hands-on experience with remote or in-person opportunities.
Web: neo.edu
Contact: Chris Smith
Email: csmi144@neo.edu
The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center is a unique and nonpartisan institution that strengthens representative democracy through scholarship, learning, and service. Established in 1979 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, the center is a living tribute to the ideals, leadership, and accomplishments of the Honorable Carl Albert, native Oklahoman, University of Oklahoma alumnus, Rhodes Scholar, 46th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Carl Albert Center can provide digitization, data entry and archival internships both in-person or remote.
Web: ou.edu/carlalbertcenter
Contact: carlalbertcenter@ou.edu
UCO can provide internships to gain experience in cataloging and metadata. Additional UCO Internship Application Information can be found at: library.uco.edu/about/employment.
Web: okcu.edu/current/academic-affairs/libraries
Contact: Anona Earls
TCC Libraries can provide internships with a focus in Open Educational Resources (OER).
Web: https://library.tulsacc.edu/home
Contact: Stephanie Ingold
Make-A-Wish Foundation can partner with students who want to use their internship to focus on digitization and organization.
Web: wish.org/oklahoma
Contact: Katie Iannazzo
Email: kiannazzo@oklahoma.wish.org
The Fenway Group can partner with students who want to use their internship to focus on data analytics and PowerBI applications.
Web: fenwaygroup.com
The Beam Library provides library resources and services through a quality learning environment that enriches and supports the university’s academic programs and mission of transforming lives for Christian faith, scholarship, and service.
Web: library.oc.edu/libraryhomepage
University Libraries play a fundamental role in OU’s academic and research success, as well as that of a discovery resource to learners beyond our campus.
Web: libraries.ou.edu
Edmon Low Library is a resource to expand the learning potential of students and citizens of our state and to enhance the teaching and research capabilities of our faculty.
Web: library.okstate.edu
McFarlin Library can provide internships that are In-person; with a focus on cataloging and helping with our migration from Sierra to WMS, Reference and Instruction, and Special Collections with a focus on cataloging and processing.
The Al Harris Library is part of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) campus located in Weatherford, OK.
Web: library.swosu.edu
The ORU Library seeks current SLIS students for internships working in our access services department. Interns will gain experience providing reference services, supervising student workers, assisting students with finding and using library resources, and various special projects. We support students in the life sciences, social sciences, education, business, the humanities, theology, and many other disciplines.
Web: library.oru.edu
Contact: Jane Malcolm, Assistant Director
Email: jmalcolm@oru.edu
The Pioneer Library System serves the residents of Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie Counties through twelve branches in 10 communities and Information Stations in rural communities. All our branches are unique but are united under one library system.
Hosting an intern can be a mutually rewarding experience for both the site supervisor and the student. As a site supervisor your role is to provide learning experiences that support the student meeting their learning goals and objectives. In the capacity of site supervisor, you will be the person who the student reports to and who provides constructive feedback and advice.
Tips for Site Supervisors
Ready to host a SLIS Internship at your site? Complete the short survey below to get in contact with our Internship Coordinator.
Undergraduate Students (BAIS/BSIST): The student should communicate with SLIS's undergraduate academic advisor, Jake Blackwell, or the Internship Documentation Coordinator to find a suitable site.
Graduate Students (MLIS/Ph.D.): The student should communicate with their faculty advisor or the Internship Documentation Coordinator to find a suitable site.
In-person, remote, or out-of-state internships are acceptable.
Once an internship site has been identified, the student completes the Internship Information form to provide the following information: student name and student ID, the semester you intend to complete the internship, the location and/or site, and the name, email, and telephone number of the person who will serve as the site supervisor at the location.
The SLIS office will process this form within 5-7 business days, assign a faculty member to supervise your internship course, and send a welcome email to the Internship Team. You must complete the form below prior to starting any work at your internship site. Failure to report your internship to the SLIS office may result in you not receiving course credit.
The Internship Team members include the student, the SLIS faculty advisor, and the site supervisor. To maximize the internship experience, prior to the start, it is important the team establishes schedules and learning outcomes for the internship. An initial Internship Team meeting should be set up to discuss the potential tasks, expectations, and learning opportunities.
Working together, the Internship Team should discuss and establish the student’s learning goals and objectives, primary areas of responsibilities, schedule, and completion date for the 135 hours.
After meeting with your Internship Team. Report your Learning Goals and Objectives back to the SLIS office by completing a second form, the link to the second form is included in the welcome email from the SLIS office.
Can't find the welcome email? Contact the SLIS office.
The Internship Documentation Coordinator will send the required documentation to be signed via DocuSign and will include:
Permission to enroll in the internship course will be given when the documentation is signed and complete by the SLIS office. Students must be enrolled (with completed documentation) by the Friday before each semester starts.
For enrollment questions or assistance, contact the SLIS office.
Once the student has enrolled, they will be added to a LIS centralized Canvas course that will outline the required assignments to earn credit for the internship. To receive credit for the internship, students must complete the full 135 hours and all required assignments.
Yes, the internship can be paid but this information must be disclosed at the time you submit your internship information so we can determine if it meets certain criteria to allow you to also earn credit for the course. With paid internships, no financial remuneration for the internship will be received by the placement supervisor, supervising faculty member or the institution.
A student may not complete an internship in a library/information center where they are employed full-time or part-time. A student may apply for exemption by demonstrating and documenting the following:
Students must be enrolled (with completed documentation) by the Friday before the semester starts in which they want to complete the internship.
Undergraduate students (BAIS/BSIST) are required to complete an internship as part of their program.
Failure to complete the internship process by this deadline can result in the student having to delay completion of an internship. Students who are not enrolled in the internship course cannot receive credit for internship work completed.
Notify Dr. Buffy Edwards (buffy@ou.edu) and the SLIS office (slisinfo@ou.edu) as soon as possible. They will work with your Internship Team to coordinate this transition as needed.
Internships are pass, satisfactory indicated by an "S" and credit awarded or fail, unsatisfactory indicated by a "U" where no credit will be awarded. To earn a "S" grade, you must complete all credit hour requirements, assignments, and assessments. Falsification of time and/or work completed will be considered academic misconduct and subject to the same penalties. Students may receive an unsatisfactory grade and be required to repeat the course.
You must be enrolled (course added to your schedule) in order to receive credit.
If you have already connected with your advisor about possible sites but still are unsuccessful in securing a location, reach out to other SLIS faculty members for additional suggestions. While it is your responsibility as the student to secure a site, we are here to help!
First, reach out to your faculty supervisor for guidance and provide them with context of the issue you are having. Your faculty supervisor is the instructor on the internship section you will enroll in. If they are unable to resolve the issue, please contact the SLIS Office (slisinfo@ou.edu) ASAP.
