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: Kevin Mann
Email: recruit@atiserve.com
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: cacarchives@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
TCC Libraries can provide internships with a focus in Open Educational Resources (OER).
Web: https://library.tulsacc.edu/home
Contact: Stephanie Ingold
Al Harris Library serves the regional university, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) in Weatherford, OK. The Al Harris Library is an Oklahoma textbook review site for the 3rd Congressional district and is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). We have a full media studio space and a robust instruction program. Our library houses the Thomas P. Stafford Archives containing several special collections including the personal papers and documents of Oklahoma astronaut, Thomas Stafford (a Weatherford native). The archive works closely with the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, OK.
Web: https://library.swosu.edu
Contact: Jason Dupree
Email: jason.dupree@swosu.edu
Norman Public Schools is a suburban school district in Norman, OK. The NPS libraries are robust, collaborative, inquiry-based hubs of learning that provide opportunities and resources for our learners to develop to their full potential. Our school libraries are staffed with state certified librarians who operate on a flexible schedule to collaborate and coteach with classroom teachers. Our award-winning libraries and librarians are considered essential to providing a comprehensive school experience and our librarians are often site leaders who provide many opportunities for preservice school librarians to gain hands on knowledge and experience.
Web: https://www.normanps.org/page/libraries/
Contact: Amanda Kordeliski
Email: akordelis2@normanps.org
The Pioneer Library System serves the residents of Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie Counties through 12 branches in 10 communities and Information Stations in rural communities. All our branches are unique but are united under one library system. PLS is fueled by a belief that by working individually we can make a difference, but together we are transformative.
Web: https://pioneerlibrarysystem.org
Contact: Caroline Dulworth
Email: caroline@pioneerlibrarysystem.org
The Library Research Services Intern will provide research materials for distance learning students through various library resources. Additionally, the intern will gain experience in working reference services in-person at the library’s reference desk. Interns will work under the professional supervision of an MLIS-degreed librarian.
Web: https://library.rose.edu/home
Contact: Andrew Soliven
Email: asoliven@rose.edu
Shawnee Public Schools is the largest, most comprehensive public school district in Pottawatomie County. Our students reflect the diversity of the City of Shawnee, and about 1/3 are members of a tribal nation. SPS has seven school sites, each with a school library led by highly qualified, certified school librarians. The sites include an early childhood center, four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. Interns will observe and assist school librarians as they fulfill all five roles of their job: teacher, leader, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator.
Web: www.shawnee.k12.ok.us
Contact: Cherity Pennington
Email: cpennington@shawnee.k12.ok.us
Titan Intake streamlines the referral process for specialty clinics through automation, enhancing revenue and providing valuable data insights. This system facilitates improved communication between patients and providers. By leveraging some of the latest technology, including AI, to modernize the outdated referral systems in current healthcare practices, Titan Intake not only increases revenue but also achieves this with no required change in behavior from the referring providers.
Web: https://www.titanintake.com/
Contact: Patrick Bruce
Email: patrick@titanintake.com
An internship in the Innovation Studio provides an opportunity for hands-on experience with emerging technology such as virtual reality, 3D printing, 3D scanning, recording equipment, robotics, and more. Potential interns can visit the Innovation Studio website to see current technologies.
Web: https://library.uco.edu/about/employment
Contact: Kaylen Buchanan
Email: kbuchanan16@uco.edu
UCO Chambers Library's Metadata & Cataloging department provides effective and inclusive access to dynamic resources that support transformative learning for the Central community. Interns will become familiar with concepts and tools relating to cataloging and gain real-world, hands-on experience in creating and editing bibliographic metadata. Internship completion includes a digital badge from Credly. For more information, visit https://library.uco.edu/about/employment
Web: https://library.uco.edu/home
Contact: Anona Earls
Email: aearls@uco.edu
Throughout the year, Make-A-Wish® Oklahoma offers a variety of unpaid internships to provide opportunities for students and recent graduates, to receive academic credit and/or valuable work experience in the nonprofit field. We have internships in the areas of IT & Donor Care, Development/Fundraising, Program Services, Marketing & Events, and Wish Intake.
Web: https://wish.org/oklahoma
Contact: Angel Royal
Email: aroyal@oklahoma.wish.org
We have three potential internship opportunities available at McFarlin Library depending on the type of librarianship you are interested in. These arenas include Instruction and Research, Technical Services and Cataloging, and Special Collections and Rare Materials. McFarlin Library serves the TU community, houses over 1 million physical titles, and our instruction requests have risen 260% in the past four years.
Web: https://libraries.utulsa.edu/mcfarlin
Contact: Lisa Grimes
Email: lisa-grimes@utulsa.edu
The Bristow Public Library is a public, municipal, tribal-rural library serving approximately 24,000 residents in the greater Bristow. The library strives to provide the same level of services found in urban areas, but with a small town heart. We offer adult high school completion and literacy programs (including digital literacy), high quality children's and family programming, local history research and reference services, as well as quality readers advisory services to our patrons. We continue to cultivate a network of community and state partnerships. Through grants and aid, we have grown our outreach services to under-recognized groups. We currently foster the state's first ever rural Autism Spectrum Support Group.
Web: https://www.bristowlibrary.okpls.org/
Contact: Heather D. Hutto
Email: librarydirector@bristowlibraryok.gov
Sapulpa Public Library is a stand-alone library, which means as an intern you will be able to learn all aspects of how a library runs. From the circulation desk, children librarian duties and programs, cataloging and processing books, genealogy, and what a library director does.
Web: https://www.facebook.com/@SapulpaPublicLibrary
Contact: Kristin Haddock
Email: khaddock@sapulpaok.gov
Archival interns will work with the Lead Archivist to best determine their placement within the needs of the Freedom Center Community Archive. Interns may assist professional staff, interact with the public, conduct research, provide administrative support, and learn about applicable processes, digitization, policy making, and more. Interns will gain valuable training, skills, and work experience as well as an opportunity to build a network of professional contacts.
Web: https://freedomcenterokc.org/
Contact: Corbin Taggart
Email: ctaggart@freedomcenterokc.org
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.
