Name of Organization: Providence Community Library
Street Address: Multiple; there are 9 libraries in our system.
Name of Primary Mentor/Contact Person: Cheryl Space, Youth Services Coordinator
Phone: 401-467-2700 x1616
Email Address: cspace@provcomlib.org
How do you prefer to be contacted? I prefer email.
Description of the overall mission of this organization: Providence Community Library is the public library system for the city of Providence. We operate 9 libraries, one in every neighborhood in the city. We provide a wealth of books and other materials for recreation and lifelong learning, as well as computer labs with Internet access. Our many programs for children and teens include summer reading, Ready for Kindergarten!, Cradle to Crayons (for 1-3 year olds), movie nights, arts and crafts, and homework help.
Ages of youth served: babies – high school students
Hours of internship: (number of hours, days, times): Since each library is open one or two evenings a week, every afternoon, and some mornings, we are very flexible. Our greatest need is afterschool (2:00 – 6:00) and during the day for our Ready for Kindergarten! Program (primarily morning hours).
Description of role and duties: (include administrative or hands-on or both): A library internship will be very hands-on, with little or no administrative responsibilities. We are seeking interns for our Ready for Kindergarten program, designed for 3.5 – 5 year old children and their parents/caregivers. This is a 9-week program that is designed for children who are not enrolled in a formal preschool. Ready for K provides a group experience for young children, including learning stations, story time, Storytelling/Story Acting, and take home activities for families. Interns in this program can expect to: help library staff set up/clean up the workshop, interact with children and adults at the learning stations, collect stories from children, serve snack, encourage families to take books home, and help collect paperwork (registration, surveys, family activity logs). Interns may have the opportunity to interview families for program evaluation, develop learning stations, and lead Story Acting during circle time.
Interns may also lead informal kindergarten activity stations in the afternoons, welcoming back families from Ready for K as well as inviting new children to participate. The activity stations are created with the toys and other hands-on materials from the Ready for K program. (blocks, costumes, math/science props, art).
If an intern is interested in working with babies and toddlers, her or she may decide to work with library staff on our Cradle to Crayons program for 1-3 year old children. This program, like Ready for K, involves a play time with age appropriate toys followed by a story time with books, rhymes, songs, and games.
In addition, interns interested in developing and leading an afterschool program at the library are invited to apply. Programs can be offered in any subject area, depending on the skills and interests of the intern.
Paid or unpaid: unpaid
Description of the culture of the place (how many people in the office, dress code, communication style): Three people staff our smaller libraries, and our larger, regional libraries have approximately 10 employees. The dress code is casual, especially since much of the internship will require playing with young children. Since staffing is lean, it is very important that all staff members, including volunteers and interns, communicate and keep to their assigned schedule. If anyone is going to be out for any reason, that needs to be communicated at the earliest possible time so that alternate plans can be made.
Additional Requirements: (travel, etc): The intern will need to travel to their assigned library for work. All of our libraries can be reached by public transportation.
Special notes on process of getting this internship: Any interested intern will have an initial meeting with Cheryl Space, Youth Services Coordinator, to determine if a library placement is ideal, meeting both the career/educational goals of the intern and the programming needs of the library. Once a potential project is identified, and both parties agree the library is a good fit, the intern will meet with the librarians at the library where they would like to work to discuss logistics and create a plan for orientation.
Other information: Since many of our library patrons speak Spanish, the library welcomes bilingual interns.
What three TAGS would you use to label this internship? Preschool, afterschool, library
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Cheryl Space
Youth Services Coordinator
Providence Community Library
401-419-2916 (cell)
401-467-2700 x1616 (office)
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